The Birth of Iris Ailene

I first met Sydney in the summer, about five months before she was due with her winter baby.

Sydney’s previous delivery was a c-section due to a breech positioning, so she was planning a home VBAC with Lily Birth Collaborative.

This was also going to be a rainbow baby for this sweet mama 🥹 so, there were a lot of emotions going into this precious birth.

I received the call to head to her birth around 1:00 a.m.

Her doula (Lauren Glass of Steadfast Birth) and mama were working hard on contractions when I arrived. I would pop in and out and film and photograph snippets, allowing her some time to just labor without too many people. She was doing well though and unbothered.

After laboring for over 12 hours, Sydney wasn’t progressing, despite changing positions and IV fluids. She was stuck at 8cm, and the choice was made to transfer.

Her back labor was so intense it prevented positions where baby could help dilate her further.

We later found out why, once baby made its entrance.

I stayed with Sydney for 22 hours, the longest I have ever been at a birth.

In the end, she birthed a healthy baby boy.

Here’s what Sydney had to say about her experience with me at her birth:

“When I met Jennie I knew immediately I wanted to have her apart of our birth team. Her energy was supportive, encouraging and genuine to the point we joked by the end of the birth, calling her the backup doula. I remember her in my ear cheering me on rather than remembering a camera being in my face. She is so passionate and intentional in her work… something I will cherish forever.”

Enjoy watching the story play out in this beautiful birth film. My favorite moment from his birth comes at the end… we all just started worshipping simultaneously and it was the most holy moment. If you are pondering having your birth filmed, please get in touch with me!