June 17th, 2016
I can’t even tell you how many births I’ve photographed over the years. They are all incredible. Every single one.
This one, though. This one is a little extra special because the baby being held up by Dr. Curry is my very own niece. If you’re a patient at St Bernards OBGYN Associates, you might even recognize this photograph. It hung on the walls up there for a year or so before Dr. Curry retired. We had gifted her a framed copy and I’m sure she took it with her when she left.
There is something spectacular about birth…about a woman’s body and what it can withstand, and do…about medicine and how far it’s advanced…about witnessing little tiny brand new humans experienced their first few moments outside the womb…about watching the parents fall instantly in love. It’s a tangible, real, beautiful, messy, exhilarating, scary, incredible thing to witness.
I was a little surprised to get this shot. It was pretty difficult for me to actually see through the tears streaming down my face…after all, I was also instantly falling in love with a new family member. But when I took it, I knew for a fact that it had just earned its rightful place inside my Career Favorites folder.
This is the last photo we have where my niece and my sister are physically connected. Just after this, her cord was clamped and she was taken over to the little newborn bed to be wiped down and wrapped up. It’s the moment before little Monroe is set free into this world to have her own experiences, to teach us who she is. It’s a powerfully exciting moment.
As I am with any birth I’m asked to photograph, I’m so thankful I was allowed to be present to bear witness to it. It’s an honor I’ll spend the rest of my life being grateful for.
Till next time!
-M