I was supposed to photograph the birth of Sarah and Oceane’s first baby back in 2015, but little Dominique had other plans. While his mamas were trying to ascertain whether Sarah was actually in established labour, Dominique suddenly arrived before they even had time to call me! So when they again booked me to photograph their second baby’s birth, I was so excited to get a second chance at being with this beautiful family on such a special day.

Oceane was still a couple of weeks from her due date when her waters broke whilst they were out for breakfast. I had plenty of notice this time as Oce still had a full day and night of work to do before they would be meeting their baby. I arrived in the evening to find one of the quietest and calmest birth spaces I’ve ever worked in. Oce is a midwife so she understood the importance of minimal light (hence no flash on my camera), quiet voices and gentle music.

Whilst Dominique slept the night away in his bedroom accompanied by Oceane’s mum, the three of us had a blissful few hours together before the midwives arrived. Watching the way these two mothers worked together through labour was like watching a stunning film play before my eyes. They moved together so effortlessly, rocking through the surges. There was occasional excited chatter about the long awaited day having finally arrived, and how they would soon be parents of two!

It was almost dawn when baby Gabrielle came swimming into her mother’s waiting hands. A perfect baby girl! It may have been the squeals of excitement in the room, but Oceane’s mum awoke and came rushing out to kiss her daughter with pride, and Sarah carried Dominique out to meet his baby sister. The porridge was soon bubbling away on the stove while the midwives finished their paperwork, and the sun rose on a new day and a new life.

When starting out in the journey that is birth, all that can really be hoped for is a healthy baby and a healthy mother, but sometimes you also get the perfect birth experience. The smile on Oceane’s face following birth was one of pure empowerment. It was the smile of  a mother basking in the knowledge that her maternal strength had carried her through and given her little daughter the gentle birth they had dreamed of.

K. X