I spoke to Karla about her positive birth story…
Hi, Karla, when were you due?
1st August!
How were you feeling? Relaxed? Impatient? Uncomfortable? Ready? Informed?
Definitely uncomfortable and impatient towards the end, but also relaxed! And so, so ready and excited!
How did you prepare for birth?
I did a daisy birthing course with Sarah Lewis – it was fab! I did nothing with my first and went into it a bit blind but I was definitely much more prepared and informed with Albert which gave me the confidence to have a home birth.
Anything stick in your memory in particular from birthing Albert?
How big he was. You imagine this tiny little baby coming out but my first thought was ‘my goodness, he’s massive!’ And then the overwhelming love that came as I held him, smelt him, cuddled, kissed and fed him!
Which is your favourite photo? Why?
This one. It just perfectly captured that moment that I had been waiting for, for what feels like a lifetime. Finally getting to see what/who he looks like; holding him.
It’s so strange, one minute they’re inside you, the next they’re in you arms but that is the best moment and feeling (with Albert and Douglas, my first born) I have ever experienced in my whole life. I would do it a million times over if I could!
During my pregnancy I had hoped for a homebirth but for a variety of reasons this wasn’t meant to be so especially excited to be invited to photograph Karla’s homebirth and sincerely hoped she’d get the birth she dreamed of.
Karla is actually a personal friend so I knew the room she was setting her birth pool up in quite well, having spent many an afternoon crafting in there! This made technical things like knowing which lenses to bring easier. I also knew the space was quite small and with the pool inflated there would only one be spot where I would be able to stand and not get in the way.
Working unobtrusively is one of the things I think is most important as a photographer during one of life’s most intimate and intense times.
I really aim to be a fly on the wall.
I feel so lucky to have been at a home birth. The atmosphere was one of quiet assurance, trust and calm. Even with big brother asleep in the next room! Being able to photograph Nan and Big Brothers first meeting with baby was incredible privilege too.
During Karla’s labour there was a pocket of time during transition, that magical line, at around 7cm dilation, where the hormones change and active labour truly begins,that was truly incredible to witness. Before this moment, Karla had been totally in the room with us between contractions. Talking and laughing with her husband and midwives. Then all of a sudden that changed .
Once the contraction seemed to stop she kept her eyes closed, her breathing was definitely measured and conscious. She was ‘inside herself’ working with her body, her baby, listening and obviously becoming intimately aware of what her body needed. She spent a couple of contractions like this, almost quieter than previous contractions.
Then all of a sudden she lifted her head and ROARED! It was amazing.
So powerful. So in control. So natural.
A beautiful 10lb baby arrived shortly after!
This is another of my personal favourite photos. It is so demonstrative of the lushness of newborns, fresh out of the wrapper!
These little toes, the vernix, so special and all too often unnoticed in the emotion of the moment. For me it really captures exactly why I do what I do and how a mama might look back in years to come and be transported right back to that place.
Earthside Birth Photography. The start of the Adventure.
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