Baby Jade | Gilbert Arizona Birth Photographer
One of the most daunting things as a birth photographer is timing — from what time do I arrive to how long is this going to be, timing is everything. This Gilbert, Arizona, birth was one that even the nurses couldn’t have predicted! I think about it often because it was so special how everything turned out, even if it was a rough road to get there!
I was lucky enough to meet mom and dad during their maternity photography session about a month before labor! So when I arrived at the hospital when mom was around 7cm dilated, I was already comfortable with everyone. The nurses were so sweet and everyone was excited to start pushing as mom progressed quickly to 10cm. But as the minutes ticked by, mom got more and more tired as no progress was being made with pushing.
The minutes turned to hours. I could tell everyone was starting to get a little worried that still no progress had been made. I had slowed down taking photos, not knowing if it was going to start to irritate anyone and if this was going to turn into something more traumatic or serious.
At around 2 hours of pushing, mom’s nurse gently asked how she was feeling, and if she thought maybe it was time to consider a c-section. Mom was adamant that she did not want a c-section, and at this point the nurse became very serious. Mom had been getting very tired while pushing and not holding the push for as long as was needed. Her nurse told her that if she wanted baby to come, she needed to push with everything she had for the next 15 minutes.
And she did!!! It was so amazing to see the determination on mom’s face and the support she was receiving from dad. At the 15 minute mark, right after pushing and again seeing no progress, mom looked like she was going to give up. She put her hands above her head and I knew that if I took a photo of that moment, it was either going to be a moment of triumph or a moment of remembering trauma. I’m so glad I took the picture.
Her nurse told her that this would be the last push before they had to talk about a c-section and to give it her all. She pushed, and I saw the nurses face completely change. We made eye contact and the nurse said “you just turned the baby!” The baby had been turned slightly in mom’s pelvis, and with that last push finally came into position to be born! Everyone in the room was crying at this point, it was such a powerful moment!
The nurse told her to stop pushing because baby was going to be out in just a couple pushes! And sure enough, as soon as her doctor arrived, baby was born within just a couple pushes!
What an amazing experience for this mom, and what strength she had throughout the process! I’m always beyond proud of the moms I get to work with, but this was truly such a special moment to witness and capture for them.
Looking for a Birth Photographer in Gilbert, Arizona?
If you’re planning your birth in Gilbert, AZ, and want your full story documented — no matter how long it takes — I would be honored to be there! Contact me here to learn more about birth photography in Gilbert, Arizona.
