Posted byMy photo biz partner Ashley recently had the chance to shoot the birth of the daughter of two of our very favorite people. Natasha and Paul’s birth experience was pretty unique for two people in the state of Alabama, and they actually had to travel to Tennessee to have it.
Alabama’s a little tricky — it’s not illegal to be a midwife here (there are eleven nurse-midwife practices and forty-three Certified Nurse-Midwives in the state), but it’s illegal to have a licensed midwife attend a home birth. Since a home birth is what Natasha and Paul wanted, they journeyed to Blessed Care in Fayetteville, TN, to do it.
Ashley received a phone call at three in the morning from Paul letting her know Natasha had arrived and was in labor — so she got to witness the beginnings of the day as well:
A water birthing story told in photos
It's totally a cliche, but there's something about birth photography that makes me quiet. Every time I see photos from a birth -- whether it's... Read more
Says Ashley, “When I got there, I asked where Natasha and Paul were — everyone pointed to the back bedroom. I quietly walked in to find them in the tub with Arcade Fire playing softly in the background. Natasha quietly started crying and the midwife, Linda, asked if she was ok. She replied, ‘I’m ok. I’m just so happy right now.’ Everyone turned to each other with tears in their eyes, and I knew this day was destined to be a great one.”
Ashley spent over ten hours with the couple and the team of midwives, along with Natasha’s mother and sister.
Georgia June was born on February 23, 2011, at 12:41pm — over twelves hours after Natasha and Paul arrived at their midwife’s practice.
“The moment she opened her eyes everyone in the room melted. Sniffles were heard all around as Natasha and Paul held their daughter for the first time. As soon as Natasha said ‘Hi, baby’ Georgia lit up and smiled and cooed right back at her.”
If so inclined, you can most definitely see more of the photos at the White Rabbit Studios blog.
how lovely! georgia june is a perfect name. squee!
Amazing how alert and awake Georgia is! Beautiful story, beautiful pictures…………….ahhhhhh I swoon!
Beautiful baby! So happy for you 🙂
I am all teary-eyed! Beautiful photos and beautiful baby! And love the name!
that is so what i want for the birth of my next child! i love especially the third picture – so much quiet tenderness going on there.
as someone writing from germany i do frown upon americam law – why on earth should a midwife-assisted home birth be illegal?! over here the law says, that a midwife must be present at every birth (wherever). the presence of a doctor is not mandatory.
it seems so ridiculous that a couple has to change states to get the birth they want!
Oh, WOW! I am in love with this baby, this family.
Amazing. I love this, I cannot wait to homebirth my son, due this summer. Amazing photos, really.
Wow! What an incredible moment to capture! They seem so in the moment and in tune with one another.
Bringing tears to my eyes once again.
This brought tears to my eyes, too. My daughter was born in that same room–our pictures are still on the wall. What a flood of memories!
Natasha, I am SO proud of you, and I’m so grateful for Linda for making a beautiful, peaceful birth a possibility for us. Georgia is a lucky girl!
xoxoxoxox
Beautiful – makes me so excited for the possibility of having a homebirth this June.
Is there any way to get more information on the “Calm after Storm” poem and image? That is something I’d love to have around for myself.
the picture is one of four from Sheila Kitzinger 1993 and this was one of our best births at Blessed Care
How gorgeous. Our baby Nola Jean (another double name!) was born in a birth house in Elkton, Tennessee. Best decision I ever made.
Nola is a beautiful name too, but our baby’s name is Nora (Aron backwards) so naming another baby Nola prob wouldn’t work for us.
thanks for the feature steph! and thanks for all the kind words about the shots! it was interesting having to focus through tears, but WELL worth it. :):)
so Ashley did this help you decide that you could have a baby, Even without Medication ?! We’re waiting for your call to reserve your birth space here Blessings Linda
I love the picture of Georgia being weighed, it looks so much more comfortable than being placed on a cold scale in hospital. A much nicer welcome to the world!
This is SO BEAUTIFUL!! Birth stories like this always get me all emotional and excited 🙂 Thanks for sharing!!
I love this, this is so beautiful.
How do I find a something similar to this in my area? I don’t want a home birth but I don’t want to go to a hospital either.
I love these photos! Makes me so excited to have children of my own at home. <3 Simply beautiful.