Welcome Baby Eloise!

Ahhh… the miracle of a birth. I always feel so incredibly honored to be a part of welcoming a child into the world and into a family.  There is so much unknown around the event – when exactly it will happen and how it will go – that when that tiny little ball of pink flesh arrives, it feels at once almost impossible and yet entirely natural.

And so I found myself driving down the hill to Roseville after dad, Elmo, called me to let me know that his wife, Rebecca, had been admitted into Kaiser Roseville’s labor and delivery unit and was 5cms dilated. Elmo, Rebecca and I found one another via Google a few months prior and, having seen the many births I have photographed for my brides and grooms, hired me to capture her second delivery.  Their family was already graced with twin boys four years ago by c-section and they were eager to meet their first daughter.

When I arrived into the delivery room a couple of hours later, Rebecca was 100% dilated and sitting comfortably after Elmo, who is an anesthesiologist, had administered her epidural. In the background Elton John was playing and on a screen in front of them were their two boys who they were Face-timing with while they waited for things to progress. The boys were flitting in and out of view as they jumped around, doing handstands and generally going wild with excitement. Trying to capture a photo of them both in the frame together was quite the feat and I was thankful for some internet hang-time to accomplish it. It was a sweet way to begin our time together.

Not long after, a nurse came by to check on Rebecca and suggested some test pushes. Test pushes quickly turned into whoooah hold on there! and before I knew it the ObGyn was in the room ready for the main event. As a doctor at that very hospital, Elmo was able to take prime position next to the OB to deliver his daughter into the world. After only about 15 minutes of pushing, Eloise Lauralina – her middle name comprised of two grandmothers’ names – emerged quietly and gracefully into her father’s arms.

It was such a peaceful event. Little Eloise barely cried during my time in the room with her, her parents, her grandmother and aunt, having arrived as if she had already been here a thousand times before. I watched as the whole family spent time bonding with their newest member, captured some first family shots and then slipped quietly out the door with a huge smile on my face.

This was my first birth that I was hired for specifically for the event. I have photographed many births for my brides and grooms but had never before been hired by a new client. I have to say that I was a little apprehensive about how it would feel for me and the family, to meet them for the first time during such an intimate moment. But I need not have been concerned. Rebecca and Elmo were clearly committed to the importance of having a professional photographer present to capture their moments while they focused on bringing their child into the world. And, when you think about it, it’s a beautiful, natural process that should be filled with open joy to share. I’m glad I was able to be there and would encourage other moms who may have been on-the-fence about hiring a stranger to photograph their birth, to just do it if it’s important to them too.