Today we celebrated my second daughter’s first birthday. Wow- a year can pass so quickly! I learn so much from my children and this learning process begins with the unfolding of their birth.
Charlotte was born in the peace and warmth of our home, in water and next to a soothing fire while the sun came up. Nothing can describe my obsession with birth. I love pregnancy. I love labor. I love the miracle of birth. I love the first moments as baby feels mommy and daddy for the first time, then sees, hears and smells life outside the womb for the first time. I don’t see birth as something to “get through” or forget about, but as the most empowering and challenging moments a family gets to experience in life. I cherish my births and don’t want to forget a thing!
Birth is all about the baby, of course, but I actually think it’s all about me (and daddy and siblings), too. This is why I became a doula. I wanted to support moms and families during the labor process to fully enjoy this special time. My birth process belongs to me and my baby and I want to fully experience this overwhelming process that takes over my entire being- mind, body, and spirit. I submit myself to the labor, giving into the pain and intensity of the contractions, talking and communicating with my baby and feeling her move down toward her birth. There is nothing more incredible than reaching down and pulling my baby onto my chest, letting her find her way to nurse, then letting my body feed her and continue to provide the nourishment and protection she needs to survive.
One of the best decisions I made for this birth was to have my photographer friend Emily Stelea, who is also a doula, attend the birth. Many people are not aware of birth photographers. They are very special, and Emily is no exception. With my first daughter, I remember snarling at people when they asked if they should take a picture or video. Now I wish I would have known to tell them, “Just take pictures or videos when you think I’ll want to remember that moment.” After my first birth I was on such a “birth high” that I didn’t want to forget a moment of it. Because I only had a few pictures and one short video from the beginning of the 24 hour process, I wrote a 10 page essay documenting every moment that I could remember.
For Charlotte’s birth, Emily caught every special moment and memory. She was a quiet and supportive presence, and because of her understanding of the birth process and necessary environment, she was a perfect addition to the birth team. I’m so grateful for the photographic journal I have of Charlotte’s birth. My collection of photos is very personal, intimate, and arouses so many memories and feelings every time I look at them.
Thank you for sharing our birthday celebration. Please check out my doula site, South OC Doula, to view a documentary film of the birth, and visit Emily Stelea Photography to book your photographer!