This page contains pictures of some of the dozens of births I have attended. You will see glimpses of a Birth Center birth, a high intervention hospital birth, a surgical birth client, and their beautiful miracles. Each birth is unique and each baby comes into the world in its own time and in its own way. This is a process of hard work, joy, intense emotions and patience. I am thankful to each family who allows me the opportunity to stand witness of such blessings.
This client had a high risk pregnancy, underwent bi-weekly NST's from 30 weeks on and went to 40 weeks 2 days. This was her third child and her husband's seventh. She plans to have another child in the near future and says she wouldn't do it without a doula.
This lovely first-time mom presented with pre-eclampsia at 36.6 weeks with very high blood pressure. She chose induction for delivery. The induction proceeded for 26 hours, then the client chose to stop and rest for a couple days. The induction resumed two days later and she had a lovely vaginal birth. This baby had a true-knot in her umbilical cord and was very small. I spent 56 hours in constant labor support with this birth.
UPDATE: A second baby has come into this family. My client’s pregnancy and birth were both much easier this time and in less then 4 hours she labored and birthed her 2nd baby girl weighing over 6 pounds. With this labor we arrived at the hospital at 9cm and the baby was born less then an hour later.
You might not recognize her, but this is the same client as above. Here she is with her 2nd and 3rd child. A wonderful mother of 3 this last birth was not easy. Possible cord entanglement may have contributed to a surgical birth. Her recovery was hard. In addition, the family added a 4th child to the family seven years after her first birth. This baby's birth was a planned surgical birth that went very well.
Birth Story Diaries ~ Real Births ~ Real Pictures: This site created by a doula in phoenix Arizona records both births she has attended, and births that others have submitted. The site offers both still picture and video and a variety of births in many birthing environments.
This was a wonderful Birth Center birth at Tucsons only Birth Center. This client had SROM (a high leak) earlier in the week without contractions. She started labor the night before her due date and the baby was born on her due date the next morning. This mom was so natural in labor, she listened to her body and allowed herself to labor as she needed. Dad delivered the baby to mom's stomach and cut the cord.
This was baby #3 for this family. This little girl was a 39 week induction for Gestational diabetes. Her sister was born weighing 10 pounds 14 ounces, so her 10 pound on the dot birth weight did not surprise us. She was born vaginally without pain medication and no episiotomy. It was a beautiful and serene birth.
This family came to me for support, because of military deployment. The Dad was able to be present for the birth, and then was deployed within 3 weeks. Baby was born at 39 weeks as a result of induction. However the baby did not tolerate the pitocin and a surgical birth was performed 11 hours after spontaneous release of membranes. Mom is currently expecting her second invitro baby.
* UPDATE....This family had their second baby in December 2005. Their son was born via repeat surgical birth at 38.2 weeks. He was born with some breathing complications and spent several days in the NICU, however once off oxygen he became a champion breastfeeder and is a healthy and happy little brother.