Big Sisters & Their Newborn Baby - Birth Story in Florida

As a birth photographer and birth videographer in Boca Raton, Florida, I feel so honored and blessed to be able to witness while documenting, the most intimate, precious moments between big siblings meeting the little person they have been waiting to meet during their mom's whole pregnancy.

I'm not sure what is sweeter and more moving, whether the bond between mom & baby or watching a mom as she gazes on her older child meeting the baby for the first time...

In that moment, mom's 'baby' is no longer the youngest, she watches this magical transition into the 'big sibling role' as the older child says "hello" for the first time to their new baby sibling.

It is so sweet to watch as these big siblings automatically and naturally as if born with an innate maternal instinct, immediately love on this new little person. 

I hope you enjoy this 'meeting story' of these big sisters meeting their darling baby sister Ainhoa, for the first time. 

I only take two - three families for birth stories each month in Broward and Palm Beach counties, and reserve their birth stories several months into their pregnancies. I do travel for birth stories as well to Naples and Tampa, Key West, and even northern Florida. I will travel out of the state of Florida - and have had birth clients in New York and Washington State and even abroad for certain birth stories (inquire for details).

If you are expecting and would like to hire me for your birth story, it is never too late to get in touch with me. Birth is unpredictable and sometimes plans do change and babies are born early and I may have an opening last minute, as I did with this special family in south Florida. 

Natural Birth at Boca Raton Regional Hospital

One of my favorite days was the day I was honored to attend and capture the birth story of an amazing little boy. His mom rocked her VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) which inspired me and empowered so many moms to learn more about VBAC and the providers who are skilled in it and support women in it, and to make informed decisions about their birthing stories. 

But the sweetness of this little family coming together, and their big girl meeting their baby boy just melted away my heart. She is such a great big sister now. 

I absolutely love being a birth photographer here in Boca Raton. There is nothing more special than the meeting day :)

I cannot wait for all my upcoming births this year and early spring of 2018 in Coral Springs, both in the Coral Springs Medical Center - Broward Health, and also upcoming home births! 

Family of 7 welcomes new baby in Loxahatchee, Florida in the quiet of the dawn

I hold such a dear and special place in my heart for this incredible family. 

Jenn told me when we first met, how they were apartment and city living, the lifestyle wasn't working for them and their hearts were calling to a calmer, more natural way of life. 

I can't even telling you how heart filling the feeling was watching all the older siblings watching their baby sister entering our world. My heart exploded. It was the kind of moment where as a mom all you wanted was to have 4 more kids!!

I hope this birth brings tears of joy to you as it did for me! 

All my love,

Paulina

The Greatest Love Story - The Hospital Birth of a Deployed Father's Baby Boy over Skype

It was almost March.

January and February had flown past me amidst a chaotic move from our old apartment to our new home.

I got a message from a first time mom, Ashlyn, asking me if I happen to have any availability for a last minute birth in March. She and her husband are both in the military and she was coming down to Florida from being stationed in North Carolina for the last few years and with her husband still deployed overseas, they worried what lasting memories they may have from the birth of their first child.

My heart instantly sank.

I overlooked my completely full calendar for March and said absolutely I have availability for you.

How could I not?

I couldn't imagine giving birth without my best friend, my husband, by my side, and I have such a soft spot in my heart for military and law enforcement.

I knew in that moment, I would do everything in my power to make this the greatest love and birth story of all time.

Ashlyn and I met and instantly realized we had dozens of things in common, which made this birth story feel like it was for an old friend, or a sister. It was one of the first births I've cried at because it just pulls so much on your heart, how mom and dad serve this country with all their heart, and now birth their first child while separated by thousands of miles of ocean and foreign lands.

I hold in my heart the greatest gratitude for Ashlyn's amazing OBGYN at Broward General hospital in Fort Lauderdale, who took her under her wing so last minute, just a few weeks before birth. And to the hospital as well for being so accommodating of these first time parents hopes and dreams of having the first birth of their newborn baby boy documentary so smoothly and happily.

May this birth story fill your hearts with hope and love the way it did mine. 

Incredible Warrior Mama Natural Birth (Successful VBAC!)

This incredible mama and I met for the first time when we were pregnant. I was pregnant with my second daughter, she was pregnant with her first child. We met at the sacred pregnancy class at Orchids Nest. When I got a call from her that she was pregnant with her second baby boy, I was so ecstatic! I was so happy and honored to be able to support her through my work during her vbac (vaginal birth after cesarean). 

It was such a tremendous honor watching this blessed mama be under the care of her OBGYN Dr. Jane Rudolph (from Women's Health Partners in Boca Raton, FL). She was so patient and respectful of my birth mama client's birth space.

After having seen these images you may be thinking... this may be an entirely different perspective on what many families and parents consider a newborn photographer when they are searching for photographic pictures to capture the most amazing moments of their first, second, third baby entering this world. 

But this is completely at the heart of my passion, true photojournalistic style documentary photography. You cannot pre-plan this family photography session the way you would a beach portrait session with a pregnancy photographer... Birth is spontaneous and unexpected!

I do believe you can call yourself a baby photographer when you are in the birth world :) 

It is the most baby moments you will have as a newborn photographer - ever! The first seconds, minutes, hours a baby is in this world. True baby photography, or should I say newborn photography :) 

Birth of a first granddaughter | First time parents & first time grandmas

One of the parts of my job as a birth photographer that really brings me a lot of happiness and fulfillment is working with parents who I feel connected to, who I feel are like old time friends or family, from the first time I meet them. Vianey and Stefen are the epitome of this! I think I mentioned to them several times during our first meeting, their pregnancy and after the birth of their incredible little girl Penny, that I wish we were neighbors or lived 5 minutes away. 

We have so much in common and chatting feels effortless.

I had no idea how much love I'd have in my heart the day I joined them in their delivery room. Already there was a lot of love and a lot of family present during Vianey's labor, supporting her utterly and flawlessly.

There were a few things that kind of swept me off my feet. 

One... their birth plan changed, a few times. And each time, these first time parents met these changes with positivity, bravery and resilience.

Vianey's husband stood by her during her entire labor as the most vigilant and empathetic partner I have yet seen. 

Her family had this unspoken reverence for the young couple. An unspoken truth everyone knew about, that they went into this labor knowledgable, wise, prepared and they don't need guidance, advice, critique, rather they deserve the utmost kindness and support. Watching so many family members and also friends provide this incredible labor, birth and baby encouragement and support, even with Vianey breastfeeding the baby immediately following birth, well it was refreshing and inspiring and most of all, incredibly calming to me.

Some of these images happen to be some of my all time favorite pieces of work I have ever documented. I am thrilled that this 2017 family is now part of my birth families, that their journey has been one I have had the honor of capturing...

I love that this family fell deeply into the strong bond of trusting me to document the day their first born daughter came into this world... this is an honor that is not bestowed onto everyone and I will value their trust in me forever. 

PS. I absolutely love the twist ending with the fun proposal you'll see in the last few shots. I hope you enjoy these photographic pictures as much as I did!

West Palm Beach Birth and Family Photographer | Welcoming Thea after sunrise

The calm, windy evening had beautiful clouds over Good Samaritan Medical Center Sunday night. Walking into their labor room, I felt a calming presence. This was possibly one of the most peaceful and quiet births I have ever attended. 

It really struck me emotionally how incredibly in-tune dad and mom were through every contraction. I always recommend to first time (and even second and third time moms) to consider hiring a birth doula, but I was so amazed by how these parents took on labor pains through an incredible team effort. 

I am so grateful to the wonderful medical staff at Good Samaritan for making an exception and allowing me to enter into their operating room to document these parent's baby girl's birth immediately following her cesarean. It softens my heart to know that families emotional needs are being put at the front of birth and that medical providers are understanding how important birth photography and birth videography is to families.

HOLLYWOOD BIRTH STORY AT MEMORIAL REGIONAL HOSPITAL

Every once in a while, a mama prepares for her birth the right way, with the right support and an incredible strength, courage and love for her unborn child, but despite everyones plans, sometimes baby has a a plan of his own. 

I was incredibly emotionally moved by the unparalleled and immense support this beautiful, radiant mama received throughout her labor from her entire family. It warms my heart to see a room full of supportive women who are lifting a birthing mama up with positivity and love. The moment that her own mom and dad surrounded her during her labor, her dad applying pressure to her back, her mom giving her ice chips, her wife speaking words of support, my heart just ached and filled up with so much joy and courage. We as women deserve to labor and birth as mama goddesses. Birth is a beautiful day of our lives, when a miracle happens. We realize, our body has not failed us. Instead, it has been this miraculous vessel that has grown the most perfect little human being on the face of this earth. It has nourished this child and it has signaled us when this child is ready to be welcomed earth side.

I am grateful from the depths of my heart to the amazing staff at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, FL for understanding that key to a beautiful birth is to allow the birthing mama to have a peaceful and happy birthing experience. So thank you, for making an exception and welcoming me into the operating room to continue to document this sacred birth story for Chloe and Erica. They became parents for the first time on August 28th, and it is thanks to your understanding that I am able to give this small gift of their first reactions and first moments as parents to them. 

I hope that other hospitals and providers begin to learn from these moments and experiences to understand how healing and fulfilling something as simple as a birth story documented by a respectful professional birth photographer can have a profound affect on a family.

Coconut Creek Birth Photographer | Early morning home birth

On the first day of my daughter's first year of school as I was dropping her off and walking her into class, my birth mama called me that she was in active labor. I am a big believer that everything happens for a reason. I arrived at the same time as her midwife. It was a beautiful morning, just a couple of hours after sunrise that baby Victoria entered our world and met her beautiful family in their home. 

Boca Raton Birth and Family Photographer | Family welcomes its 9th member

A note to my dear friends, the Hartwigs at Organic Moments Photography...

Dear Josh & Erica,

Have I told you guys how much I admire you both as a couple and as parents? You get up with motivation and energy, and most of all unconditional love, every single morning, and just do this whole parenting/family/marriage thing like a couple of badass rockstars. 

You don't let the little things consume you, your joy and presence is in the NOW. You enjoy everyday, and love each of your children as if they were the one and only child in your life, and that amazes me as I try to juggle time with just my two girls. 

I believe that everything happens for a reason. And it just fills me with joy that we met, became great friends, and that you asked me to document the birth story of your fourth biological son. I am giggling now because I know as passionate, wordy and poetic I am with my words, Josh is over there saying something silly to make everyone laugh, so the atmosphere in the room doesn't get too serious or mushy-feely. So without further ado, please enjoy my favorite moments I got to spend with all 9 of you (and all the wonderful moms and grandmas who love an support you and your incredible kids). 

All my love, hugs, and giggles, 

Paulina