Corbin's Home Birth // Spanaway, WA Birth Photographer

It was the crack of dawn when I got the call. It was hard to hear. Shannon said from the other end, "it's baby time.." Out of breath, but I wasn't concerned. I knew she could do this. It took me .5 seconds to decide which way to jump out of bed. My kids were passed out on my left, so I quickly straddled my husband, gave him a kissed him on the cheek, and told him I had to go. I'm not even sure I brushed my teeth all the way. Did I care? Fuck no. I had somewhere to be.
Thankfully, Shannon lives about 8 minute away from me (hey sista friend!) I arrived with more adrenaline I've felt in a really long time. As I walked in to the birthing tent I felt a vibe that didn't match mine. I needed to take a second and channel the vibrations that were there. As I was setting up my camera Shannon was with her husband, Mitchell. Holding his hand, moaning, really feeling baby make progress. I was taken. Everything shifted. I was in the zone. Shannon was in the zone. Mitchell was ready. Sarah, Shannon's amazing midwife was already prepping for delivery! Not even 6 minutes of arriving myself. I was later told that Sarah arrived just 10-15 minutes before me. Corbin was ready. 
Shifting positions, Shannon was desperately waiting for the birthing tub to fill. Listening to her body, she stood up. Breathing though every single contraction, it was time. Reaching down to feel Corbin's sweet little head of hair, little baby boy was here!
Emotions flew. Tears of relief, goosebumps of shock, and a sigh of a job well fucking done. 
She did it. She fucking did it.

The calm after the storm.
Corbin was weighed and looked over. He was perfect. Little Selma arrived from Grandma's and finally got to meet her baby brother. It was the sweetest thing I've seen in my little career. Shannon and I sat back and both wondered how the hell to believe what just happened. It was incredible.

If I've learned anything from documenting Corbin's birth, it's that we are capable of things we don't even realize until we get there. Sometimes things don't always go as planed. Yeah, Shannon didn't get the water birth she was planning for, but she had one hell of a birth team, (Sarah and Brittany!) that was more than there for her to get through the sudden change of plans. I learned that the support you have goes a long way. I learned, and will never forget that birth is beautiful. #brithwithoutfear
 

If you're interested in getting information form a home birth midwife, I highly recommend Firstlight Midwifery Care and their services. The website will be listed below!
www.tacomabirth.com