The Birth of Charlotte Elizabeth - Keila June Photography - Keila June Photography

SHE'S HERE!!

The long awaited and much anticipated baby GIRL addition to our family! 😁

The night before Charlotte was born, I was determined to "walk her out" by going to the beach and jumping around a bit under the full moon. We had dinner after, and got home around 10pm.

I believe it worked because I woke up with my first contraction around 5:30am! 🙌🏼

I had one or two contractions an hour after that first one, so I knew it would be a long day. I texted my midwife, parents and photographer friends. When the kids woke up around 9am I shared the news with them that THIS would be the day that they would meet their baby sister! Everyone got dressed and were over the moon excited! I also told them they would need to be patient as it may not happen until the wee hours of the next day.

I started full blown nesting, did what was left of my laundry and folded lol, mopped the floors, took a shower, pampered myself, prepared breakfast... all while having sporadic (but painful) contractions.

Around noon my midwife (bless her heart) told me to take some skullcap and take a nap. So I got comfortable in the Miles' Circuit position, breathed through another 2 contractions, and fell deep asleep! Woke up two hours later to a very painful contraction. I knew I was getting closer, but I still felt I had to get stuff done, so off to the kitchen I went to make arepas (a Venezuelan corn pancake type of thing) and after a while I told my husband to take over so they wouldn't get burned. I retreated to my room, where I sat on an exercise ball. I heard my parents arriving but at this point, I started deep moaning through contractions as they were becoming more and more intense. Because they were still pretty far apart I was able to build strength again before the next one came.

As my husband heard me, he knew I was getting very close so he told midwife Gelena, and she was at our house within 30 minutes! She knows when my husband is the one texting her she needs to make her way over. 😂 She arrived around 5:45pm, set up all the supplies, and had a look at my "purple line" (a way to see how much you are approximately dilated without an internal cervical exam). As soon as she saw, she said "ooh, I would get in the water if I were you, you look to be about 8-9cm". 🤨 I was so surprised because I didn't feel like I was anywhere near giving birth yet. I was still breathing calmly through each surge, and listening to my worship music in between, singing praises to God! I had my whole support system next to me by this time. My parents, my husband and my boys, my daughter who was my own personal little doula, my two photographers (who also happen to be great friends!), my sister, my midwife and her assistant. My house was full and so was my heart. I couldn't believe this was about to go down! 🤩

So I got in the birth pool which I had setup way ahead of time, I had made a birth space for myself and looked forward to this very moment for nearly a month before. I had my favorite essential oils diffusing and my favorite worship playlist going. The atmosphere was right. I just sat back and relaxed, waiting for the next surge. And so it came. This one was different. This one made me start bearing down more and I felt her head enter the birth canal, still deep within me. I changed positions to find a less painful one. With the next contraction, my water broke and I felt her descending even more. As I breathed and deep grunted, I felt the head start to emerge. I couldn't believe I was birthing her on my own. I held on tightly to my perineum as the counter pressure felt good and I was able to guide her out. I felt her head of hair just flowing in the water. This got me excited for my next contraction! I was determined to push her head out now, as the ring of fire was really burning! So with the next one, I really grunted and pushed with all my might and felt her head pop out fully! What sweet relief!! I waited there a few seconds until my body pushed the rest of her out, the most incredible feeling on earth! My midwife lovingly grabbed her and placed her on my chest. "I did it! She's here! Praise Jesus! God, You are faithful!" These were all the thoughts going through my head. Charlotte was born 6:59pm on September 24, weighing 8.5lbs and 21 1/4 inches!

This was my redemptive birth. The one that healed all others. The one that brought such joy to my heart! The one that was an answer to all my prayers. If my midwife wasn't there to stop me, I probably would've gotten up and started dancing - I was so happy and energized!

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Below is a slideshow of this moment!

A very vulnerable moment for me, but I will gladly share with you as I believe in empowering and encouraging other women out there, that they too can do it!

Naturally, peacefully and lovingly.

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Photos taken by Rachel Eade (@eade) and Brooke Logue (@brookeloguephotography)

Attended by Midwife Gelena Hinkley from Natural Birthworks in Margate, FL.

And her lovely assistant Martha Lerner from Zenmamalove. She is a doula and fellow birth photographer.

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