baby olive

• Finally!  Baby Olive is here.  Her birth story turned out to be very different from what her mama had envisioned, yet it was perfect.  Marla had wanted to have a home birth, but little Olive decided to overstay her welcome by 14 days.
• Marla was admitted to the hospital yesterday afternoon at 3pm. Contractions weren't super regular, so her doula, Meghan, had her climbing stairs.  When I arrived at 7pm, she and James were climbing up and down.  She'd have a good contraction every time she reached the top, and then again when she reached the bottom.
• Things progressed very slowly through the night.  Contractions were constant and strong, but not much headway.  By 6:30am, her midwife, Bridget, decided to break her water in an attempt to get things moving.  It wasn't possible to induce with oxytocin at this point because they didn't think the baby could handle the strong contractions it would initiate.  She was 4cm dilated when the midwife checked.
• Marla was so uncomfortable, and so so so tired.  By this time, she had been in labour for 15 hours...and that doesn't even take into account the days and days beforehand where she had been having contractions.  It was disappointing to hear that a medical induction wasn't possible, but hopeful that the breaking of the waters would kickstart harder contractions.  
• The midwife came back to check on Marla around 1:30pm.  4.5 cm dilated.  Totally devastating.  All that work.  All those contractions.  All those hours.  We all had a good cry.  The midwife suggested an epidural to help Marla's body relax, and maybe also let her rest a bit.  
• I wasn't allowed to stay for the epidural, so at 3:00 I went to the main waiting room, put a couple chairs together and slept for an hour.  I haven't pulled an all nighter in a looooooong time, and I was definitely feeling it.  I woke up, got something to eat, went for a walk, got a ultra huge coffee and headed back to the room.  I snuck in and saw the sweetest thing.  Marla was sleeping, and James was on the cot beside her bed, holding her hand.  
• When Marla woke, she was feeling the urge to push.  They checked her again at 5:55 and....hallelujah!  10 cm.  That epidural worked some magic.  
• Marla pushed for half an hour with her husband holding her hand, her mom holding her leg and her midwife and nurse cheering her on.  
• Olive Jaymes Lemon was born at 6:25pm.  11 lbs, 4 oz.  Wow.  A big beautiful baby girl.  
• At every single birth I attend, I'm fascinated with a few thing:
  • I'm blown away by a woman's body.  How.  Just how????  How do we do that?  It's a miracle to witness each and every time.  
  • How is it possible that a person can be in agonizing pain one moment, and pure bliss the next?  That transformation that happens in the split second when the baby fully emerges and is placed on the mama is pure magic.
  • The love and care a partner shows towards the mother is extraordinary.  It's deep and moving.  It's almost holy.  It's one of my favorite things to capture.
• Marla and James, thank you so much for granting me the honor of capturing Olive's birth story.  Can't wait for baby #3!!!  (Oh...too soon?  Lol.)

Kind words from Marla:
Thank you so much for being there with us! You played such a huge part in the whole experience and helped get me through my toughest life event. 

And through your amazing photography have provided me with something that is helping me heal from any traumatic memories i was holding. I literally look through the pictures and see the beauty in every high and every low. For that I can't thank you enough!

These are keepsakes I will forever and ever cherish ❤