A Cesarean Birth Story
This twin birth story is filled with so much faith, hope, and love, and is special for so many reasons.
Melly is a talented fellow birth and family photographer here in Las Vegas. We met online, where we soon discovered we had much in common surrounding our faith and life journeys. I admire her for many reasons, but most notably, her ability to live her faith out loud. As soon as you get to know her, you see all that faith bubbling up out of her. She is such a genuine and authentic soul.
When I saw that she was pregnant not only for the 5th time, but with TWINS, I knew I had to offer to capture this extra special time in their lives.
Hope
They carried so much past birth trauma into this pregnancy. With that trauma, there were fears, and the determination to advocate for herself and their birth experience. Melly put in so much work in the months leading up in preparing herself and her family. So much time in prayer, so many opportunities to speak on the things that were important to them in creating a healing and redemptive birth experience.
Melly and Nate initially wanted a home birth experience as part of this redemptive birth story. Still, as they researched options and spoke to care providers, they decided a repeat cesarean was the safest and best choice for them. This meant really advocating for things in the operating room that aren’t always standard. She sought out a care provider who made her feel heard and her wishes honored, and she found just that in Dr. Paul Wilkes, an incredibly compassionate and amazing perinatologist here in Las Vegas.
Faith
Melly created a birth plan that included having me present and had it signed by Dr. Wilkes. Although we knew that the odds were great that I would be there, there was always the chance that I could be denied at the last minute either by the hospital or anesthesia, but we covered the whole experience in prayer and trusted that God was in control!
As the weeks passed, Melly started having elevated blood pressures. Being closely monitored by high-risk, there came the point at 35 weeks where the decision was made to deliver their girls while it was safe. After a weekend in the hospital, and at 35 weeks and 3 days, it was time to meet their baby girls.
I arrived at Summerlin Hospital as they were completing all the pre-op tasks, and the mood was light and beautiful. This is where they really leaned into their faith and trust in God.
The things they advocated for themselves were truly honored in their birth experience. With worship music playing and Nate praying over Melly before surgery began, you could feel the Holy Spirit working through it all.
Both girls were born vigorous and so full of life. Each was taken to their individual warmers for initial assessment by their designated teams. Initial measurements were taken, and then both girls were bundled up and taken right over to Mama for skin-to-skin contact and bonding.
One of dad’s wishes was to cut the cord for both girls. This isn’t allowed in the operating room right at delivery because of the sterile field present over mom’s abdomen, so the cords were left long just for dad to trim. He was able to do this for both girls!
The nursery and NICU staff were so kind and accommodating to mom and dad’s wishes, and the whole room was so full of joy for this family. Both babies were brought over to their mother and positioned for those vital skin-to-skin moments.
What a healing and incredible experience for this family. To be heard, honored, and to have the gift of these images to hold and to process through for years to come. I truly wish this for every single family. Cesarean families hold a special place in my heart. They miss out on so many experiences vaginal birth families get to experience, like that immediate skin-to-skin, the ability to have additional support present, as well as the opportunity to document these life-changing and incredible emotional experiences.
Both girls were able to come back to the room with their mom. There was such an air of relief when it became clear that no NICU or nursery transfer was needed for them. Much time was dedicated to keeping both girls with mom, getting those first latches, and making sure bonding was a priority.
Love
Of course, I had to come back for the siblings meeting! The very next day, big sister brought the three littles to the hospital to meet their new baby sisters. I know, so many girls, right? It was the best!
I’m so grateful for this sweet family for trusting me with these moments, and grateful to Dr. Wilkes and Summerlin hospital for honoring this family’s wishes and allowing me into the OR.
