Birthing With a Great Team | St. Vincent’s Clay
Location: St. Vincent’s Clay Family Birth Place in Middleburg, Florida
Birth photographer: Dallas Arthur Birth Stories & Support
Doula: Olivia Martinez of Breathe it All In Birth
Midwife: Breana Matzen, CNM, ARNP of Dr. Hyler & Associates
Chiropractor: Dr. Cristina Padilla of Thrive Family Chiropractic
“My birthing time started around 6:30am, on Tuesday, December 27th. I was sleeping and remember having a contraction accompanied with back pain that woke me from my sleep but then I was able to go back to sleep, then I had another. At this time I got out of bed, when to the bathroom and returned to bed, which shortly afterwards my contractions become more consistent. After referring to a contraction app, I knew I was in active labor.”
I walked in the front door and found Camilla upstairs. The morning light was coming in through the windows and she was so at peace, quietly moving through each contraction and then smiley and chatty between them.
“Through each contraction I initially sat on my birth ball, it gave me comfort as I was able to move my hips as I rode through each wave of contractions. I had a playlist that I created which set the mood for the atmosphere I wanted during this time, especially while being at home. And through each contraction I would think on my baby, that I would be able to meet her soon and thinking on the fact that God allowed me to get here and he will help me through each contraction.”
Throughout the next hour, the rest of Camilla’s birth team arrived; her doula Olivia and her chiropractor Cristina.
“My chiropractor just helped me so much physically, with every adjustment, I could tell how my body was responding positively and we moved through each contraction so steadily and smoothly.”
“I was initially having back labor and she was able to adjust me to where my baby was fully in the proper position and I no longer had back labor when I hit the final few transitions in my labor.”
Her husband Durrant had been going up and down the stairs, moving suitcases and getting everything ready to go. Soon he stayed put in the bedroom, supporting his wife through each surge.
“My husband was there making sure I was okay, he was my physical support as my contractions became more intense and I needed a hand or body [or shirt!] to hold on to.”
Doula Olivia came up the stairs and brightened the whole room with her presence. She was Camilla’s doula for their older daughter’s birth, and she was so excited to go on this journey with this family again.
“Everyone meshed so well together. As I labored, after each contraction, myself and my whole birth team talked, we laughed and they encouraged me through each transition.”
“I could not have had a better birth team/supporters. My husband, my doula - Olivia, my chiropractor - Cristina, and of course my birth photographer - Dallas.”
Camilla asked her husband if he would grab my camera and take a picture of us all before Cristina left. Would you believe that her baby was born 2 hours and 3 minutes after this picture was taken?? Talk about the magic of a supportive birth team!
“My birthing time with them was amazing, everyone had a special place and made the process so much smoother.”
“My doula supported me along the way, whether it was vocally assisting me during each contraction, or comforting our 4 year old daughter which she previously assisted at birth. Any way that I needed her, she was there.”
Shortly after her daughter woke up, contractions got intense. Camilla found herself vocalizing through them, so much so that her daughter covered her ears as she watched with curiosity.
“The decision to go to the hospital was at a time when I transitioned after my final chiropractor adjustment and the contractions came on so much quicker and stronger.”
Camilla hit the floor of the bathroom and things shifted. It was clear that things were moving along quickly, and both Olivia and I encouraged her to move towards the car. Their chosen hospital was about 40 minutes away, so time was of the essence!
“I was encouraged by both my doula and Dallas that it was time to go, which I'm so grateful for because the timing could not have been more perfect.”
Before we left, Durrant called the hospital to let them know that Camilla was in labor and that we were headed in. That was when we got some surprising news.
“The day that I went into labor, my OB who was supposed to be at my birth was stuck in New York, due to cancelled flights from the holidays, which left me in limbo of knowing who would deliver my baby. I was told that the on call midwife or doctor would see me, which I had never seen before.”
We were all a little nervous about this change in plans, since Camilla had such a good relationship with her doctor. We wondered who would be at St. Vincent’s Clay when we arrived.
“As we arrived at the hospital and I was brought to my room, I saw a very familiar and welcoming face, my midwife that I had seen through out my pregnancy was there because she heard that I was being admitted and asked if I wanted her to stay and of course I said yes! That was the best feeling of relief and comfort. Truly a divine intervention.”
That final hour of labor was intense. Camilla’s strength was on full display as she let her body move her baby down. She was 8cm dilated in triage, and it was evident this baby was coming very soon.
The room was filled with a flurry of nurses: charting, getting vitals and an IV port in, setting up the delivery tray, getting monitors on her belly. But Camilla was in the zone, resting so deeply between surges. She remained so focused, holding onto her husband’s hand for support.
Their daughter was so curious about what was happening! She asked Olivia a million questions and her sweet little voice was music in the room.
“There was a time when my daughter needed consoling because she wanted to make sure mommy was okay. My doula talked and played with her and Dallas stepped in.”
“I remember hearing Dallas’ soft and encouraging voice through each contraction, reassuring me that I will meet my baby soon, and that I was doing so well, and that I was strong and had this. That spoke volumes to me.”
“I believe I did 3-5 pushes once I was on hands and knees, which was the position i delivered my baby. I really wanted to meet my baby and I was looking forward to having her out of my womb and in my arms.”
“Meeting my baby for the first time was heaven, seriously. I was thinking that she was so beautiful and she is finally here. I couldn’t stop thinking to myself, ‘I'm a girl mom.’”
“To be able to have had this baby was so special, as she was my 8th pregnancy and second success. So she was truly a treasure.”
“She looked exactly how I thought she would and even more beautiful. We had a 3D ultrasound and I was able to see how full her cheeks and lips were and I was in love.”
She is truly one of the most beautiful babies I’ve ever photographed! Her rosy lips were just heavenly, a testament to her middle name, Rose.
Once the umbilical cord was limp and white, dad had the honor of cutting it.
Then came the placenta, and might I say, a beautiful one at that!
“Seeing my now oldest daughter be there for the birth of her sister and see how much she loved her from the time she laid eyes on her, made everything so surreal.”
“Nursing was a breeze. My baby girl had no problem latching and I felt right again to be able to breastfeed my own baby.”
With his baby girl in his arms, Durrant tipped his head back and laughed, the kind of laugh that comes from a flood of relief and an ocean of pride. He was a girl dad once more.
“My dad and stepmom were the first of my extended family to meet our daughter. My parents were in love.”
“My dad loves his girls he was so filled with joy and even cried once he hugged me. And told me how proud he was.”
Soon it was big sister’s turn to hold the baby! She giggled sweetly, so thrilled to have her very own little sister in her arms.
“It was truly a blessing to have Dallas present. From start to finish, she was there for it all, she was truly present in it all.”
“This was my by far the best birth I've had and I would not have changed anything.”
Congratulations, Camilla! It is always an honor to be chosen as part of someone’s birth team. But to be asked to be a birth photographer for someone who is such a renowned and talented photographer herself is a whole deeper level of trust! I’m so grateful for you and to have been a part of this beautiful birth team.
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