Born at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital, in Minneapolis, Minnesota | A NICU Birth Story of Gratitude in Photographs and Video
In our prenatal meeting for doula support, Caroline asked, “Is it possible to feel joy in a birth like mine?”
They were in their 28th week of pregnancy with their precious baby girl.
I responded with, “yes, and it’s also possible and likely to experience many different emotions simultaneously. I think it’s helpful for when other emotions like sadness or grief appear, to give them permission to exist. Whatever you feel in those moments are all a part of your birth and experience.”
I reminded them that through it all, they can ground themselves in the comfort and safety of each other and myself as their doula. We will take it moment by moment.
Just two days later, it was time to meet their baby girl.
In our postpartum visit a week later, when asked about the emotions she felt during and after birth, she said, “I felt mostly, so much gratitude.”
As their doula, I too, could see and feel how positive their birth was- even with surrounding anxieties, fears, and unknowns. Several staff members they had developed a trusting relationship with during their time in the hospital went out of their way to be there and show up for them. The way the OB performing the surgery so gently and lovingly held baby Nora behind the clear drape for parents to meet her. The way that OB spoke to their baby and narrated reassuring things about her initial health status at birth. The NICU team prioritized Caroline getting to touch and hold sweet Nora in the delivery room and again once settled in the NICU.
All of those seemingly little things made a huge difference for this family’s birth.
Welcome to the world, keep fighting and growing sweet Nora!
xo, Britt + the rest of the Gather Birth team
Doula support and Birth Photography: Britt, Gather Birth
