AnInductionBirth
When I met Cheltsea, she stated this was her last and final birth. Now I have been doing photography for 8 years now and growing up my dream was to be a labor and delivery nurse, and I’m not disappointed in where my path has taken me because I truly take pride in my photography. I mentiond to her that I will be offering birthing photography services. We chatted about it and she was all on board of what I had to offer, for her being my first one.
They arrived at the hospital Sunday morning, eager and beyond ready to meet their baby girl. To start with she started this indcution 4cm right off the bat. One goal that Cheltsea told me ahead of time, was that she is going to try her hardest to do this without an epidural.With her other three births she received one early on in each so there were many firsts during this time around.
The coummication between us went strong. I received a text at 7:42am stating they just had started the Pitocin also known as Oxytocin. I had a gut feeling that it wouldn’t take long for things to pick up with her going into this at 4cm.
I checked back in with them around 9am and had a reply of “contractions are going strong” that was my q that it was time to make my way down to the hospital. At this time her contractions were 5-7 mins apart.
Upon arrival, and singing into the hospital, I took a deep breath in the elevator, and said to myself “this dream is really happening” something that I’ve wanted to do since I first started.
Exiting the elevator, with the pretty fish tanks to greet me, a quiet morning on the floor!
Entering room LDRP Room 2 (Rm 250) I can see that contractions are intense. I gave Cheltsea a reminder, that I don’t want her to not do something because I’m here. Everyone labors diffrently and everyone does things different to help them through hard contractions.
Watching the screen, and the contractions becoming 2-3 min apart, hearing the beautiful sound of the intsense breathing, and her mother in law coaching her through each contraction I knew it wasn’t going to be long.
At this time, pain meds were needed, again another first for Cheltsea. Even though the screen showed contractions backing down, her words were ” I don’t care what the screen says they are still as strong as before meds” there may have been a little other choice words in that also (hehe).
about a half hour goes by, and the meds weren’t working like she had wanted them to. She then said with the hands grasping the bed rails, breathing through a large contraction ” I just can’t do this, I need the epidural” some tears came with that statement and so it should. Your body only can handle so much pain before you feel like your going to shut down. A gentle recommendation came that lets have them come in and check to see how far along dialation is.
Her amazing midwife entered the room while everyone except her husband Gary waited in the hall. The door opened they exited, as I entered I said “so what is the vertic” Cheltsea then came in with a big “7cm!” I said wow this is great. Reminding her that this is her birth and her choice she has every right to make any decision she would like. She was interested in a warm bath to try before the anesthesiologist arrived.
Watching her now dig her heels into the bed, and both hands on the bed rails helping her through the pain, she just was so tired. (labor is a very hard job regardless)
A knock on the door then came, at this time it was around 11:40 the anesthesiologist then entered with the nurses. As we all know that once you have this done, there is no getting up to go to the bathroom on your own. We waited in the hall so the procured could be done. (I saw midwife run in) 5 mins later the door opens- my camera in my hand, settings ready to go as I didn’t think it would be much longer I then here a little scream, the anesthesiologist exits the room. I’m thinking wow that was the fastest one placed. well myself and the nurse standing there waiting to go in, her with some things needed in the room he states “Well this has never happened to me before, I have this medication that doesn’t need to be used” nurse states “what do you mean?” we then were told she delivered the baby already! my response was ” what do you mean she had the baby?!”
Upon entering the room, I see a beautiful baby in momma arms, she looks up and said “I DID IT” I said yes you did and you should be proud of yourself, that you did it with NO epidural! When Cheltsea got up to go to the bathroom she had that feeling all women say when your having a vaginal delivery it feels like a poop there is no other sugar coat. Her midwife and nurses safely delivered miss Charleigh Jean. What an amazing experience for everyone.
Cheltsea did apologize to me that I missed it, but that was corrected as she did this with her wishes of doing it on her own, and that’s all that matters! I was happy that I was able to lend a hand during the final stage of delivery of the placenta. capturing the new babe, the first feed, the cord cutting, the bonding filled my heart, and I am beyond blessed and so proud of her.
Thank you so much Cheltsea and Gary for allowing me to capture something so magical.
Here are some of my favorites from this hospital birth.
