2021 Birth Year in Review - Michigan Birth Photography

The year 2021 was my 8th year in birth work. I started in 2013 when I photographed a dear friends birth. She had planned for a homebirth, but when her water broke, it was found that her baby was breech. Her midwife recommended transfer and she called me to tell me what was happening. I still remember it well. She called at night, it was my first ‘wake up’ call in the middle of the night (since then, I’ve had so many more). Groggily, I answered the phone and listened to what was happening. Then I drove to the hospital on a cold November night, to support them as a friend, and take photos as a photographer. It was a hard line to walk. Her birth reminded me of my own cesarean birth, and the reason that I started this work. I wasn’t allowed back into the OR as a photographer that day, and it even furthered my passion to photograph all types of births.

Now, 8 years later I’ve moved across the country and rebuilt my business from scratch, photographed over 200 births, created Birth Becomes You with my BFF and work wife, Monet, helped teach hundreds of birth photographers to do this meaningful work, and made countless friendships and connections that will last a long time. I love what I do and I’m grateful each time someone asks me to be in their birth space. Grateful. Every. Single. Time.

Being a birth worker is HARD, friends. Your entire life is waiting for ‘the call’ — and that call could be from any one of your clients due that month (or other months!). You never know when you’ll get the call and you just hope that two clients don’t have babies on the same day…but sometimes that happens too! You prepare weekly for all scenarios, and plan out your days in the event that a birth does happen. You must be ready at a moments notice to leave, and you never to know when you’ll return. Some births are so fast that you might miss them, others take days. Even when you aren’t AT a birth, if someone is in labor, or being induced, you are in waiting mode. Its demanding work that requires commitment and love for the work. Its not just a job, it’s a lifestyle.

All of my 2021 births were really special, last year was full of clients that I got to know really well over our time spent together, repeat clients that I just love and other amazing birth workers that I admire. January and February 2021 were spent OFF call for the first time in years. My little family spent a month in Florida and it was amazing to turn off my phone like that for a little while.

March 11th was my first birth client of 2021. They welcomed their rainbow baby, and it was truly my honor to be there with them. (A rainbow baby is a baby after a previous loss). The next birth that month was a few days before my own grandmother passed away. My client knew the circumstances and I was going through and she gave me my own encouragement that day. She had a beautiful water birth at Nine Short Months, and when I left that birth, I drove to see my grandmother in hospice. It was night, quiet and peaceful. I told my grandma about my day, she was asleep and I didn’t really know if she heard me. But shortly after, she opened her eyes and said ‘oh that’s wonderful’ when I told her about the baby being born. <3 I’ll always remember that.

All spring and summer was spent juggling clients who had babies really early and then, of course, several others who had babies really late. One client had her baby at 43 weeks and 3 days, and another client had her baby at 32 weeks. I attended my first face presentation birth, which was incredible (photo below!) I RAN into one birth ,32 seconds before the baby being born and even a few seconds before the midwife. We were all so glad that we made it, just barely! At another birth, dad caught his own baby, in the hospital, with no-one in the room but me. Mom was a total rock star during her precipitous birth. Six of my clients had VBACs (vaginal birth after c-section).

One of the hardest parts of birth work is that not every baby makes it earth side in the same way. Two of my clients said hello and goodbye to their babies. There is nothing harder, or more of an honor, than to be asked to photograph these moments. Sweet Willow and Precious Gabriel will be forever cherished and loved. I think of them often.

I spend all of December being on call, which is unusual for me. I try to avoid taking clients during the holiday season so that I can be present for my family. But this year, I ended up having 4 December clients. All four were just amazing people and after I chatted with them, I couldn’t say no. Two of those births happened early, in November, and then two were ‘overdue.’ One birth that I attended was a beautiful Christmas Eve-Eve birth, and another on New Year’s Eve. Both had so much holiday magic, they were amazing!

Nine of my clients had homebirths.

15 of my clients had hospital births, but of those 15, four were transfers from home or the birth center, two before labor and two during labor.

Three of my clients had babies at the birth center, Nine Short Months Birth and Wellness.

One client had her baby by cesarean.

Thank you, amazing clients, I’m so grateful for you!!

Photos below not in any particular order.

This VBAC birth story happened on Christmas Eve-Eve. It was full of Christmas magic and birthy magic!

Dad catches his daughter in the hospital with no-one else in the room. Labors are all so incredible in their own way. This incredible mom labored quietly during her intake and then had a huge contraction and her baby, all at once! She’s amazing! This is also a VBAC story!

This little sweetie was SO cute and alert. Her mama rocked her first birth!

My dear friend and associate photographer Ashlan of Ashlan Marie Photography, captured this birth as my backup. So grateful for her!

This amazing woman birthed her baby, standing upright, in the hospital. Her awesome midwife was ready for anything!

St. Joseph Hospital - Midwives.

This family advocated for what they needed when they were faced with a medically necessary, but not emergent, induction. My client was able to give birth, in the water, at the University of Michigan with their midwives. I’m so glad that hospital waterbirth is an option! Sarah, you are so strong, you never stopped trusting your intuition and it lead you right here, to this moment. You can read more of this story here.

This was a magical New Year’s Eve Birth, attended by my my friend, midwife Celeste of Gentle Mama Holistic Midwifery. This entire labor and birth was incredibly joyful. Mom and dad smiled as they labored together. The only moment of intensity that I saw, was this moment below, when she gave birth to her son. It was quick and exactly how it was supposed to happen.

This photo went crazy viral and was viewed around the world! How incredible is this?!

There is something so incredible about a VBAC and I am beyond thrilled my client had one. She birthed her son, quickly and easily, once labor finally kicked in! We were all so happy!

This little guy came early and surprised us all! Due to hospital restrictions, I wasn’t able to attend the birth, but met him soon after, in his mother’s arms. See more of their story and video here.

Another VBAC story! This one hard fought, and worth every minute. Again, St. Joseph hospital was incredible and their nurses are some of the best that I’ve ever worked with. Thank you!

The photo above is sweet Gabriel. Here was here for only a few minutes, but his life has a big impact on many. Thank you for sharing him with us, Christina. <3

My client, Erin, her birth was…..incredible. It was hard fought, joyful, another VBAC story, and full of love. She delivered her daughter, which she named Celeste, face first, on the floor of their bedroom. It was amazing! Something that I’ve never seen before and might not ever see again.

Face presentation! Hello sweet baby Celeste! You can see more from this birth story here.

This birth stays in my heart forever, I was so grateful to be in the birth space on this day. My grandmother was near the end of her life, and I was witnessing the beginning of life. It will forever be touching to me. Also, can you spot the accidental selfie of me in the photo? You can see more of this birth story in her video linked on this page.

This family welcomed their 6th baby, at home, in the tub, where all of the rest of their babies had been born. I’m a sentimental person and the fact that all her babies were born here makes me really tear up. So beautiful! Her older kiddo caught baby brother, it was magical! You can see more of this story here and more of her video on this page.

This couple was full of cuddles, touches and kisses the entire labor. It was really beautiful to witness. Sweet baby Alice is going into a home full of so much love!
You can see more of Emily’s amazing maternity session in the woods here.

Another VBAC story <3 This birth was fast, but not furious. It was calm and peaceful. I was able to work with one of my favorite doulas ever, Janice Rex Weaver, and a midwife that is just wonderful, Amy Lechtenberg.

This moment, so full of joy! I’m so grateful to my associate photographer Jenille Boston of Nel Boss Photography, who was able to attend this birth, while I supported a client through a challenging induction. So grateful for her!

These clients are some of the most fun that I’ve ever worked with. Renee hired me for her first birth and reached out again for her second. Renee is always smiling, even between contractions, in the middle of pushing, anytime. Birth is hard, but you can do it!

These two photos melt my heart. Tiana had her son several weeks early due to pre-eclampsia. She and baby M are doing GREAT, he is home and growing up so fast. Tiana, thank you for asking me to tell your story - It’s an honor to be a part of another photographer’s birth team. You can see more of Tiana’s story in her video on this page.

Sweet Baby Willow, I think of you and your family often. Sarah, you are one of the most amazing people that I’ve met and I’m glad to call you a friend. I think of you and Willow often. Photo by my associate - Jenille Boston.

Sweet baby Cassie might have been the happiest baby that I’ve ever met. She was smiling in her first hour of life, I mean it, she was smiling. <3

32 seconds…that’s all I had from first frame until baby was pulled out of the water. This was such an intense birth after a long-long pregnancy. I’m so grateful to have made it and even more to have met this incredible family. Jordan, <3 I think of you all often! You can see more of Jordan’s amazing maternity session in the woods here.

This client labored peacefully with her husband by her side. Her children came in and out of the room to offer encouragement and they were all so calm and present for her. Her oldest daughter was thrilled to be there, she was in the tub as her sibling was born! Another beautiful birth attended by Celeste of Gentle Mama Holistic Midwifery.

Another incredible homebirth with an amazing family. This couple was such a joy to work with - big sister attended the birth and was so exited to meet her little sister. So much love in that room!

This was a pretty special birth, because this is Ashlan. She’s my backup/associate photographer, she’s also a friend. I wanted her to have a great birth so badly, after having a traumatic first birth. The short story, she had an incredible birth at Nine Short Months Birth and Wellness. You can see more of Ashlan’s amazing maternity session in the woods here.

This is one of my most favorite hospital birth photos, ever. It just sums up their love and the love of their sweet baby. Even though plans changed for this family, they rocked an induction and had a beautiful hospital birth!