A Birth Story

The Twins

I can safely say one of the greatest honours I have had holding a camera in hand was documenting my treasure of a friend, Rachel, bring her beautiful twins into the world this past June. Though we live in different countries, I am so fortunate to be able to have called Rachel and Cedric good friends for a few years now. I have watched as their family has grown from 4 to 5, and then to 7. Her boys hold a very special place in my heart, and I could hardly believe it when Rachel told me she was pregnant with twins. In June, I went to Maine and got to document the her labour and the birth. That night, time was irrelevant. Quite honestly, for all of the weddings I have documented, I don’t know if I have ever captured a more raw display of love and support than that between Rachel and Cedric in that delivery room. Everything that surrounded this birth story was intensely strong in every possible way. I don’t actually have many words for it.

On a more personal note, I am very grateful for this whole process and its unfolding. I had never even witnessed a birth before documenting this one. Leading up to the labor and in an effort to best prepare myself for my role in capturing it, I had many conversations with my sister, Anna (who is a midwife), about everything I essentially didn’t know. Along with those conversations and Rachel graciously sharing her own experiences with me has torn apart many misconceptions I had about birth and labor. For a long time, I think I had quite a bit of fear surrounding even just the idea of it. Labor and birth have to have been the most wildly incredible thing I have ever witnessed - I can only imagine what that would be like to experience in my own body and mind if I ever get to become a mother one day.

All of that to say, I truly don’t know what to say. I suppose I would be better off letting the photographs tell this story from here on in. But if you or someone you know is looking for a birth photographer local to Fredericton, I would love to talk to you! Feel free to send off an email at inquiries@sarahkierstead.co, and we can certainly get a conversation started!

- S