Missed opportunity ~ Suzanne’s home birth

When Suzanne told me she was expecting baby number six, I immediately asked if I could photograph the birth. When she told me it was going to be a home birth, I was even more excited about the opportunity. We are pretty close friends. I figured this was a great time for me to get the full birth photography experience with someone I was comfortable with and someone who was comfortable with me.

As the time grew closer, I felt sure she would go into labor while I was on vacation, but she didn’t. After I was home and settled, my memory cards cleared, batteries charged and ready to go at a moment’s notice, it was still quiet. I called her one afternoon. She was, of course, doing ten other things while talking to me. Unloading kids from the car having just returned from an appointment. She was discouraged, tired, in pain and ready for the baby to come, but suspected it might be another week.

Then one morning I’m sitting at the table doing school with the kids and I get a text from her that says, “um, so I barely got Matt and the midwife here…”

And I’m all, “What? You had her without me! How could you?”

Well, no, of course I didn’t say that. I just thought it. I mean, she’d just had a baby practically in her hallway.

Suzanne is pretty amazing. She manages six kids, she homeschools, and any time I’m there she’s calm and gentle. She’s loving and patient even with the clingiest kid. I’m just so happy for her.

During my visit I tried to get her to re-enact the birth so I could at least have something to show you. Instead she told me the story and I photographed the sweet new addition, a baby girl.