Where do I even begin with this birth story?
Let me just start off by saying, Delaney Jade definitely has a mind of her own! On June 1, 2017, almost exactly 3 week before her estimated "due date", Kayla, Delaney's mommy, sent me a text. It was about 8:30am, I was still in bed when I heard my phone and checked it. "My water may have broken! Docs appt this morning". Two hours later another text came through, this time from Delaney's daddy: "We are at the birth center and Kayla is 4cm. Today is the day!!!" and then "We're on our way back home soon and the party will start. Contractions are going regularly."
We made a plan that I would head over to their house once they got back home so that I could do some at-home laboring pictures first. I began gathering my stuff, and getting myself ready to head out. Moving quickly, but not rushing around like a crazy person.
17 minutes later: "Change of plans! Kayla's staying here"
Ummm...excuse me? I hurried as quickly as I could. I just knew that if plans had changed that quickly and 17 minutes ago she was only 4cm, something was happening and if I didn't hurry, I wouldn't make it.
When I walked into the room at our (brand new!) WNC Birth Center, I immediately heard Kayla in the bathroom and I recognized those sounds. Those were not the sounds of a laboring woman who has just begun active labor. I dropped my bag, and started shooting.
It had been an hour since Dan had texted saying Kayla was 4cm, but it was apparent that Delaney was not wasting any time arriving to meet her family. In a mere hour and a half, Kayla had gone from 4cm to 10cm and ready to push.
Kayla began pushing at 11:55am. You'll see a picture or two below, in this first set, where she's smiling, her face full of joy. That moment brought tears to my eyes as I watched her, unsure whether she could do this. Shocked that she was already doing this. Not knowing how to process everything that was happening so quickly. And then that moment, she reached down and felt her baby's full head of hair, and started screaming with joy, "My baby! My baby! My baby!" That's all she needed. She couldn't see what we were seeing. She didn't know just how close she was to meeting her baby girl. But as soon as she could feel what we all had been seeing, the strength really came and she was determined.
Kayla began pushing at 11:55am. Delaney Jade took her first breath at 12:09pm.
14 minutes from start to finish.
Less than 4 hours from when her water had broken.
When Kayla saw her baby being handed to her, she started screaming with pure joy once again. It was hilariously beautiful! Dan looked back at me and I think he was both laughing and crying at the same time, which in turn made me start laugh-crying as well!
Delaney was here, 3 weeks "early," and perfect!
After Kayla had a few moments of bonding time with her sweet baby girl, she and Dan crawled into the bed to spend time bonding with Delaney and each other, reliving what had just happened moments before, and updating all of the family members who were supposed to be there for the birth, but of course had no clue Kayla had even begun labor much less delivered a baby already.
Every phone call. Every text message. They all said something along the lines of, "You're joking, right?" No one believed it. Some even went as far as to google newborn baby pictures to find out if Dan had sent a random photo as a trick. Not this time, guys.
The only thing I have to say to precede this portion of the story is, Dan cracks me up.
Their doula didn't make it. She was coming from about 3 hours away. She left work when they told her that Kayla's water had for sure broken. Of course everyone was sure she would have more than enough time.
Dan sent a text to her right after Delaney was born with a picture and "Umm....take your time."
At least she made it to the birth center and was able to meet Delaney!
After a bit of bonding time, the midwives performed Delaney's newborn exam. Needless to say, she wasn't overly thrilled with being messed with. Weighing 5 pounds 15 ounces, and measuring 19 inches long, she was definitely a tiny little thing! Having had so many 9 and 10 pound babies lately, I wasn't even really sure what to do with such a little gal.
Following the exam, there was more bonding and reliving of the afternoon. Inspecting all of her tiny fingers and toes, discussing who she looked more like, and assuring family and friends that they weren't purposely uninformed but that it truly did happen THAT fast!
To see Delaney's full birth story, you can watch the slideshow below. (for highest quality, be sure to watch in HD)
I also did a Fresh48 session at their home the following day when Delaney was only slightly over 24 hours new. Stay tuned for that blog post, but you can see a little preview of that session at the end of her birth story slideshow!
Dan, Kayla, and Delaney,
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to witness such an incredible whirlwind of moments in your new life together! I am honored have been a part of this day and I will never forget it! <3