A Birth Center Birth at Sacred Roots — Indiana Birth Photographer

From our first consultation, Rachel was very certain in what she wanted out of her birthing experience. She knew she wanted her birth documented and supported in a birth center setting. What a dream! She also knew exactly what she wanted her maternity photos to look like. Being a 3rd time mom, she wanted a session “just for her”, something to make her feel lovely in her skin, yet relaxing. She went with a milk maternity bath in her favorite spot in their home, and it was pure magic. I love the different ways parents want to preserve their pregnancy. I also firmly believe that it is so incredibly important to do!

Arriving for Rachel’s labor at the Birth Center was no unfamiliar task. I made my way back to their birthing suite to find Rachel mid-contraction, supported upright by her husband David. It’s great that partners instinctively know how to soothe! He quickly fell into doing counter-pressure through each and every contraction until he needed a break. I got to capture so many intimate moments between them during Boyd’s birth.

When Rachel finally felt the urge to push, David moved beside his wife to support and encourage her while I did counterpressure with my knee on her lower back. As Boyd emerged, I was able to capture the most amazing series of images! It was incredible to lay witness to such a transformative journey.

Once Boyd was on her chest, she said to David, “Call the girls!” Their two older daughters were at home with grandparents and couldn’t wait to hear the news that their baby brother was finally earthside.

Rachel had me in quite an awe at her instinctive movements immediately after Boyd was laid to her chest. She gently lifted him to be able to remove her top and do skin to skin. She held him tightly, yet gracefully as his once lucious and blue, yet turned yellow and limp cord was cut. She let him reside on her chest until he was showing signs of the breast crawl. She asked for her quiche to be prepared, and ate plentiful knowing her body needed to be nourished in order to nourish Boyd’s.

Soon after, we were all admiring Boyd’s cuteness, from his sweet cheeks to his little feet. He seemed to soak up the love, all the while adjusting to this new world he was now in. <3