When I got in touch with Grace to discuss documenting her second birth, I was excited to learn that we lived less than 10 minutes from each other. The on-call life of a birth photographer means that when she needed me I’d be able to drop everything and go. As a Senoia birth photographer, being able to document a Senoia home birth is always exciting to me, and it always feels special to be able to welcome a baby into the same town that I live in. The sense of community that we have here is really something special.

I got the text around 6:30 in the evening that Grace had been having contractions on and off for most of the day and that she would be contacting her midwife Tracy Cuneo of Graceful Birth Services soon.

Grace labored beautifully in the peace and tranquility of her own bathtub. Twinkle lights and candles made the space so calming, and I know this helped set the mood for her to welcome her baby. When her son was almost here, midwife Tracy supported Grace by encouraging her to change positions and helped her out of the bathtub and onto the edge of the bed. Many women find a standing or squatting position very helpful during birth. Gravity naturally aides in the birth process and encourages the baby down and out.

As Grace leaned on her bed and held onto her husband she birthed her son into the hands of midwife Tracy and midwife-in-training Delandra. These two women provide such amazing care to the women they support and provide midwifery care to. I wish that every woman had the opportunity to have them attend her birth. Part of Grace’s desire to document her birth story was to participate in the discussion of home birth and provide a positive view and story behind it so that women know that this is an option and should be a choice for them during birth if they want it.

When talking about why she hired a birth photographer Grace said, “You absolutely will not regret it. You can’t get that opportunity back, and having these photos that tell the story of you and your child’s birth day is an amazing thing!”

If you’re interested in having your birth story documented, contact me today. Spaces for 2021 birth stories are filling fast.