The Birth of Isaiah - A Fast Payson Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC)

I am usually in a hurry to get to a birth; seven years as a birth worker has taught me that sometimes things move quicker than usual, and I always want to arrive as soon as possible after I am called in.

Julie hired me for birth photography and a birth video just a week or so before her baby made his debut into the world. She was planning a home birth, and I was excited to learn that she was also a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) mom. This would be her seventh birth and sixth VBAC. If you have been with me for a while, you know that I am extra passionate about supporting VBAC parents, having 3 HBACs (Home Birth After Cesarean) myself, and co-founding The VBAC Link.

I got the call from Julie one morning, and things were progressing fast! It is about a 35-minute drive from my house in Lehi to Payson, and I knew I had to get moving if I was going to make it. I headed out of my neighborhood and was cruising along when I saw flashing lights behind me. I was getting pulled over when I had a client practically pushing her baby out! Apparently, I hadn’t fully stopped at a stop sign, and I wasn’t paying attention to my speed, so I was going about ten over the speed limit.

I went to grab my registration and license (I was in my husband’s car) and couldn’t find the registration and realized I had left my wallet in my other car. No registration and no license!! I was so worried. I explained to the officer that I was on my way to a birth, that mom was pushing, and I rushed out of the house without my wallet. Luckily I had my license number memorized so I gave it to him, and he looked me and the car up and saw everything was good. He let me go on my way without a ticket or a formal warning, and I knew that I was SO lucky to have gotten off that way.

I went on my way and walked in the house while Julie was pushing. I quickly set up my gear and got to taking pictures and videos. The baby was born ten minutes after I got there, surrounded by his siblings, mom and dad, and a room full of love! Enjoy Isaiah’s arrival below.