My first daughter’s birth was quick but difficult. I almost had to go for an emergency c-section. No epidural, over an hour of pushing and resulted in a blood transfusion. I don’t remember them giving her to me for the first time. I can’t picture the delivery room or feeding her for the first time. I have so few photos from my time in the hospital, and zero from the first few hours of her life.
Two days before my due date with my second daughter, I became obsessed with the idea of birth photography. I scoured Pinterest for hours, suddenly desperate to have photos like that to remember this birth. I reached out to several birth photographers and started making plans.
The next day at my weekly appointment my doctor told me I was already in labour and I should get to the hospital and not sneeze on the way there. As my husband navigated city traffic, I texted my photographer friend to see if she could make it. Six hours later Grace was here and I had the images I had dreamed of.
Every time I look through those photos I remember. They bring back the feelings of anticipation, the intense emotions, the love. I would never have remembered the details from that day without them.
That is my why. That is why I want others to have those priceless images.
Photos of my second daughter’s birth taken by Tracy Creighton
