09/03/2026
I photographed Hillary’s best friends birth in June, and as any best friend does- she convinced her bestie to get birth photos also. Hillary was a *little* hesitant because her previous births it was only her husband in the room. But her bestie somehow reassured her that I wasn’t thaaaaat bad to have in the room (thanks, lex 🤟🏼). At 32w, Hillary’s baby girl was breech and as we spoke on the phone, she just couldn’t wrap her head around birth photos for a c-section. It just didn’t feel “worth it”. I shared with her that it doesn’t matter how your baby comes into the world, it’s still the moment you’re meeting your baby. Over the next few weeks, her baby girl will ended up flipping head down. Such an answer to prayer!
Fast forward to the morning of her induction, things began to progress quickly- quicker than her previous two births. We decided it was time for me to head that way, and when I was twenty minutes away, they realized the baby’s foot was right there and called for emergency c-section. For any of my other birth workers out there, you know it’s a hard no for me to go back into that OR. I contemplated going to a nearby coffee shop until the golden hour when they’d allow me in. Instead, I felt like it wasn’t time to stop trying. I hadn’t gotten updates from dad for 10 min, so I was just sitting in the waiting area… when suddenly he said they’d allow me back. The nurses station looked at me like I was crazy, and told me if I went into OR, dad would need to leave. I scrambled to get my bunny suit in… and as I walked into the room the doctor said “hold up your camera she’s coming out!” Time of birth: 10:48am. Look at the last slide to see what time dad told me I could come back. 😭😭 Literally perfect timing. Im so thankful, and so proud of Hillary and Ralph for handling a chaotic moment so beautifully. Welcome, Cece Dove🕊️
