Saturday, July 16th, 2022

Mom texted me at 8:27am: “I’ve had contractions since 5am steady. If they get closer I’ll let you know.” 

I checked in an hour later asking if she thought I should head her way…she lived about an hour and a half away from New Orleans.  She said no, they weren’t strong or close enough together. 

The next day she said they ended up slowing down and ultimately stopping.


Wednesday, July 20th, 2022

I got the call from her husband at around 4ish in the morning. I asked if it was now the time to head that way, but because of the previous false alarm they wanted me to wait just a little longer. I tried to get a little more sleep, I had a good feeling today was the day.

6am he called me back. I could hear her moaning in the background. It was go time. I grabbed my bag and headed out the door. 

7am I arrived. She was in her bedroom riding the waves of contractions. I quietly let myself in and got my camera ready.

A lively scene in a bedroom with a young child in a blue and pink dress playing near a bed.
A small child wearing a denim vest and pink skirt stands with hands clasped in a bedroom.
Someone lying on a bed with braided hair and a black hoodie covering their face.
A pregnant woman in a navy cardigan stands by a bed while others interact nearby.
A person showing their pregnant belly while interacting with a small child in a bedroom setting.
A person resting on a bed during what appears to be a home birthing scene.
A person in dark clothing bending over a wooden vanity with a round mirror and decorative wall art.
A birthing scene showing labor support during a home birth with a midwife.

Big sister was so excited to meet her brother and wanted to comfort mom as much as possible. 

Close up of a pregnant belly with colorful floral tattoos and black fabric draping.
A family gathering in a living room with artwork and orange curtains visible.
Intimate home birth scene with a young child participating in the experience.
A toddler in a denim dress sitting in a white chair.
A tender embrace during labor in a home setting.
A small child interacts with someone in a black dress during a home birth.
A quiet moment shared in a living room with musical artwork on the walls.
An intimate moment captured during a home birth experience.
A quiet resting moment during labor while drinking water.
A birthing pool being prepared in a home setting with support people standing nearby.

After a while the contractions slowed back down and she thought it was another false alarm. She said I could leave and she would let me know when they started back up. I had actually had my own ultrasound scheduled that morning that I thought I was going to miss and have to reschedule. Somehow at that moment I had exactly enough time to leave and make it to my appointment. It was our 20 week gender confirming ultrasound and my partner met me at the hospital. We discovered we would also be having a little boy. As we walked out of the hospital my phone buzzed. “My water broke”. My heart jumped…was I going to miss this birth?!


My husband and I parted ways and I rushed back to Mississippi. I really think I ran back into that house where I found mom laboring in her birth pool…no baby yet! I got back to work, capturing dad supporting mom as best he could. 

Laboring person rests in a blue inflatable birthing pool during home birth.
Birth support team assists during labor in blue inflatable pool.
Person with tattoos laboring in a blue birthing tub during home birth.
Birth worker provides comfort measures to laboring person in blue inflatable pool.
Support person assists during labor in dimly lit room with birthing pool.
Loving embrace shared between family members after birth.
Close support and comfort provided during active labor in birthing pool.
Peaceful labor scene in blue birthing pool with natural window light.
Support person offers assistance during water labor in blue birthing pool.
Home water birth scene showing support during labor in blue birthing pool.
Supportive birthing team assisting during labor in inflatable birth pool.

Not even 15 minutes after I got back baby H made his appearance! He came out so fast I was astounded. In my head I just kept thinking “damn did she make that look easy!” and yes, I definitely shed some tears. 

There was a calmness that descended after baby was born. Mom stayed in the birth tub and cuddled her little one as the rest of the family gathered around to see. There was no rush. Eventually mom carefully got out of the tub and sat on a birthing stool to try and birth her placenta.

A birth scene in a home setting with a blue birthing pool and supportive presence.
Intimate moment captured during a water birth in a blue inflatable pool.
A tender birthing moment captured in warm lighting with orange curtains in background.
Close-up of a gentle embrace during a water birth with floral tattoo visible.
An emotional water birth scene showing support and connection in warm indoor lighting.
Intimate water birth photography capturing a tender moment with natural window light.
A newborn baby cries while being held against a tattooed chest during a water birth.
Newborn baby crying while being cradled against colorfully tattooed skin in birthing pool.
A water birth scene showing a newborn baby being held in a blue birthing pool.
A birthing scene in an inflatable pool with onlookers gathering around the newborn.
Gentle moment with newborn baby being wrapped in towel after water birth.
Newborn baby crying while being held by tattooed arms after birth.
Water birth scene showing a baby being supported in an inflatable blue pool.
Multiple people gather around a newborn during water birth in blue inflatable pool.
Support team assists with newborn baby during water birth in inflatable pool.
Overhead view of water birth scene in blue inflatable pool with attendants.
A birthing scene in a blue inflatable pool shows a newborn baby being lifted from the water.
A newborn baby is held in an inflatable birthing pool while others look on supportively.
Family gathers around an inflatable birthing pool during a home water birth.
A colorfully tattooed person holds a newborn baby in a blue birthing pool.
An intimate moment captured during a home water birth in a blue inflatable pool.
A peaceful scene of a water birth with observers gathered around a blue birthing pool.
Multiple people gather around a blue inflatable birthing pool during a home birth.
An overhead view of a home water birth scene with support people around a blue birthing pool.
Support team surrounds a blue inflatable birthing pool during a home birth.
A tender moment during a home birth as a newborn is held near a blue birthing pool.
Newborn baby being gently swaddled in a soft white blanket during birth with floral tattoos visible.
Parents tenderly holding newborn baby wrapped in white towel during birth with colorful tattoos visible.
Close up of newborn baby being held against chest with vibrant floral tattoos visible.
Intimate skin-to-skin bonding moment with newborn baby and tattooed parent.
Emotional first moments between newborn and parent showing skin-to-skin contact.
Heartfelt interaction between parent and newborn baby during first moments after birth.
Birth photography capturing tender bonding moments between parent and newborn.
Close up view of newborn baby being comforted after birth.
Gentle moment capturing newborn baby's first moments after delivery.
Fresh newborn baby being dried with soft white towel showing skin-to-skin contact.
Newborn baby sleeping peacefully while being cradled against tattooed skin.
Newborn infant nursing while wrapped in cream colored blanket next to colorful tattoos.

Her placenta had decided it wasn't quite ready to come out, so the midwives helped her back to her bedroom so she could lay down and they could begin to give baby his newborn exam.

Close up of tiny newborn feet wrapped in soft beige towel.
Newborn baby wrapped in cream colored towel resting on hospital bed.
Newborn baby being dried off with soft towel after birth.
Joyful scene of birth with new baby and family sharing first moments together.
Fresh newborn baby crying while being comforted after birth.
Young child in black outfit playing with medical stethoscope on bed.
Child in black dress sitting on bed examining medical equipment.
Newborn baby nursing while nestled against decorated skin with tattoo art.
A series of medical photos showing hands wearing blue surgical gloves during a birth procedure.
Hands wearing protective blue gloves during a medical procedure on a bed.
A sequence of birthing images showing colorful arm tattoos and medical care.
Medical procedure images showing care being provided on a white sheet.
Person with colorful sleeve tattoos holding a newborn wrapped in cloth.
Close up of tattooed arms cradling a newborn baby in soft lighting.
Intimate hospital scene showing a tattooed person holding a newborn.
Medical tools and procedure being performed on a gray surface.
A placenta laid out on white medical cloth for examination.
Medical examination of placental tissue with blue gloved hands.
A tattooed professional midwife attends to a newborn baby during delivery.
Medical instruments and supplies in a copper bowl during childbirth.
A newborn baby being cradled in a peaceful moment after birth.
A newborn baby wrapped in a soft towel being held by someone with colorful tattoos.
A newborn baby being examined moments after birth.
A joyful moment as a newborn baby is held close after delivery.
Close-up of a newborn baby with arms raised lying on a medical bed.
Medical professional examining a newborn baby on a delivery table.
Healthcare provider performing initial checks on a crying newborn baby.
Medical assessment being conducted on a newborn baby with monitoring equipment.
A medical professional examines and measures a newborn baby during a medical checkup.
Newborn baby receiving initial medical examination with measuring instruments.
Healthcare provider conducting detailed measurements on a newborn infant.
Medical examination of a newborn baby on an examination table with green background.
Newborn baby lying on a white examination surface during medical assessment.
Healthcare worker taking measurements of a newborn during routine examination.

Big sister wanted to be like the midwives, and dad couldn't wait to weigh baby and find out if he won his bet or not!

Person demonstrating the use of a turquoise mesh baby weighing sling.

(He did not win lol)