Esther Ruth {Alvarado Birth Photography}

Wednesday night at 10:08 I was driving home from dinner with a friend when I got a phone call from this families midwife saying that we were needed NOW.  I turned around immediately thinking about how perfect this was ~ I was already on the road, with my camera and I was closer to their house than I would have been if I was at home!  As I drove and talked to the midwife (who was also on her way) though I realized that I was probably going to be cutting it close and started worrying about missing the birth completely.  When she was 1 exit away from their house she let me know and I told her to text me if she had time to let me know what was going on.  (It is disheartening to try so hard to make it to a birth only to walk in and realize that you missed it, so I just wanted to be able to prepare myself beforehand…)  Once she arrived she never texted me and I took that as a bad sign.  (If you know me though, you know I take everything as a bad sign.)

I finally pulled into the driveway after what seemed like an eternity of driving, ran into the front door and could hear someone singing “Hallelujah” from down the hall.   (This part is very important because last weekend Barbara Harper, the author of  “Gentle Birth Choices” and founder of Waterbirth International, did a waterbirth seminar at a local birth center for birth professionals and one of the things she taught was to have these moms “sing their babies out” instead of push them out quickly and forcefully.  This clients midwife was very inspired by the seminar and took everything she learned to heart.)  

Anyways, back to the birth…  I walked into the room and before I could really even process the fact that the baby had not yet been born, the midwife said “Lynsey, head!” and pointed down.  I took a picture and as the mom sang “Hallelujah” one last time her daughter was born.   The midwife waited for her to reach down and pull the baby up to her chest and as she did she said “It’s just like my dream” over and over.  She was laughing and and it was all so LOUD!  All I can remember was the laughter!  It was so amazing, I don’t ever want to forget the SOUND of that birth.

I am so glad I was there.  I made this incredible birth by only 1 minute and the midwife by 10!  Here are a few pictures… 

the newborn exam…

Lynsey S.