Milwaukee Home Birth Story

Around dinner on the 4th of July I got a text from Kate that said that she had been having some early labor signs during the day and that active labor may soon be on the way. At 9:50 that night I got an update from Kate that contractions had started after having a yummy steak dinner and she was going to try and get some rest. At 1am on July 5th I was woken up to a text from Kate that contractions had swiftly intensified from 10 minutes apart to 3 minutes apart and I should head over to her home. I got to the McCann house around 1:30 am. Kate was in the zone, beautifully working with each contraction to bring her baby closer to her arms. Kate’s midwife, Sabrina, began setting up all of her equipment and getting the birthing tub ready for Kate. Pat and their doula Amy, provided emotional and physical support as they reminded her of her strength and purpose and provided counter pressure to help with pain. The birth team also included some four legged supporters, the most notable being their sweet puppy who sat closely by and would periodically check on Kate and Pat with a gentle nuzzle. Once the tub was ready, Kate was able to find some quick rest in the tub before things took off and she began to push. At 4:41am on July 5th, the McCann’s baby was gently lifted from the water and placed on Kate’s chest. Soon after birth mom and dad checked to see the gender of their little one and learned that they had another amazing little girl they get to raise and love. They named their daughter Evryn James. It was a quick labor supported by an amazing birth team, empowered by a strong and loving mama!

After the birth Kate and Evryn continued to be supported by their team. Sabrina helped Evryn as she needed a little support in clearing her airway. Even with the extra support, Evryn stayed with Kate and the environment remained peaceful and full of excitement. Sabrina did a beautiful job protecting the birthing space and walking the McCann’s through all the care she was providing mom and baby, helping them be empowered and confident in every step of their birthing journey. Big sister, Ayden, was woken up shortly after birth to come and meet her baby sister and provided loving support to her mama and baby sister as well. Ayden even took it upon herself to help out Sabrina in taking vitals and monitoring mom and baby. Pat was a rock of love and support during and after birth. He beamed with pride as he held his little girls and his wife, giving each of them individualized love and attention throughout the process.

McCanns, your home is filled with deep love. You see one another - really see one another. This is so unique and produces a deep confidence and assuredness in your home. It was such an honor to capture your love for one another. I believe the world is changed by people who feel seen and known because they then confidently go on to love those around them free from judgement and fear. You are raising a family of world changers! Thank you for letting me capture part of your story together.

Midwives: Sabrina from Birth in Color Midwifery and Jess from 7 Birds Midwifery

Doula: Amy Kranz

Milwaukee Birth Story

Leading up to labor we were trying all the natural tricks to get things moving for Vanessa. It was a Tuesday afternoon around 1pm in October and Vanessa went in for acupuncture in hopes that it would encourage labor. Vanessa and Caleb called me around 9:30pm to tell me that her water had broken (acupuncture is my favorite natural method for encouraging labor!). At first, she wasn’t having any contractions so Vanessa went to bed to try to get rest while she could. Soon contractions began to pick up and they came on strong and close together. It was intense and she was unable to get any sleep. All night long Vanessa worked though each wave. Her contractions were much more intense when she was lying down but then they would slow and let up when she was upright. This made it really hard to get good rest. Around 5:30am Vanessa asked me to come to their home to help give ideas for relief and assist them in deciding when would be a good time to go to the hospital. We labored at their home for another couple of hours but as things got much more intense we decided to head in. When we got to the hospital things once again slowed down. This is normal upon transferring, however, with this intense irregular contraction pattern I also was starting to suspect that baby was possibly having some positioning issues. When Vanessa got checked she was 3cm and moving along but still had much of her labor journey ahead of her. On multiple occasions throughout the morning we thought we were getting close to birth and the nurse set up the delivery table and all was ready to go. Then Vanessa was checked and still had a ways to go. Around 3:30pm, after working very hard for a very long time trying multiple different positions to help move baby down but only having progressed to 4cm, Vanessa decided to get a mild epidural to take the edge off and get some rest. She slept for about 5 hours followed by a really sweet time with her mama and hubby reading her letters of love and encouragement from some of her besties. It was such a sweet time to see these blessings pour over Vanessa. Around 9pm things began to shift and baby made some big movements. At 1am on Thursday morning Vanessa began to push and just 30 minutes later Caleb was able to catch his SON Truman and hand him to his mama’s chest.

While supporting the Halls throughout their birth journey, the words that came to my mind over and over were peace and trust. Throughout her entire labor journey Vanessa had complete trust in her body and in her birth team. In moments where it would have been easy to be overwhelmed with discouragement, Vanessa owned her story, trusted the process, and knew that she was safe and cared for. This is the power of a birth team that you can trust; not a promise that all will go as planned or run smoothly, but that you can have peace throughout your birth journey and know that you are held and loved. Caleb did such a sweet job of being present with Vanessa and trusting her body, and speaking that encouragement into her. Vanessa’s mama was a ball of love in the room, beaming with pride watching her fierce beautiful baby birth her grandson. Truman was born from love into more love. Her doctor, Dr. Koch, provided communicative and empathetic care that empowered Vanessa to be an active player in her birth decisions.

Shortly after he was born Vanessa and Caleb serenaded their sweet boy with “You Will Always be my Baby”. The words to this song were incredibly fitting and beautiful:

We were as one babe
For a moment in time
And it seemed everlasting
That you would always be mine
Now you wanna be free
So I'm letting you fly
'Cause I know in my heart babe
Our love will never die, no

You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy don't you know you can't escape me?
Ooh darling 'cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling 'cause you'll always be my baby

Vanessa and Caleb, when you asked me to be your doula I literally got teary with joy and excitement knowing that your birthing room would be sacred ground. The way you trust one another is incredibly special. There is a freedom in your love that produces peace as you navigate uncharted waters. Parenthood is a story of loving another human more than your heart can contain and yet slowly letting them go to be free to be more and more their truest and most amazing self. But the love for our babies, only grows deeper as they spread their wings and fly. You have birthed Truman into a lifetime adventure of trusting love and pursuing peace. It was an honor to walk alongside you as you began this new chapter of your journey together. Love you guys!

Milwaukee Home VBAC Story

Raisa’s first child was delivered via C-section. After that experience Raisa had the opportunity to see and support other births as a birth photographer. Birth became a passion of hers and as she processed her own birth, she longed for it to be different the second time around with more open lines of communication and more control of her labor. After consulting with an awesome OB and her midwife she decided to try for a home VBAC. Things went incredibly fast and so smooth!

On Sunday February 2nd at 11:32 I got a text from Raisa saying “We are in Labor!” Soon after I talked with Brian on the phone and he said things were quickly progressing and everyone was heading to the house. I jumped in my car and headed over to their home and was feeling a bit hurried knowing I had a 35min drive ahead of me. I was the first person from the birth support team to get there. When I walked in, Raisa and Brian were working together through each contraction beautifully as Raisa powered through each wave. Things seemed quite progressed so before grabbing my camera I helped Raisa get some cold cloths on her head and neck and we walked through a couple of contractions because they were intense. After a few contractions, the midwife Tricia, Raisa’s doula Amy, and Raisa’s friend Rachel also arrived at the home. Raisa kept mentioning how surprised she was at how fast everything was going. After being checked by Tricia we decided we would try and get the tub filled and get some relief before baby came. We began boiling water to get a nice warm tub going for baby and mom. Raisa and Brian decided to have their sweet 25-month-old daughter present for the birth as well. She was such a sweet presence holding space for her mommy and taking in the magic of it all. After doing a couple hours of contractions in the water, Raisa began to push. When baby got close the midwives saw some things in baby’s heart beats that made them want baby to come out sooner rather than later so they transferred mom to the bed to deliver her baby. A few minutes later at 4:08am baby Sam was born and placed on mom’s chest, alert as can be! Raisa and Sam had lots of time to snuggle and connect. Sam met his sister just minutes after being born and the Mnichowicz’s took in the first moments of being a family of four, together.

Raisa and Brian, you did such a beautiful job of bringing your sweet boy into the world. You trusted one another, leaned on one another and surrendered to the process. The faith and love that oozes out of you is beautiful. Your kids are blessed to have you raising them, loving them, and being for them. Blessings to you, Mnichowicz family, as you continue this journey of being for one another and surrendering to love. God has such beautiful plans to use your love to redeem the world!