posted in;

room set with dim lights and calm scene for laboring in the water at Serenity Birth Center.

The Birth of Adeline

A Powerful Belly to Home Birth Story

The birth of Adeline is a belly-to-home birth story that captures so much more than the birth of their sweet girl. It captures this family’s love for each other and this mom’s determination and strength.
Kaitlyn found me when searching for a birth photographer here in Las Vegas. Her goals were to capture everything about this stage of their lives, from the anticipation of awaiting their little girl to their birth at our local birth center, Serenity Birth Center, to bringing her home with an in-home newborn session. More and more families have chosen this birth package over the last few years. The Whole Story birth package includes maternity, birth, and newborn sessions. It captures so much more than just the day your baby arrives. After all, there is so much more to birth stories than the day you deliver!

Be sure also to check out their beautiful birth film at the end. It perfectly demonstrates the beauty and grace she brought their sweet baby into this world.

maternity session with spouse in Las Vegas desert
Little Loo Photography maternity session Las Vegas
sunset maternity session in the Las Vegas desert during the winter
a maternity session in the desert using sun flare with mother holding her belly.

Getting to know clients is vital in being prepared to capture the moments most important to you, so face-to-face meetings are always included in my birth packages. It is the perfect time to hear your wishes and hopes and get a feel for your personalities and family dynamics. It also helps to make the day of delivery more comfortable for everyone. Working alongside families during maternity sessions also helps as I get to see their dynamics in action, and it adds a layer of trust before delivery day. I left this maternity session even more excited to document their birth because their love for each other was tender and sweet. Their laid-back personalities and the way they interacted made it evident that their connection would be a highlight of their birth story.

maternity session in the Las Vegas desert with a long flowing floral gown.
pregnant mother standing in beautiful light in a long flowing gown in Las Vegas desert.

Kaitlyn had an estimated due date of December 29th, which added an exciting layer of anticipation of whether she would deliver in 2022 or 2023 or even on New Year’s Eve. She is a registered nurse who has not only worked as a travel nurse but now works for a travel nurse company. She worked hard both in a staff position on the floor and as a coordinator until the week before her due date and was ready to meet her baby girl. But, their sweet girl was nice and cozy on the inside and waited until 41 weeks and three days to make her grand appearance.

Kaitlyn labored for days before finally bringing their sweet girl earthside. Contractions began after an exam in the office with their midwife and were consistently off and on and uncomfortable, but not enough to be admitted into the birth center. Finally, two days later, they changed and became consistent and intense. She was admitted to the birth center, and I was called in the early morning hours to head their way.

Regina Roy providing labor support at Las Vegas birth center.

Their amazing doula Regina Roy, was with them, and I was so excited to finally meet her in person.

Kaitlyn was most comfortable in the water, and their birth space was quiet and serene, with Jason and Regina diligently by her side, very in tune with what she needed and when she needed it. She was tired after contracting as long as she had and rested as much as possible between contractions.

mother laboring in tub at Serenity Birth Center in Las Vegas with husband and doula at her side.
laboring in water at Serenity Birth Center in Las Vegas
husband spraying water on his wife's back as she labors in the water.

After a few hours, her contractions became a bit irregular again, and so an exam was done. She had made minimal change, and so the decision was made for her to go back home and hopefully get some rest while her body continued to work. They were, of course, disappointed.

There was little rest at home, and Kaitlyn remained uncomfortable but determined. Finally, two days later, things changed, and the intensity and frequency finally increased, and they returned to the birth center, this time with significant cervical change.

room set with dim lights and calm scene for laboring in the water at Serenity Birth Center.

Kaitlyn’s demeanor had also changed. Her determination was awe-inspiring. She remained turned inward where she needed to be to stay focused, and Regina was consistently by her side. Their trust was evident, which helped Kaitlyn’s trust in her direction and suggestions for labor positions. Although exhausted, Jason remained by her side and calm and grounded throughout the process. I was impressed with how calm and supportive he stayed throughout, always trusting Kaitlyn’s body and the process. This is a perfect case of how important it is that your birth team believes in you and supports you. That energy becomes palpable and, I believe, can sway outcomes.

husband connecting with wife while in labor through touching her hands.
supported mother as she labors on the bed at a Las Vegas birth center
Las Vegas doula Regina Roy offering hydration to a mother laboring.
Regina Roy a Las Vegas doula using the Rebozo techniques in labor.
doula fanning a labor client as she sits on a birthing ball
mother resting between contractions while on birthing ball
sacral pressure by doula while mother is standing in labor.
mother laboring in hands and knees position for fetal rotation
framing techniques in birth photography
birth center support staff Las Vegas

The last stages of labor required Kaitlyn to dig deep and allow her body the rest it needed between contractions. Although she was fully dilated for hours, the urge to push and fetal descent was a slow process, just like the rest of her labor, but she remained determined and committed. Finally, at one point, her amazing midwife, April Clyde, and student midwife, Alexyis Bonilla, encouraged her to sit on the toilet in hopes it would aid in fetal descent. There is a reason they call the toilet the “dilation station.” It is often the key to opening the pelvis up to allow for fetal rotation and descent, and it finally did the trick. Kaitlyn went from working so hard to her baby’s head right there! They quickly assisted her into the tub (where she wanted to deliver) just in time for her to deliver her sweet baby girl.

checking cervical dilation while laboring at a Las Vegas birth center
assisted pushing at birth center in Las Vegas.
water delivery at Serenity Birth Center in Las Vegas
mother holding her baby tightly right after delivery at Las Vegas birth center
proud husband after his wife delivered in the water at a birth center

The pride on pure joy on Jason’s face and the pure love and joy of Kaitlyn as she finally held her sweet girl in her arms pretty much had us all in tears.

immediately following a water birth at a birth center in Las Vegas
husband taking his wife's picture while holding her new baby right after delivery
mother holding her new baby girl after delivering in a birth center
support during a birth center birth from husband and midwifery student.
black and white image of a baby right after delivery in a birth tub.

As Kaitlyn was showered and assisted back to bed, dad had some precious skin-to-skin time with his new baby girl; it was so tender and beautiful. He just soaked it all up.

father enjoying skin to skin with his new baby while mother is cared for.
doula smiling at a new baby she assisted on.

And this beautiful soul, Regina. I had heard so many things about her, and I could 1000% see why her clients and the birth community love her. She is a blessing and holds such a special gift. She was so patient and connected with Kaitlyn, and so knowledgeable of the labor process.

skin to skin time with dad after delivery
sweet moments between mom, dad, and new baby right after delivery.
dad participating in newborn exam at Serenity Birth Center in Las Vegas.
April Clyde during a newborn exam at Serenity Birth Center in Las Vegas
April Clyde providing breastfeeding support after a birth center birth in Las Vegas.

Newborn sessions with The Whole Package clients are always a little bittersweet. We’ve communicated so often in the weeks leading up to their birth, and to be a part of such an intimate and important time in their lives always leaves a lasting connection. To see that sweet reward in their arms is the best. These two were utterly smitten with their sweet Adeline, and I loved that they included their fur babies.

in-home newborn session in Las Vegas using master bedroom.
mother holding her new baby in her bedroom during an in-home newborn session in Las Vegas.
Little Loo Photography in home newborn session.
mother and baby together on the bed during an in-home newborn session.
newborn girl in pink wrap on parents bed.
newborn details a week after birth.
dad holding his newborn girl in a rocking chair during in-home newborn session.
dad cradling his new baby girl at home during a newborn session.
newborn in gold and navy outfit during an in-home newborn session.
mother snuggling her new baby girl during a lifestyle newborn session in Las Vegas.

And finally, their birth story in motion. The emotions and beauty of this period always carry over much better in film.

SHARE

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

DOCUMENTARY BIRTH PHOTOS & FILM

DOCUMENTARY BIRTH PHOTOS & FILM