When preparing for this birth, the birth team planned for this baby to come very quickly. Two of Tiffany’s previous births were precipitous and happened in less than an hour and before the midwife could arrive. When I received the call that her water had broken I quickly made the 20 minute drive to find her beautifully laboring with her husband as support and her oldest children helping to setup as well.

One moment that sticks out in my mind is when I followed the family outside, and in the open field next to their house stood a family of six deer. Tiffany leaned on her husband and said, “Look at that, and we’re here having our sixth baby.”

It was such a beautiful moment to witness. The peace that surrounded that moment permeated through the rest of the birth.

Tiffany later told me that she had prayed for this birth to slow down and not happen as quickly as her last two. She prayed that her midwife would make it in time, that I would make it in time to capture these memories, and that she would have time to experience her birth with her family supporting her throughout it all.

Soon after, Midwife Christine from the amazing Birth By Grace Midwifery arrived to help assess Tiffany and support her and the family throughout the rest of the birth. Christine has such a beautiful spirit that is both assertive and supportive. She is passionate about birth work, and her team is such an asset to our community. She brings a wealth of knowledge, compassion and support to each of her birthing families.

Tiffany was one of the most in-control mother’s I’ve ever seen give birth. She stopped several times, and said “I’m listening to my body, and it’s telling me to wait to push.”

It made me so happy to see her children witness the strength she has and for them to see the beauty and miracle that birth truly is.

Only a few hours after my arrival to their home, Tiffany and her family welcomed their 6th baby.

Baby Helen was certainly welcomed with a tremendous amount of love.

Thank you Tiffany for giving me the honor of capturing these moments for you and your family. Thank you for sharing your birth story with us and for showing us how birth can be an empowering and beautiful experience.