Born into her daddy's hands comfortably at home at 41 1/2 weeks.
8 lbs 13 oz
22 inches long
I love her beads around her neck from her blessing way ceremony.
Soon to be big sister.
I've always thought the toilet was a great place to labor.
I'm not a doula, but I had to show daddy some techniques I've previously observed to be useful to help cope through contractions on the toilet. I don't know why a gentle touch on the knees helps with the pain, but it sure does.
I showed him how to provide forehead support (Note in two photos above, she was seeking counterpressure on her forehead.) and then went back to staying behind my camera and out of the way.
I really like how she used her birth ball.
On the side there is a player for a hypnobirthing recording, she listened to 
Early in her pregnancy, we went to see the movie Orgasmic Birth together. 
Her midwife providing another pain coping technique: pouring warm water of the abdomen.
Now on the birth stool and pushing.
A nice, controlled, slow descent of the baby's head. No need to rush, therefore, no cutting necessary or sitches. 
Daddy took over from here with guidance from the midwife to catch his baby.
Exhilarating birth!!
These photos of her facial expressions on seeing her newborn remind me of the woman in Business of Being Born who gave birth in the birth center.
Thank you, for letting me share this joyous experience and the first moments of Lainey's life with you!!
You have such a beautiful family, the paparazzi couldn't help themselves. :)
Thanks for visiting, you may link to this post, but please do not
repost or republish these photos without consent.
Again, a special thanks to the family for inviting me to share this occasion with them and allow me to share these photos with those who may benefit from them.
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18 comments:
I'm crying... Thank you for taking me on a beautiful, photo-journalistic journey. These images capture the intimacy between husband & wife and the joy that was brought into their world when Lainey arrived. Brilliant, Denise.
Thank you for sharing!!! I've birthed so many times that the intimacy moves me emotionally. Her positioning was great. The support was on target! Thanks to the family for their willingness to share their photos. I don't think I was comfortable with my personal labor and birth photos until my later babies. I had no examples of women being photographed during the process, how the beauty of the birthing woman could be captured! Perfecto!
That was just incredible. I feel like I was there. Mom & Dad and photographer did a fantastic job. Let's not forget the star of the show....Lainey.
Wow I am still always in awe of the miracle of it all every time! So amazing!
I got your book! I sat and looked through the entire thing! I can't wait to read it ALL! Thanks soooo much!!!!
a beautiful birth!! Thank you for sharing this. and thanks to the mama and daddy who were also willing to let them be shared. my children were born at home, and it was a lot like this. I'm glad you got to document it.
Thank you for sharing that and to the family for allowing you to do so. I love birth stories :)
Denise, you are a doula!
and such nourishing photos, thankyou for feeding me~
Thanks so much for these amazing photos. Whta a cute baby as well.
So beautiful!
Welcome to planet earth, Lainey Nicole!
What a beautiful birth!!!!!!!
I felt so happy for her and felt like I was there..... Thanks for sharing this very special time in your life through these photos :) Denise, amazing photography!!
The photo of the facial expression after seeing her newborn got me all choked up. It was so beautiful. Thank you for sharing these. Amazing, touching, empowering!
Love and hugs,
Kristen
How beautifully you documented AND protected the space. How benevolent of the family to share these moments and these photos.
Thank you...it is sooo important.
Wow, that was beautiful. Thanks so much to the family for allowing their stories and photos to be shared.
I was especially impressed at how you suggested tips to the father and then moved out of the way. I so appreciated our birth attendants' respect of my husband during the birthing, so that he could be my primary support person, since he was the person I was most comfortable with.
lovely ! thank you !!
What a gorgeous birth. GREAT photos Denise.
I will admit I got teary thinking of the birth I was supposed to have with Asher. Seeing Alanna too is hard still. I miss her. I miss you!
C, I appreciate what you're saying and I have thought about Asher's birth the same way.
6 months after Lainey's birth and I still get teary eyed when I look at this blog post! I'm so happy you were there to capture such a special time in our lives! Thank You, Thank you, thank you!
Beautiful and greetings from Prague:
http://pohodaporody.webnode.cz/
Jana a Vladislav
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