“Things are really picking up now, 3-4 minutes apart and 1 minute long for the last 35 minutes.”
– 3:22 am Friday, October 2, 2020
While I love sleep, I love being awakened by texts like this even better!
2002 was not a great year for birth photography. With the virus, social distancing, stricter hospital rules, I have only photographed a handful of births. Thanks to homebirth, some amazing local midwives & masks I was able to capture Jessica’s and Jon’s fourth baby entering the world.
I arrived at Jon and Jessica’s home at the same time as midwife, Allie. I helped haul her bags. Jessica was already working hard when we arrived. Allie did a quick exam while Jon filled up the tub.
Jessica is one of those amazing women who can focus 100% during hard labor and transition, then let it all go and relax and crack jokes in between. She is truly amazing!
Jessica had the support of Jon, a caring midwife, and doula Carolynn from Birth By Design Doula Services. Carolynn has also been at all for of Jessica’s birth (and Allie at three) so it is always a fun reunion for our birth crew.
Jessica pushed out baby Aroura in the birthing tub and pulled her fresh little baby into her arms for a snuggle.
I absolutely love fresh, wrinkly baby feet.
One of my favorite things about homebirths and birth center deliveries is that the newborn exam is done right on the bed. No whisking the baby away, even across the room. All is done right near mama.
Congratulations Jessica, Jon, Asa, and Tirzah!
Click here to see Asa’s birth and Tirzah’s birth.