The Birth of Asher | A Birth Center Transfer (non-emergency) (video)

Sometimes things don’t go as you plan, and the choice to transfer from the birth center to the hospital is made. This mother planned to give birth at the Puget Sound Birth Center. In fact, most of her labor took place at the birth center. However, she made the difficult decision to transfer to EvergreenHealth Family Maternity Center (hospital) after laboring a long time. (For a beautiful 8-minute birth film, scroll to the end!)

Transfers can be for many different reasons, including medical emergencies or non-medical reasons. This mother decided to transfer after laboring unmedicated for 17+ hours so that she could get some rest and relief with the help of an epidural. However, shortly after transferring to the hospital, she gave birth (still unmedicated) just one hour after arriving!

a pregnant mom and her husband walk outside a birth center to help labor to progress

It began at the Puget Sound Birth Center

They arrived at the Puget Sound Birth Center around 1 am, and continued to labor throughout the night. Asher’s parents climbed up and down lots of stairs outside and around the Puget Sound Birth Center to help get things moving.

To continue to help labor progress, they did all the things, including some of the Spinning Babies methods such as the Forward-leaning Inversion, Flying Cowgirl, Side-lying release, and use of the Rebozo (sifting), among others. She worked so hard!

using spinning babies methods to help labor to progress at the Puget Sound Birth Center in Kirkland, WA

Laboring in the Tub

Asher’s mom also used the labor tub at the birth center to help with pain relief. Despite her long labor, she was smiling a fair bit, excited to meet her baby!

a husband hugs his wife as she labors in the tub

The Dilation Station

As she was laboring, Asher’s mom also made use of the shower, the birth tub, and the “dilation station.” This term refers to laboring on the toilet! It helps to relax the pelvic muscles, which can help the baby move further down the birth canal. Because you are in a relaxed position, it’s a place that naturally encourages dilation!

Although her labor was difficult, she never stopped smiling!

a pregnant mother sits backwards on the toilet as she labors at a birth center in Kirkland, WA

Birth Center Transfer to Evergreen Hospital

Eventually, the difficult decision was made by Asher’s mother to transfer from the birth center to EvergreenHealth Family Maternity Center (hospital), just a 5 minute drive away. Of course, baby Asher arrived earthside at Evergreen before his mother could even get an epidural!

husband has his hand on his wife's forehead as she labors on a hospital bed about to push out a baby after transferring from a birth center

a freshly born baby is on the chest of his mother with his eyes wide open at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, WA

Asher’s Big Brother Arrives

My favorite part of this birth was when Asher’s big brother came to the hospital just one hour after Asher was born. As a birth photographer and videographer, I don’t cry much at births, mostly because my brain is in full on “work” mode. My brain is focused on camera setting, angles, lighting and capturing the emotions, since I’m so centered on capturing your special moments.

big brother has a tear rolling down his face as he meets his new sibling just an hour after being born

big brother looks at his mom who is holding his new baby sibling

However, this time I teared up. I’ve never seen an older sibling cry with tears of joy and relief when he met his new baby brother, and I definitely cried a little behind the lens. It was just so beautiful and powerful for this new big brother to meet baby Asher in the first hour of life. What a gift these parents have given this sweet boy! If you want to see this beautiful interaction, check out the birth film below! (It’s towards the end of the video.)

Shoutout to the fantastic midwives Siri and Anna with the Snohomish Midwives. They were amazing!

a new dad holds his new baby skin-to-skin at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, WA

Are You Giving Birth Soon?

If so, I’d love to be your birth photographer and videographer! My favorite part of being a birth photographer is telling your unique, beautiful story.

The birth of your child will only happen once, and you’ll have peace of mind, knowing you won’t miss a thing with me as your labor and delivery photographer. I offer professional birth photos and films for parents who want to remember and cherish all the important details of their birth story. You can even add professional birth photography to your baby registry!

Contact me to see if I have availability for your upcoming due date. (I take a limited number of births each month, so the sooner your contact me, the better!) You can also schedule a free, no-pressure, 30 minute consultation, so you can ask me all the questions! I can’t wait to connect with you!