Should I Hire a Birth Photographer for my C-Section?

Should I Hire a Birth Photographer for my C-Section?

I have been photographing births since 2010 and sometimes I have clients wonder if they should hire a birth photographer if they are having a c-section. As a birth photographer, I am there to document your baby’s birth, no matter how the story unfolds. I have documented home births, birth center births, natural births, births with spinals, epidurals, VBACs, birth with forceps, births with vacuums and, of course, c-sections! No matter what happens, this is your baby’s birth story.

Now let me share with you about Katy.

Katy contacted me very early in her pregnancy. She and her husband were planning a natural birth at the birth center but placenta previa changed everything. When Katy called to tell me she was going to have to schedule a c-section I assured here that I would still document her baby’s arrival. Plans, or no plans, this was her baby’s story. We had a fantastic maternity session a few weeks before her scheduled c-section and kept in close contact about her upcoming birth plans.

On the morning of their baby’s birth, I met Katy and Bob at the hospital bright and early (actually it was dark; it was 5:30 am) and was able to capture their baby’s story from start to finish. While I wasn’t allowed in the OR, I was still able to capture their baby’s birthday in full.

During the actual surgery, I took a coffee break and waited in the waiting room until Katy and Bob were settled back in their room. Then I returned to capture Imogen’s first hours.

So to answer the original question, “Should I Hire a Birth Photographer for my C-Section?” my answer is a hearty, “yes!”

Moms often find they don’t remember the events of the day clearly due to surgery and pain meds. If you end up having a c-section, even if it wasn’t what you hoped for, it is your baby’s birth story.