Birth is a tenuous thing. Babies make their entrance into the world when they decide they’re ready. But, sometimes they decide it needs to happen a little faster than we expect! I’ve been a Lawton birth photographer for several amazing families over the past year and almost didn’t make it more than once to the hospital. I’ve always made it just in time, though, to capture the first breaths of several Oklahoma newborns. This time, however, Liam decided he wanted to make his entrance in his Grandma’s minivan, and I missed it!
Rachel hired me to document the birth of her son at Wichita Falls Birth and Wellness Center. We met a month before with her doula, Allison, from A New Little Life and planned out her session. She was hoping to have a water birth and was planning on using hypnobirthing techniques. She called me on August 4th that she had been having contractions and that after dinner, she and her husband were going to head down to Wichita Falls. So, I got on the road to Wichita Falls too, but as soon as I was in the car, Allison called me and said, “Meet us at Comanche! Meet us at Comanche!”
She meant Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, so I drove like a bat out of hell down I-44 full of adrenaline. I was bebopping my way up into labor and delivery when I heard my name. I looked up and there was Rachel being pushed in a wheelchair holding her baby! She said, “Sarah, I had him in the car!” Allison delivered him in the minivan right there in the drive at the hospital. Meconium covered both Rachel and Liam. I followed them into a room where they nurses got her into a bed. I began shooting then and capturing all the moments from there on out. Liam was still attached to mama by his placenta, so Rachel had to deliver that first. Then, Grandma and Grandpa brought big brother Shane in to meet his baby!
If you’re interested in seeing Liam’s birth video, click here. If you want to have your own birth story captured, click HERE for details!
