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Cooper Kelley

Birth Story ~ Shady Grove Adventist Hospital ~
Oct 15, 2016
2 min read

I have been racking my brain to come up with one word to describe the experience of photographing my first birth story. Amazing comes to mind, profound for sure...I feel so honored and lucky to have been given this exclusive access by Cooper's parents, Taylor and Brooke. I first met Brooke, Taylor I already knew as he works with my stepson and husband, in the labor and delivery room assigned to them at Shady Grove hospital early Wednesday morning, Oct. 12. Brooke was induced the night before with Pitocin. I took a few photos of the couple passing the time but since her labor was not progressing I left at around 9:30 am to go to work and asked that they text me when she was 8 cm dilated. I got that text at 7:45 pm that evening and rushed to the hospital which thankfully was about 10 minutes from home. By the time I got to the hospital Brooke had already been in labor for 24 hours.

The waiting game

At around 8:20 pm, Brooke's OB came to check on her and pronounced that she was 10 cm dilated and that we were ready to "rock & roll". I love this photo of the couple giving each other a fist pump to say "let's do this"!

After a brief tutorial of when to push and how to bear down it was showtime.

8:36 pm, Cooper Kelly is born. Yes that was all of 10 minutes of pushing - incredible!

"Your first breath took ours away"

10 little fingers and 10 little toes

Brooke gets to finally meet and hold her baby for the first time.

Little Copper is whisked away briefly to get checked out. He weighed in at 6 lbs. 9 oz. and measured 20 inches long.

Proud grandma (Taylor's mom) beaming at her new grandson.

After everything checks out, baby Cooper is handed back to his beaming parents.

A few of my faves with with mom and dad.

Bonding with mom.

I love this photo of Brooke sharing the good news on the phone with her mom who was on her way to the hospital.

My faves of Copper with dad.

I feel truly blessed to have had this opportunity to witness the miracle of child birth and I know that sounds so cliche - It's one thing to live it personally having had 2 children but it's completely a different experience witnessing it and then being able to profoundly tell Cooper's birth story through my lens...I feel honored and I am so grateful!