The Birth of Lily


I had met with Katelyn in person a few weeks before her due date. She found me on a local San Antonio Photographer's Facebook page and we had been conversing off and on for about a month. She herself a birth worker and photographer, was familiar with everything birth and typical photography practices. We had a wonderful chat, talking about our experiences with birth, our children and what her birth plan was. She would be giving birth in a hospital in North West San Antonio with support from her husband and doula while laboring naturally. Having done the same thing for my most recent baby, it felt like the perfect first birth to capture!

As her due date drew near I grew more and more excited to be able to capture these important moments for her. Late one afternoon I got a text "baby coming today! I'll update you once we get stronger signs!" Yes! Finally, this was it! I made sure all my gear was gathered, batteries charged. I waited and waited, it was around ten pm when I decided I should try to get some sleep. I set alarms for every 90 minutes and made sure my phone was on loud with high alerts for Katelyn. I went to sleep, restlessly, then finally around 2am I get the message! "It's time! We're heading to the hospital". I sleepily throw on my clothes, grab my stuff and head to my car. I put on some jams, open maps and head out. I have a 45 minute drive to the hospital from Seguin. This was something we talked about and that I heavily worried about, but luckily ended up being no problem. There was absolutely no traffic and I arrived at the hospital faster than I expected even! I went up to meet Katelyn and her husband in the maternity ward waiting area as their room was still being prepared for them. Katelyn seemed calm, slowly and steadily breathing through contractions. I was welcomed graciously and pulled out my camera to start working on settings as we talked. Katelyn was doing well, contractions were close together but she was easily working through them. Her doula, Natasha, who works with mothers in San Antonio and surrounding areas, soon joined us. I learned that not only was she a coworker but was also a family friend.

We were taken to her room not long after. Natasha, working quickly, pulled out Katelyn's salt lamp, essential oils, and music. She set everything up and made sure the room was as peaceful as possible. Katelyn's husband staying close by to help ease the contractions and set up the birthing area aided Natasha as she applied pressure to Katelyn's body. Being in a hospital setting wasn't what Katelyn has originally wanted, but was a necessity, so having Natasha to aide and advocate for her was a wonderful thing. All of the stars must have aligned because the on call doctor was a former midwife who later came to the hospital. She helped Katelyn and Natasha keep the birth as natural as possible. The used all the hospitals resources, including a bar, to help Katelyn. The set of images are edited for privacy but Katelyn was able to naturally bring her baby girl, Lily, earthside naturally.

I stuck around for a few hours after Lily's birth and captured all of her vitals, her first breastfeed, and some sweet moments with dad. It was such a beautiful, wonderful experience I can't wait to capture again.

Exterior view of a Citadels Santa Rosa building with palm trees in the foreground.
Minimalist hospital hallway with doors and room number signage.
Split image showing a waiting room with orange couch and a glowing lamp in darkness.
Medical professionals working together in a clinical setting.
Healthcare providers performing a medical examination in black and white.
Medical staff providing patient care in a clinical room setting.
Healthcare workers performing a medical procedure in monochrome.
Support person attentively provides care and comfort to someone during labor in a hospital setting.
Birthing team members offer support and care during active labor in a medical facility.
Black and white photo captures an emotional birth scene with medical team providing support.
Medical staff and support team gather around a patient during a delivery at hospital.
Medical staff surrounds patient during intense moment of labor in hospital room.
Intimate black and white photograph captures tender moment during labor in hospital setting.
Emotional support and comfort being provided during intense labor contractions.
Candid hospital photo shows intimate support moment during active labor.
Sequential photos capture raw emotional moments during hospital labor.
Close-up of gentle massage therapy being provided during labor and delivery care.
Emotional labor and delivery scene captured in black and white split frame showing support during contractions.
Hospital room scene during labor with medical equipment visible in warm lighting.
Black and white photograph capturing an intense moment during labor in a hospital room.
Two-panel image showing emotional support and coaching during active labor.
Sequence of three photos showing progression of labor support in hospital setting.
Medical staff providing care and support during labor in hospital room.
Intimate moment captured during labor showing emotional support and connection.
Raw and powerful moment captured during active labor with support person providing encouragement.
Three-panel progression showing supportive interaction during labor process.
Close-up shot of supportive interaction during intense labor moment in hospital setting.
Medical professionals attend to a pregnant patient during labor in a hospital delivery room.
Healthcare providers monitor vital signs and provide comfort measures during active labor.
Medical team assists with labor progression in a hospital delivery room setting.
Healthcare providers work together to support laboring patient in hospital room.
Medical team provides care and monitoring during active labor process.
Healthcare providers offer support and encouragement during labor in hospital setting.
Medical professionals monitor progress during late stages of labor in hospital room.
Side by side views of healthcare team providing labor support in hospital setting.
Medical staff assists with positioning during active labor phase.
Sequential shots of medical team helping with labor positioning in delivery room.
Healthcare providers assist a patient during labor in a black and white photograph of a delivery room setting.
Medical staff provide support during active labor in a hospital delivery room.
Healthcare team assists with positioning during labor and delivery in a hospital room.
Medical professionals work together to support a laboring patient in a delivery room.
Medical team monitors and assists during active labor in a hospital delivery room setting.
Healthcare providers work collaboratively to assist during childbirth in a medical setting.
Medical team provides supportive care during labor in a hospital delivery room.
Black and white image of medical professionals assisting during labor and delivery.
Healthcare team works together to support a patient during childbirth in a hospital setting.
Medical staff assist during active labor contractions in a hospital delivery room.
Medical monitoring equipment and support staff attend to patient during labor in hospital room.
Patient rests on hospital bed during labor with medical monitoring equipment visible.
Laboring patient grips hospital bed rail while receiving medical care.

edited for privacy

Medical team provides care during childbirth in hospital setting.
Medical professionals attend to patient during childbirth delivery.
Black and white image showing medical staff caring for newborn immediately after birth.
Healthcare providers examine newborn baby with gloved hands.
Black and white photo of medical team providing newborn care after delivery.
Close up of medical staff hands performing newborn care procedures.
Medical team cleans and examines newborn immediately after birth.
Medical staff in gloves attend to a patient during birthing procedure.
Black and white image showing medical professionals caring for newborn.
Healthcare providers assist during childbirth in delivery room.
Medical team working together during delivery with patient in hospital.
Medical staff providing care during labor and delivery.
Healthcare providers attending to patient during childbirth process.
Black and white capture of medical staff during delivery procedure.
Close-up shot of newborn baby receiving initial medical care.
Healthcare team providing immediate care to newborn after delivery.
Medical professionals examining newborn baby in delivery room setting.
A newborn baby showing strong emotions during their first moments after birth in a medical setting.
Black and white photo of a newborn baby crying immediately after delivery.
Side-by-side images capture the raw emotions of a newborn during their first moments.
Healthcare providers attending to a patient during childbirth in a medical setting.
Black and white image showing tiny newborn hand pressed against adult palm.
Healthcare providers assisting with newborn care immediately after birth.
Tattooed person holding newborn baby in hospital room with medical equipment visible.
Black and white image of skin-to-skin contact with newborn wrapped in blanket.
Side-by-side images showing intimate moments of skin-to-skin contact after birth.
Patient resting in hospital bed while holding newborn baby after delivery.
A patient rests quietly in a hospital bed with white linens and medical monitoring equipment visible.
Individual lying in hospital bed cuddling newborn baby swaddled in blanket during post-delivery care.
Hospital room scene showing support person sitting beside patient in medical bed.
Patient resting in hospital bed while receiving medical care and monitoring.
Candid moment in hospital room with visitor comforting patient in bed.
Hospital room scene showing medical staff and visitors gathered around patient's bedside.
Quiet moment captured of patient resting in hospital bed with medical equipment nearby.
Support person sits close to patient's hospital bedside during recovery.
Intimate hospital room moment with visitor leaning close to patient in medical bed.
Two visitors provide comfort and support to patient recovering in hospital room.
A tender moment captured in a hospital room as a newborn's hand is gently held while wearing blue patterned booties.
Close-up shot of tiny feet wearing blue patterned booties in a hospital bed setting.
An intimate hospital room scene showing a tender interaction during a special moment.
A quiet moment shared in a dimly lit hospital room with medical equipment visible in the background.
A precious newborn baby swaddled in white blankets being tenderly cared for.
Sweet newborn wrapped in white being cradled with gentle care in the hospital.
A touching black and white portrait of a newborn being held against a caring shoulder.
A delicate newborn wrapped in soft blankets receiving gentle care.
Fresh newborn receiving first medical care in hospital setting with equipment visible.
Gentle hands caring for a newborn in a hospital setting with medical equipment nearby.
Black and white image of a newborn baby swaddled in striped blanket lying in hospital bassinet.