a beautiful beginning: jude edward’s birth story.

Erin and I were racing each other to see who would end up in labor firstShe was due exactly 2 weeks before me and I’m sure glad she beat me so that I could be at her birth. I had so much fun shooting her & Mark at their maternity session, and I just knew Erin would be as graceful and beautiful during her natural birth as she was during her maternity session. (And I was right!).

Labor started for Erin around 4:30am on April 30 and she managed to labor beautifully by herself while Mark worked a half day! By about 4:30pm I got the call from Mark that she was in active labor and that their doula, Melanie, was on her way to their house. Her contractions were still pretty spaced out at that point, but after a meal and some doula tricks, they picked up in no time. Melanie texted when they were on their way to the hospital and she checked into to triage at 6cm. Her water also broke in triage and while I was on my way, I got a text from Melanie saying she was probably 8-9cm. I panicked a little and let me tell you that the emergency room staff got a kick out of me – 38 weeks pregnant – waddling as fast as I could with my giant camera bag in tow up to labor & delivery.

Erin was ready to push just minutes after I got there at 10pm, but unfortunately she ended up having a lot of pushing ahead of her. She handled the pain & frustration beautifully (and un-medicated I might add!), and finally after a few position changes and using the tug-of-war towel trick with Mark to help her push, Jude Edward Hughes made his entrance into the world at 12:53am on May 1 (just 1 day before her actual due date). They did not find out the sex of the baby ahead of time, so proud daddy Mark got to be the first to announce that they had a perfect baby BOY! 8 lb 7 oz, 20 in of perfection to be exact

5.1.12

I already know you guys are going to be wonderful parents and I wish all the best in your new journey together

Love, Kelly