Born at Home in Cottage Grove, Minnesota | A Preview of a Swift and Speedy Home Birth Story in Photographs
October 23, 2020 | 6:09 am
Welcome to the world, sweet Freya! We are so glad you’re here.
It is always such a gift when past clients ask us to return for their second, third, and even fourth baby’s births. It was that much more special for this particular returning client of ours, as she is also a fellow birth worker in our community. As a labor and delivery nurse as well as a birth assistant, our client was using HypnoBabies in an attempt to turn inward and allowed her care team to manage the rest! And though this birthing person is indeed one of the most caring and talented nurses we have here in the Twin Cities, it doesn’t take a nursing degree to have access to different options in birth like checking your own cervix, catching your baby, cutting your baby’s umbilical cord, and so much more of what transpired in this quick home birth. It does, however, require an understanding and supportive care team.
With four birth workers in the room (birthing parent, two midwives, and our Gather Birth photographer), we reflected on the apparent baby boom we see during big snowstorms - just like we have experienced here in Minnesota this past week! And with a history of two speedy births before this one, we were on high alert all week. While every birth is different, we take personal and familial birth history, weather, moon phases, parental instinct, and so much into consideration when deciding how soon to join a birthing family. And for this family, in particular, it is no surprise that we rushed right over once we got the 4am “I’m definitely in labor” call!
We’ve said it before, and this family really reinforced the importance of prioritizing your partnership in parenthood. One thing that stuck out to us most while documenting and looking back at this birth story is how both parents showed up for one another throughout this entire pregnancy and birth. Adding to one’s family during a pandemic can undoubtedly carry with it additional stressors and worries. And while we’re sure there were speed bumps along the way for these two, this couple stayed present with one another every step of the way. They also simplified things for themselves by deciding to switch from a birth center to home birth, and they were so grateful they did as they snuggled up with their older kiddos and fresh new baby as the midwives cooked up a nourishing postpartum breakfast for them all!
Home Birth Midwives: Joanna Pust & Amber LaBlancz
Photographer: Gather Birth Cooperative
