www.dfwbirthphotographer.com » Birth Photography by Lynsey Stone in the DFW metroplex

When I think about Ainslee’s birth and try to pinpoint what my favorite moments from that day might be, there are a couple that stick out to me.  Probably the memory that gives me the biggest smile is when recall the look on my husband’s face when he realizes that I have made a permanent camp on the bathroom toilet, and that I fully intend to give birth over the commode.  I can see his face like it is yesterday, wide eyed and wondering.  His emotions playing out through his eyes as he weighs his decision to respect my birthing space with his duty as a father to prevent his youngest daughter from being born in our master bathroom toilet.  The relief that washed over him when I finally shifted from the toilet to the bed was palpable.  Other moments that stand as highlights include finding out our baby was being born in caul, and discovering that our youngest baby would be a girl; such wonder and joy. 

However, if I were asked to only select just one part of Ainslee’s birth to celebrate and cherish, it would be having the opportunity to labor in a quiet space with the people I love most in the world.  Lynsey, in her infinite ability to capture mood through her photographic images, took a candid shot of me laboring in my birth pool.  Feet’s resting on the long edge of the trough and my back reclined against the other, the image speaks volumes about the peace and calm of birthing in a space where I felt the safest and most supported.  This image depicts for me everything that was good and perfect about Ainslee’s birth.  I am forever grateful for Lynsey’s reassuring presence and her photographic artistry.  Her ability to preserve the memory of that momentous day is an immeasurable gift to me and to my family.  ~ Manda, mom to Ainslee

This was tricky, but this picture is my favorite! It captures Barry’s excitement and Avery’s first seconds out of the womb all in one pretty picture. He was hands-on, calm and joyful in this moment and this picture reminds me that I married the perfect man. My face was buried in the bed and I hadn’t yet seen my daughter, but I knew in this moment that Avery was here and in her Daddy’s hands and we had successfully birthed a breech baby from the comfort of our bedroom. This special first moment Barry had with his Avery is my favorite part of my labor!  ~ Whitney, mom to Avery

It’s so hard to choose, but the picture that speaks volumes to me is the one showing the reaction of my 4 year old Brooke, when Daddy announced “It’s a girl!”  It had been a long wait for my little ones (aged 4 and 6) wondering whether we would have a boy or a girl. You captured her at just the right moment!  I treasure every photo you took that day! ~ Michelle, mom to Briley

 My favorite moment of the birth actually started with the breaking of my water to the time that I finally got to hold my sweet baby girl.  I say that all of that was my favorite because God was with me, holding me every step of the way, and  He was in complete control of my labor.  I had prayed all throughout my pregnancy that God would take care of my baby and me, and let my body do what it needed to do.  I was in an almost constant state of prayer during labor, and knew that I had to put my faith in God to get me through it.  During it all, I was in awe of what God was doing and how my body was responding, and when Raegan made her way into my arms, it was the sweetest, most fulfilling blessing I had ever received.  I was holding God’s hand made gift- made especially for my husband and me- and at that moment the love I felt for her and for my husband overwhelmed my entire being. I knew that we would do what ever it took to take care of her, to love her, and to teach her about her awesome Heavenly Father. ~ Jessica, mom to Raegan

It was a difficult choice, but the picture that brings me the most warmth is this one. I can feel Johns happiness and I remember it all so vividly.  I was on a high, he was…we were just two peaceful parents bonding with our baby. ~ Melany, mom to Soren

This may seem to some people to be a rather unusual choice for my favorite birth photo. In order to understand why I chose this for my favorite, you have to know a little bit of my birth history.  Daniel is my sixth child, but all 5 of my other children were born by cesarean section. Before his birth, I attempted VBAC with my 4th and 5th babies, but both ended up back in the operating room.  With Daniel’s pregnancy, I was blessed to have a fantastic birth team, orchestrated by the Lord!  I had a supportive husband, a wonderful midwife willing to serve me as a monitrice/doula at the hospital, and an amazing, rare OB who was willing to let me have a vaginal birth after four c-sections!  Additionally, I had my mom, several dear friends, and a great photographer who all made the event perfect.

While scrapbooking with a friend one night shortly before Daniel was born, I suddenly realized with a jolt that SHE had held my firstborn twins before I did!  That thought led me to the realization that I had always held my newborns after five to TEN other people had held them!  This was a devastating thought for me.  I had never held any of my children immediately after their birth, but usually had to wait until later, in the recovery room.

This is my favorite birth photo because this is my son being handed to me, immediately after I pushed him out of my body completely naturally—he was messy and slippery and crying and I will NEVER forget that moment as long as I live! ~ Tanya, mom to Daniel

This is one of many of my favorite pictures, I chose this one because of the expression on her face.  We lost fetal heart tones during labor and so my midwife wanted to get her out quick.  The last part of my labor was hurried and worried with a lot of prayers going up to our Father for her safe delivery.  The amazing releif that came to us all when I delivered a healthy pink baby can not even be described.  Now every time I look at this picture of my little miracle, I think she is saying Hey look at me, I am just fine why all this fuss? ~ Nicole, mom to Barrett

When you are a photographer, as I am, a few things happen. You are never in pictures yourself. When you are in a photo it never turns out like you imagined in your head. Or the other photographer misses the perfect moment (in your mind) all together. I must say that when Lynsey photographed my birth. I was in most of the pictures:o) When she took a shot every one turned out just as I pictured in my head and she captured every perfect moment. This picture I chose was one of those moments that I feel summed up our whole birth experience. Exhaustion, desperation, anticipation, excitement and humor. It was sometime in our second full day of labor. Things were progressing so slow and Payton just did not seem to want to come out. Daddy grabbed a pen and wrote “come this way —> Thanks, Dad.” on my belly…Lynsey grabbed her camera and got the shot. ~ Bonnie, mom to Payton

After thinking I was going to have the best labor ever to screaming  I can’t do this Sarah, I can’t do this, my favorite memory by far is when he was  placed on my chest. I was done, well… almost. Even though 9 months FLEW by I  still couldn’t believe that he was finally here in our arms. That we  had done this 100% natural, and at home. All our dreams had came true,  he was so beautiful. All I could manage to do was kiss my husband over and over  again with pure joy. We adore this picture. It not only capture the moment but is  exactly what I see in my head when I remember his arrival. ~ Lucy, mom to Kacen

~ Laurie, mom to Krisalynn

“The essence of the Uncarved Block is that things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when that simplicity is changed.” -B. Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

This picture captures for both of us exactly what we wanted for Coco’s grand entrance into the world - a sweet new being of absolute clarity in her inaugural moments.  It reminds us of all the elements (our wonderful midwife, a beautiful day outside, a warm and comfy birthing pool!) that a little planning and a lot of luck brought together to make her birth perfect.  Our first introduction to our Uncarved Block… ~ Shannon, mom to Coco

To set the stage, at 34 weeks pregnant I became very sick, and had a nasty cough that would induce contractions, contractions that came 10 minutes apart and lasted for about and hour every time a coughed. Ame, my midwife, told me I had to get the coughing to stop, so I went to three clinics looking for SOMEONE who would take me and give me something to get them to stop. I finally went to the local hospital to their woman’s center, explained that I was using a midwife, but needed a doctor for a cold, and that no one else would see me since I was so pregnant. The lady at the reception desk said no one could help me, but that I should probably fill out a registration form because I was probably going to end up at the hospital to give birth anyway, and that I was being irresponsible for attempting a home birth. I left extremely disheartened, but finally spoke to someone at a doctor’s office who just gave me a list of safe, over the counter stuff.

Labor was definitely not easy (not that I expected it to be), and I ended up transporting. At that point I was so discouraged, and thought for sure this would never end. Everything stung so wickedly I just wanted to roll over and die. I felt like a failure for giving up and going to the hospital, and couldn’t hold back the tears when I thought about that horrible woman at the hospital I had visited when sick. 

But then my mom and mother-in-law showed up, and I suddenly had this support system of two, close women who had been through this whole labor-and-delivery thing and survived! When I asked them if I was going to make it and they said yes, I believed them. There is something empowering about having experienced women there, helping you, holding your legs, feet, and hands, and helping you get through the most difficult parts. That is something I will never forget, and something I am incredibly grateful for. The picture I chose beautifully shows one of the wonderful women (my mother-in-law) who got me through the birth of my son, and what is special about it to me is that it represents the other people who are involved with this little guy’s life, and who love him and care for him as much as I do. ~ Caroline

If a picture says a thousand words then there is no way to adequately express “why” this is my favorite photograph! The expression on my face says it all. It was first time I held my baby in my arms. I felt the most amazing feelings known to mankind as I pressed his warm soft body against me. This picture captured my joy, excitement, relief, pride, and happiness all in one unforgettable moment in time. It shows how our child was brought into this world surrounded in love and peace. That the first things he felt were his daddy’s and mommy’s waiting hands. There were no outsiders to rob him or me of one of the most important and spiritual experiences of our lives. It shows how our creator has so perfectly designed the beautiful interaction between mother and child when life begins. ~ Gina, mom to Phoenix

It was hard to choose just one picture from all of the gorgeous pictures that were taken of Lark’s homebirth VBAC. Having the opportunity to make informed choices about my child’s birth was a whole new thing for me. This picture captures several of those choices: the ability to have my daughter by my side during the birth of her much anticipated baby sister, the ability to follow my insticts for pain relief, and the ability to birth my baby in an atmosphere of such peace and love. Thank you, Lynsey for being there for Lark’s birth. I am blessed to have you as a friend, and am so very glad you were able to be a part of such a wonderful time in our lives. ~ Angelica, mom to Lark

~ Megan, mom to Paisley

My favorite memory from my birth was feeling the power of “support” and how that carried me through 2 days of labor.  As a doula, I know support can make a difference and can help a birth experience, but until I had felt that support as I went through my own labor and birth—I had no idea how that support can SHAPE your birth. The moments I wanted to give up—my support team carried me through. The moments that I felt totally alone inside—my birth team came up beside me and reminded me that I was never alone. My team made my husband feel empowered—which then allowed him to meet the needs that no one else could for me.  So even though my birth is filled with so many hard memories—I am so thankful that the one that covers them all is love and support.

Why I chose this photo?  This picture encompasses all the emotions that go into giving birth and meeting your child for the first time. Pain, exhaustion, love, joy, fear and complete awe.  I look at this picture and I can literally feel those emotions, smell the air, feel the slippery baby in my arms and hear my husband choking back the emotion as he spoke in my ear. This photo is like a small glance into the  amazing experience that birth is.  ~ Lesley, mom to Austin

The anticipation and wonder were all building to this. I had been wondering for months: who would he look like? would he have hair? Would he be big or small? What would we call him? When would he come? Could I handle the pain of labor? Would we get stuck in traffic? Would Joel get lost on the way to the hospital? 

The day finally comes I welcome the contractions, I welcome them with so much excitement because I know he has decided it is his time. My questions would all be answered. The labor continues and I think to myself we have made it so far! At last I hear his cry, at last I see his face. At last I announce his name my Eli he is perfect more perfect than I ever could have imagined!! At last!!!  

This was the first time I got to see my son and touch him it captured my feelings of the time perfectly. We had our baby boy safe in our arms after all that time of wonder. Such a weight was lifted off my shoulders then. I love looking back at this knowing what a precious memory has been preserved for us.  ~ Silvia, mom to Eli

Looking at this one, I can still feel the incredulity and almost giddiness that surrounded Elianna’s birth. It was so extremely fast, I hardly had time to fully emotionally realize what was happening. Her actual birth was a whirlwind and so my favorite part was after my herbal bath, when I was tucked back in bed with my new little delight, reveling in her preciousness. I remember just looking at Trent as she nursed, still not believing it was really all over already, it was so easy, and we had our little princess #2! Everyone told me that you suddenly find your capacity to love grows beyond your wildest dreams when your second child arrives and now I know it’s so true. I really did feel giddy, I was so happy, looking down at my little Ellie Joy, realizing I couldn’t possibly be more in love!  ~ Sarah, mom to Elianna

That’s all of the entries,  I hope you enjoyed looking at them as much as I did!  Good luck everyone!

Ready, set, GO!

Lynsey S.