On the night of September 7th, 2023 a mother welcomed her second child into the world.


Albeit, it wasn't as she had planned (as birth rarely goes "as planned"), but it was a story. One I was so privileged to bear witness to (well, sort of).


After going in for an induction early morning, mom labored until around midnight before suggesting I come in. I arrived to a dimly lit room where mom was trying her best to get some sleep (a rarity in the midst of labor, but oh so needed.) Her husband sat on the small couch next to the bed, and her doula on a stool on the opposite side. It wasn't long after I arrived that the midwife came in with news that she didn't like what she was seeing concerning baby's heart-rate and if things didn't make a change soon mom wasn't going to be able to go for her VBAC after all. The doctor recommended placing an intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC), which is a device placed into the amniotic space during labor in order to measure the strength of uterine contractions, as well as introduce some fluids. It wasn't long after mom agreed that she began to feel a sharp pain. Her doula quickly called in the doctor and they immediately prepared mom to take her back for an emergency c-section.


Due to the emergent nature of the situation, I was unfortunately not able to go back and capture the moment of birth for mom.


Dad and baby BOY (they had kept baby's gender a surprise until birth!) finally arrived back at the room while mom was still in the operating room. It would be 2 and a half more hours before she was finally wheeled back in and able to officially meet her newest love. While we waited, baby received his newborn exam, and dad gave him his first feeding- colostrum mom had meticulously collected in the weeks leading up to his birth.


While we were waiting we learned that mom had experienced one of the rare risks of VBACs - a uterine rupture! During a cesarean the surgeon normally has to cut through 7 layers of tissue before arriving at baby....however, in this particular situation, they reached baby after cutting through layer one! Astonishing, and absolutely terrifying.


This mom did more than birth a baby that morning. She braved a series of unknowns, and was walking not even 5 hours later.


She is a warrior.

A fighter.

A mother.


Close-up portrait of a sleeping infant wearing a knit sweater in soft natural lighting.
Macro view of tiny infant fingers against a cozy knit fabric background.
Delicate baby hands resting on textured brown knit fabric.
Detail shot showing small fingers and a knit sweater texture.
Peaceful infant sleeping in soft lighting with natural skin tones.
Close-up portrait showing peaceful sleeping expression.
Dreamy portrait of sleeping baby in brown knit hooded clothing.
Small fingers gently curled against textured fabric background.
Tranquil sleeping infant wrapped in cozy knit fabric.
View of empty bassinet by window with brick buildings visible outside.
A newborn baby wearing a brown outfit sleeps peacefully on a hospital bassinet.
Medical professional examines a young patient sitting in a teal hospital chair.
A tender hospital scene showing care and attention for a newborn patient.
Sleeping newborn with hospital ID bracelet wrapped in a brown blanket.
A touching moment between a young sibling and newborn baby in a hospital room.
Close-up shot of tiny baby feet peeking out from under a brown blanket.
Gentle moment in a hospital room with a newborn wearing an identification bracelet.
Hospital room scene showing family gathered around a resting patient.
Hospital room view with people resting and reading in medical chairs.
Close-up of newborn baby feet with hospital identification band visible.
Newborn baby with curly dark hair rests against soft brown blanket in hospital setting.
Newborn baby wrapped in brown blanket rests peacefully in hospital bed.
A tender skin-to-skin bonding moment between parent and newborn in hospital room.
Intimate hospital room scene showing first moments with newborn baby.
Gentle bonding moment with newborn wrapped in brown blanket in hospital bed.
Young child looking out hospital window with brown bag on windowsill.
Newborn baby in hospital cap nestles close during early feeding moment.
Peaceful newborn wearing hospital bracelet sleeps wrapped in warm brown blanket.
Tender moment between parent and newborn in hospital chair.
Hospital room scene showing early bonding moments after birth.
A parent rests in a teal hospital recliner while holding a newborn baby swaddled in white.
View through a doorway of people gathered around a hospital room table.
A tender moment between family members and a newborn baby in a hospital chair.
A close-up view of a newborn baby being held in a hospital setting.
A newborn baby wearing a pink outfit is cradled close in a hospital room.
A view of people gathered around a teal hospital chair with a newborn.
A hospital room interior with a teal chair, window, and pink floral artwork on the wall.
Hospital paperwork and name tags laid out on a wooden surface.
A child looks down at a photo album or book while sitting on a hospital bed.
A newborn baby lies wrapped in brown fabric on white hospital bedding.
Young child pulling on a brown shirt while sitting on blue furniture.
Baby wearing a knit beanie receives medical care in hospital bed.
Medical examination taking place in hospital room with equipment.
Infant wearing brown onesie lying on white hospital bedding.
Sleeping newborn in knitted beanie and brown sweater.
Child looking out hospital window while standing on medical bassinet.
Hospital room scene with child looking out window near medical bassinet.
Medical bassinet near window with soft natural lighting in hospital room.
Close-up of tiny hand resting on brown fabric.
Hospital bassinet with sleeping newborn wearing knit cap.
Close-up view of a brown knit fabric with soft lighting and shallow depth of field.
A newborn wearing a brown hooded onesie with 'Freshly Baked' text next to a Hello World sign.
Peaceful sleeping infant wearing a cozy brown knit hoodie.
Sleeping infant wearing a beige knit cap and brown outfit.
View through clear plastic of brown clothing and accessories.
Peaceful sleeping infant in beige knit bonnet and brown 'Fresh' outfit.
Sleeping newborn in brown hooded onesie with 'Freshly Baked' text and Hello World sign.
Small feet and legs resting on brown textured fabric.
Sleeping infant in hooded brown outfit with 'Freshly Baked' text.
Hospital nursery view through plastic showing sleeping infant in knit clothing.
A newborn baby in a hospital bassinet wrapped in a brown blanket under medical monitoring.
Patient lying in a hospital bed attached to medical monitors and equipment.
Hospital signage showing directional text mounted on a grey wall.
Row of medical monitoring equipment and digital screens mounted in a hospital room.
Healthcare provider in blue scrubs attending to a patient in a hospital bed.
Medical professional providing care to a patient in a dimly lit hospital room.
Empty hospital hallway with grey walls and orange doors under fluorescent lighting.
Modern hospital room interior with medical equipment and monitors mounted on walls.
Person resting in a hospital bed under medical care and monitoring.
Newborn baby receiving medical care in a hospital setting.
A newborn baby cries while lying on a hospital bed during their first moments after birth.
Medical monitor display showing vital signs and baby data in a hospital setting.
Medical professional wearing blue gloves measures a newborn's head with a measuring tape.
A newly delivered baby with wet hair being held by medical staff wearing blue gloves.
A newborn wearing a knit cap gazes at the camera while wrapped in blankets.
Close-up shot of tiny newborn feet with ink prints on hospital bed.
A newborn in white hat rests skin-to-skin on parent's chest in hospital.
A newborn wearing a gray knit cap lies on a dark surface while crying.
Medical supplies and documents arranged on white cloth in hospital setting.
Healthcare provider examines newborn with stethoscope during initial medical assessment.
A newborn baby cries during medical examination with gloved hands visible in the frame.
A newborn baby wearing a diaper and hat lies on a striped hospital blanket during a checkup.
A crying newborn baby swaddled in white lies on a blue and white striped blanket.
Close-up of hands holding a small medical device near a wrapped newborn.
A caregiver administers medicine to a newborn wearing a striped hat.
A medical clamp lies on a blue and white striped hospital blanket.
Hospital paperwork showing tiny footprints and congratulations text for a newborn.
Medical staff examine a newborn baby lying under warming lights in a hospital setting.
Medical professionals attend to a newborn in a hospital delivery room.
Gloved hands perform medical care on a newborn's foot under red warming light.
Medical professional performs newborn health check while wearing blue gloves in hospital.
Medical staff attending to patient in hospital bed with medical equipment visible.
Tender moment during medical care in hospital room with dim lighting.
Intimate healthcare interaction between provider and patient in hospital setting.
Medical procedure being performed in hospital room with specialized equipment.
Healthcare provider administering care to patient in clinical setting.
Medical staff member wearing blue uniform provides patient care in hospital room.
Healthcare worker in varsity shirt providing medical attention in clinical environment.
Close-up view of medical care being provided on hospital bed.
Gentle medical treatment being administered in dimly lit hospital room.
Medical staff attend to a newborn baby in a hospital delivery room.
Healthcare providers perform initial assessments on a newborn in a medical setting.
Medical team providing care to a patient in an orange-tinted hospital room.
Healthcare professionals working in a dimly lit medical environment.
Intimate moment in a hospital room showing care and support.
Parent bonding with newborn baby in hospital recovery room.
Hospital room scene showing medical care and support.
Healthcare providers attending to patient in hospital setting.
Medical staff using equipment during patient care in hospital room.
Hospital room interior with medical equipment and blue furniture.
A toddler in a light shirt leans over and smiles while looking down.
A moving sequence shows tender hospital moments after childbirth.
Testimonial

Amanda Wyrick

"Would give 10 stars if I could. Autumn was amazing from the initial meeting to the end result. She had a clear vision of what I wanted while respecting her creative artistry and man, did she deliver. Even when my birth “plans” took a turn for the worst, she was able to capture all the details and moments that I missed and I will now have then to cherish forever. Professional, responsive, and timely. Highly recommend!"