Monday, August 15

Elliotte's Birth Story Told Through Photographs



(Song credit: Radiohead "Give up the ghost". We listened to it the night before Elle was born.
It will forever remind me of her birth.)

Although these photos are quite intimate and dear to me, I feel they are important to share, to tell the whole story. AND, because I can't go a day without marveling over how faithful and good to me my God was through it all.... I cry probably everyday just thinking about the moment she was born. I can't shut up about it, really. I'm just so over the moon and in love.

As this journey of birthing my baby comes to an end, the journey of bringing light to VBAC birth AND how incredible we as woman have been designed by God to be completely capable of enduring it, that journey has just begun. I have received numerous emails from woman who are on that journey to a more gentler birth, a drug free birth and or a vaginal birth after a previous cesarean birth. My hope is that by watching vbac birth, they might be encouraged & know that they CAN DO IT too. {Your body isn't broken!!} One of the most helpful things for me when I was pregnant was to watch videos like the one I'm sharing, read birth stories and talk to other woman who have also experienced it. I will continue to post articles, information, birth stories and birth videos in an effort to give support to woman who are on the path that I was on when I got pregnant with Elliotte and felt so alone (at first) with my desire to have a natural birth. The more I sought out woman with the same desire as me, the more NORMAL it felt to have this desire. After hearing so many beautiful stories of woman taking back their bodies and birthing on their own terms, the more realistic it felt, and less crazy it felt to have my baby at home. Anyway, that's why it's important for me to post videos like these.

It was such a blessing to have such a good friend shoot my birth photos. {Thank you a million times over, Bobbie.} If Dustin had not called her frantically during labor, we wouldn't have had a single picture. I was too busy laboring to care if anyone came to take photos, but Dustin knows how passionate I am about natural birth and knew I would want to have it documented. Luckily, it was Sunday and she wasn't working.

There is just something special about being surrounded by woman who love you and are all routing for you and crying happy tears with you when your baby is born. I was thrilled to have Bobbie be part of our birth team.

30 comments:

  1. That filled my heart with so much joy...The only thing that saddens me is you'll never know how proud of you I am. You were not "brave" or "lucky" you were faithful, strong, and wise.
    I love you so so so much.
    Welcome to the world Elle. Can't wait to snuggle your tiny cheeks <3

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  2. THank you Chelsea for sharing this beautiful story. I have been watching your story and hanging on every word of strength. You have inspired me and really taught me that we all have the strength within us. She is so beautiful. I lost my mom over 4 years ago, and I have always thought I couldn't go through this having a baby and making it through. I can not wait to watch her grow up, you are ana amzing women..thank you again...

    Shana
    ColorBlind

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  3. even though i had vaginal births with both of my boys, i am so, so, so glad you are advocating VBAC. so many women out there are oblivious to the fact that their bodies are capable of having a vaginal birth after a c-section. and so many doctors are allowing their patients to believe they are incapable of a VBAC. (maybe it's just easy to schedule a c-section on the doctor's time? i call bull.)

    good for you! and good for elliotte! i hope many concerned mamas out there read this, and this offers them some new hope!

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  4. Shana, what I pray is that God would perfectly orchestrate, in your birth, the most amazing birth team, or doctor or nurses who would love on you and encourage you through your birth since your mom cannot be there. What an incredible blessing to be welcoming a new baby into your lives. I will be praying for a safe & peaceful delivery. You're going to do great!!!!

    Thank you Deanna. The first time I went to a VBAC birth circle and the doula said to me, "you can have the birth experience you want, Chelsea, you can have it!" I shook my head and thought she was crazy. Then after hearing so many great home birth stories, and after crying after each appointment with my doctor because he just didn't really believe in me, and so i didnt believe in me, i knew that i had to do something totally different. Switching from my doctor to my midwife was the best decision i've ever made.

    AND Mae, I know how proud of me you are. I really do. I'm so glad you are in my life and have become such a good friend to me. I can't wait for you to see Elle in a few weeks!!!! Eeeekkkk!!!! ;) So excited!

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  5. wow i had tears just streaming down my cheeks! congratulations chelsea!

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  6. I'm speechless. Your story, your beautiful photos... they ease my fear of birth and motherhood and show me the joy and blessing of it all. Chelsea, thanks to your openness and raw honesty, I look forward to having a child someday. Thank you for showing me how to glorify God even during birth. <3

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  7. You are so beautiful and so inspiring.
    I am so proud of you Chelsea.

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  8. what a beautiful video...and beautiful is such an understatement. Thank you for sharing your experience!! Elliotte is so beautiful...and the photos of her in your and Dustin's arms were so touching :) So happy you're happy!

    PS - the photo at 2:25 hit me hard...you looking at your belly, ready to meet the little one inside. LOVE it :)

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  9. so so so so beautiful. i don't know what else to say!!!

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  10. Tears streaming. How beautiful. Thank you for allowing us to see such an intimate beautiful day.

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  11. Awww sadly I cant watch it, because of copyright issues :(
    But I'm sure you will post pics of her anyway and keep us updated on her (she is sooo cute!)

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  12. You give me hope! This was soo beautiful. I cried and cried. I'm so proud of you Chelsea!
    xoxo

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  13. Tears over here - loved the slideshow. It is a testament to your faith and love. Truly beautiful. Thank you for sharing such an intimate experience with us. You certainly didn't have to, and I feel grateful that you did.

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  14. This is why I love blogging! I get to feel joy for how God has blessed someone who I don't even know!
    Such a heartwarming video, and story.

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  15. Those were such beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing your experience so openly and honestly. You are an inspiration.

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  16. I was crying from the beginning haha and that only got worse! How beautiful!!! Thank you for sharing. I'm due to have my third child in a week, I feel like I've had zero mental preparation this time around (even the name is still undecided!! ah) but you really serve as an inspiration, and have started to focus me. I'm going for another water birth, but I'm getting petrified even though I've already done it before! Thank you for sharing all of this, I'm sure you're helping many different people in such different ways! Enjoy your babies : )

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  17. This is amazingly beautiful. Thank you for sharing :)
    Such a gorgeous girl you have <3

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  18. that is so stinkin neat. really. are you calling her elle? funny...that was one of my favorite girl names:) love it!

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  19. chelsea,
    i randomly stumbled upon your blog a while ago. i loved looking at your adorable funny and reading your beautifully honest and hilarious posts. i've loved following along through your pregnancy and been rooting for you to have the birth you wanted. i've had 3 c-section births {for a weird/small shaped pelvis} and if i could have done a vbac i certainly would have. the part of me that can't do it for myself has been so so so excited for you. God is so good! Congratulations on that sweet girl. And btw, if somewhere down the road we adopt a 4th girl elliotte will probably be her name. i love it!
    meghan

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  20. So unbelievably beautiful Chelsea! I am so happy for you. I think I teared up. What a great day for you and your family to always remember.

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  21. wow...you got me crying too. It is amazing how beautifully crazy the whole experience is...

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  22. Holy crap that made me teary. What a beautiful little movie and story. The photos of you and her in the tub are so lovely. Congratulations again on your bb girl!

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  23. You're story is amazing! We have several mutual friends (Cain's, Meinecke's...probably more) which is what led me to your page! Thank you for sharing. I work with a LOT of women who've had babies recently (I'm a teacher) and even some of my best friends are VERY judgmental about natural birth and home births. But ultimately, I know I need to do what I think will be best. So it's great to hear your story, and know that we're in that whole six degrees of separation thing!

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  24. Llike everyone else I was bawling through the whole thing. The pictures were just amazing. Especially when you pulled Elliotte up and held her for the first time, the look on your face. Just wow. You are an inspiration. I really pray that if my husband and I have another baby I can find someone to help me have a VBAC too. Thank you for sharing such beautiful moments.

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  25. As a midwife birth amazes me every time but it is rare that I get teary anymore. This definitely brought some tears. I love your face as you meet your little one. Lovely pictures!

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  26. As a midwife birth amazes me every time but it is rare that I get teary anymore. This definitely brought the tears. I love your face as you meet your little one. Lovely pics!

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  27. Chelsea, I feel so honored you watched my birth video and posted a comment! By the song I chose, you obviously know I have seen your video...like a bazillion times! My son and I watched it so many times before Codi was born to help get him prepped for the birth, and to help me just be super excited for her birth. Your video moved me more than any other I've seen. Especially because it was a VBAC! Thank you for visiting my blog, and an even bigger thanks for posting this video. It truly inspired me beyond what you could ever know! HUGS!

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  28. P.S. I absolutely adore your daughters name. My best friend named her daughter Elliotte, and she is such a cute little girl. I've been in love with the name ever since!

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  29. Oh my, what a STUNNING series of images, such a beautiful birth and peaceful, wide-open baby! You were truly fabulous. Thank you so much for sharing these with me!

    All the best to you on your journey, Mama.

    xo,
    Rebecka, Everyday Life Magic

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  30. hrm, looks like Blogger might have eaten my comment...

    What a stunning collection of images. Beautiful baby, so calm and alert. And you, Mama- wow. You were astounding.

    Thank you for sharing! The world needs more incredible birth imagery, so that we can be less afraid.

    We CAN do anything.

    xo,
    Rebecka, Everyday Life Magic

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