The Birth of Alice | Maine Birth Photographer | Stepheney Collins Photography

One of the things I love most about photographing births is the unpredictable nature of them. You never really know when a baby will make its way into the world. This little lady wasn’t due until the end of January, her due date on the 25th, with a c-section penciled in for the 28th should she decide to delay, but as is the case so many times, this little one had other plans.

Jessie had gone in for a normal checkup, but due to high blood pressure, was sent to triage to be monitored for a few hours. There was a lot of back and forth on whether or not the birth would happen that day. If Jessie’s blood pressure went down, she would be sent home. If it didn’t go down, well—it would be go time and sweet baby girl would be arriving via c-section later that day. I had been in touch with her for most of the day and when it looked like things were headed in the “no baby today” direction, I went for a walk. Luckily I cut my walk short and I hadn't been back at my house for five minutes when I got the text that blood pressure had gone back up, and it would soon be go time.

I immediately got myself together, gathered my gear that luckily had been charged and ready to go that weekend in anticipation of this, and drove to Maine Med to tell the story of Alice Johanna’s journey into the world. I am humbled by every birth I get to witness, and while I wasn’t allowed in the operating room to get that iconic shot of Alice being born, there is so much more to the story than that moment. These pictures tell the story better than I could ever write. I feel humbled to be allowed into such a sacred space, to bear witness to all of these beautiful, special moments. One minute there was a baby inside a belly, and an hour later there was a beautiful baby girl resting contentedly on her mother’s chest.

There was a lot of waiting. Waiting to find out if there would even be a c-section that day. Waiting for the operating room to open up. Waiting to get suited up. Waiting to get brought back by the funniest labor and delivery nurse you have ever met. Also the kindest—she brought us cookies! Waiting for Nick to be brought back. Waiting for three people to come back to the room, instead of two. Waiting for big sister Claire to join us and meet her little sister. Waiting for Jessie to tell her dad that baby girl is named Alice after her grandmother.