Jennifer Mason, Birth Photographer, Birth Doula and Birth Film-maker

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Intervention free hospital birth, the story of baby D at University Hospital, Aurora Colorado

This post has been a long time coming, its been a busy few months for babies, but I am really excited to post it!   This story is about Betsy and Jensen, they strongly wanted to have the option to deliver in water, so they changed insurance plans to have the option to deliver at University Hospital, currently the only hospital in Denver to offer waterbirths.  I love it when a family takes the time to invest in their insurance and delivery options, it shows they think that birth matters.  I knew we'd be a good fit, because I feel the same way. Betsy went into labor on week 39, and labored through the night on April 5-6th.  They opted to go to the hospital to get checked super early in the morning and found out that Betsy was dilated to 4cm.  She could stay in triage, or it was suggested that she could go across the street to the hotel, and labor there.  This became the perfect solution.  Take a minute to check out this amazing mama, she labored for nearly 24 hours and delivered naturally in the hospital setting and see their birthing day story.  If you'd like to chat with me about your own, please fill out the form below.

Baby D was born at University Hospital, Aurora Colorado, Center for Midwifery, April 6, 2014

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Early morning, as the sun started to rise over Denver, I took off driving to the University of Colorado Hospital and the Center for Midwifery Practice.

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Rather than labor in triage, Betsy and her team had planned to go to the hotel across the street, which was much more comfortable and had lots of stairs and hallways to walk in.

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Betsy and her support system, her husband and doula Misty from Divine Doula, were with her through every contraction.  Misty has a quiet, soft-spoken presence which clearly helped Betsy and it was great to see such a solid partnership.  When Betsy started to loose focus, Misty gave her something else to do. Labor can be long, and having doula support really helps, the nurses and doctors/midwives aren't there through every contraction, but your support team is.

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After some intense contractions, Betsy decided to take a shower, then we went outside to walk.  Next, Misty suggested a nap, so around 2pm in the afternoon, everyone slept.  Then Betsy awoke and decided it was time to go back to the hospital, we all got in the car and arrived at triage to get checked.

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Finally, it was time to be in the labor and delivery room, the tub came out and Betsy got to get in.  She had been waiting for the tub the entire day!

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Eventually things got intense.  Jensen was probably the second to notice though.  Betsy got out of the tub, it was time to push.  She got out just before 6:40 and baby was born 1 hour later!

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 It's pretty amazing to watch a child born, just ask Jensen.  What an expression of amazement and awe!

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Lets see this little guy!  Davis Bradley.

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Dad's first time holding his son, after making sure mama had skin to skin time first!  What a great father Jensen is already going to be.

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What a perfect story and I was blessed to capture it.  Its also amazing to watch a natural hospital birth, no-one mentioned interventions and the hospital staff at University Hospital did a great job helping this family have the intervention free birth that they desired.

Thanks Betsy and Jensen for allowing me to share in your birthing day, it was my pleasure to have been there.

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