I am clearly terrible at blogging.  Haha.  I can't believe I am only now writing this post on the eve of these sweet girls' first birthday.  Well, better late than never, I suppose? Because this birth story needed to be shared!

I am grateful to Lauren and Kevin for hiring me and entrusting me with their memories. Their daughters' births were beautiful.  Lauren made it look like birthing twins is a breeze!  Their birth story was incredibly inspiring as well. Even in my line of work, it isn't too often I get a chance to see a vaginal delivery of twins. But with the right set of circumstances, and supportive care providers, it can be done! 

Happy first birthday little ones! Congratulations to the Kren family on your sweet girls' transitions to toddlerhood!

xo,

krs | hello world birth photography

xo,

krs | hello world photography

xo,

krs | hello world photography

Molly's mama is the amazing photographer behind the camera at Stacy Literski Photography.  I was honored and humbled she chose me to document their wonderful milestone.

xo,

krs | hello world photography

xo,

krs | hello world birth photography

xo,

krs | hello world photography

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The big day came and Nikki gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Norah. Joe was an incredible birth partner, and Nikki was surrounded by a fabulous birth team.  All of the birth stories I capture are unforgettable, but I have to say that Norah's birth is one of my favorites thus far.  There is something extraordinary about watching a couple transform into a mom and dad.

Nikki later told me, "Capturing the birth of our child was just as important as capturing the day we were married.  Now that we have experienced it, to be able to have that moment to hold on to forever means so much more than we could have imagined.  Our birth photos are a true treasure!"

Hiring a wedding photographer to document your marriage is pretty much a necessity these days.  I hope one day I can also say the same for birth photography.  Because I can almost guarantee that your birth pictures will end up being your most prized and precious images in your lifetime...and keepsakes for generations to come.  

xo,

krs | hello world birth photography

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P.S.  Be sure to watch Norah's complete birth story here:

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"A partnership to promote health in women and children through the promotion of breastfeeding as the cultural norm."  -- Heart of Wisconsin Breastfeeding Coalition mission statement.

I am a passionate breastfeeding advocate and am currently nursing a toddler myself. I strongly believe our society isn't exposed to breastfeeding enough. It still isn't the cultural norm even though we all hear "breast is best" far too often. There is much taboo surrounding the subjects of nursing in public, nursing past infancy, nursing while pregnant, and even nursing in general.  Breastfeeding is just NORMAL.

When the Heart of Wisconsin Breastfeeding Coalition approached me to do a shoot with nursing mamas, I was ecstatic. The coalition is heading up a project which certifies local childcare providers as breastfeeding friendly. These centers receive a framed 'nursing mama & baby' picture from this shoot upon completion of the certification. What a great way to expose our youngest generation to beautiful and normal images of how to feed a baby!  

A special thanks to the lovely models: nursing mamas and babies from Mommy Cafe of Ministry Health Care.

xo.

krs | hello world photography

As a mother of two, I can tell you those precious first few days of your baby's life are gone in a blink of an eye.  A newborn changes dramatically each day!  If I could go back to my children's birth days, I would give anything to have images of my squishy newborns documented in a raw & natural way. The post-birth "baby high," exhaustion from bringing a new life into the world, visitors galore, breastfeeding nonstop, changing diapers, a hormone-induced roller coaster of emotions, (and the list goes on) can all make those birth day hours very hazy even while you are still IN the moment.  A Fresh 48 session isn't your typical posed newborn session.  Instead, it is a lifestyle session that documents a snippet of your family's time together during your baby's first 48 hrs of life.  It captures those magical newborn minutes for you, forever.

I was lucky enough to freeze some of those moments for sweet baby Maci and her gorgeous family.  A few of the highlights?  Big sister Briah meeting her baby sister for the very first time, family snuggles on the hospital bed, and lovely mom & Miss Maci nursing are a few moments I was able to witness.  Those moments are no longer just a fading memory, but cherished images that can be viewed again & again.

Thank you Kim, Ryan, Briah & Maci for choosing me to preserve those treasured moments!

xo.

krs | hello world fresh 48 photography

xo.

krs | hello world birth doula + birth photography

p.s.  Because every blog post needs at least one image, below are a few of the shots I was able to capture between my doula duties.

When Bobbi contacted me to document the birth of her third child, we hit it off immediately.  We have so much in common and many of the same parenting passions (babywearing, breastfeeding, and cloth diapering to name a few).  My heart was especially fond of her because she was trying for a VBA2C (vaginal birth after two cesareans).  The strong mama stuck to her guns and fought for her chance to have a trial of labor instead of a scheduled cesarean.  But at 41.5 weeks pregnant and after contracting on and off for days, her body had different plans.  I was called and told to suit up for a cesarean section birthday!  Bobbi & Jason had a "family centered" cesarean section and baby Ezekiel was brought into the world in the most beautiful way.  Ezekiel was skin-to-skin on Bobbi for the remainder of the procedure and was able to breastfeed right there in the operating room.  Bobbi told me this later, "I truly feel like this birth was so healing for me.  I cannot tell you the joy that I felt to have him on my chest immediately." 

My first child was delivered surgically due to her breech presentation. Cesarean births can be traumatic and leave you feeling like you are a failure.  I spent many moments mourning and feeling empty after my surgical birth.  The desire to birth a baby in the way my body was designed would overwhelm me with grief at times.  The birth experience MATTERS.  Don't ever let anyone try to tell you differently!  I am grateful to have birthed both vaginally and surgically.  My personal birth stories will allow me to relate to my clients, no matter how their babies are brought into this world.  

In a way, watching Ezekiel's birth was healing for me too.  I was able to witness a surgical birth that didn't seem cold, sterile, or isolating of mom or baby.  His special birth started the family bonding process immediately in the operating room.  It has given me peace to know that this option is available to my future clients.  I hope Ezekiel's birth story inspires many more skin-to-skin & breastfeeding friendly cesareans in the Central Wisconsin area.  

Birth matters.  xo.

krs | hello world birth photography

Little did I know when I pulled up to the house near midnight, wee baby Gideon was already making his entrance into the world.  Baby's biggest sister greeted me at the door, and we swiftly but quietly made our way upstairs as not to disturb sleeping siblings and cousins.  I entered the master bedroom and quickly realized the baby was coming...NOW.  It seemed like only a blink of an eye, and Gideon was born into the loving hands of his mother and father.  If I had arrived even 3 minutes later, it would have been 3 minutes too late!  

Documenting a home birth was a dream come true.  I have been enthralled by birth for quite a few years now, and the concept of a home birth was familiar to me.  I have a few friends who have given birth at home.  However, their testimonies did not prepare me for the beautiful intimacy I witnessed the evening of Gideon's arrival.  There were no wires, beeping monitors, or bright lights.  Sweet baby G was peacefully brought into this world under his own roof, surrounded by his devoted family and caring midwives.  I cannot imagine a better grand entrance than that.

xo,

krs | hello world birth photography

Four months ago, I had the privilege of photographing my first birth.  I have two beautiful children, so this wasn't my first time in a delivery room.  I was in complete and utter AWE of Gina, as she labored with control, determination, and no pain medication.  It was beautiful to watch Gina receive such devoted support from her husband and mother.  They made a perfect birth team!  I was able to soak in the miracle from a different perspective this time...one that didn't include feeling contractions, birth hormone surges, or exhaustion.  The moment sweet Chael entered this world was a rush of indescribable wonderment.  THANK YOU Gina, Cliff & Chael for allowing me to capture your intimate firsts as a family.  Unforgettable.  

xo,

krs | hello world birth photography

PS:  Be sure to watch Chael's entire birth story here:

It was an honor to spend time with this future farmer and his parents a few weeks ago.  Emerson's family farm gets all "dressed up" for the fall holiday with a corn maze and pumpkin patch.  So we took advantage of the beautiful autumn day and rode around the farm for plenty of fun photo opportunities.  Emerson's sweet cheeks and belly laughs were the highlight of the session!

xo,

krs | hello world photography

xo,

krs | hello world photography