Kayla Malone

The stunning Kayla Malone, Madeline (2) and Harrison (3 months). 

Kayla and her wife married in 2012 and decided to grow their family right away. They were able to conceive Madeline after just two cycles of insemination at home with donor sperm. Pregnancy went well but Madeline remained breech and was delivered via cesarean at 38 weeks. They struggled with breastfeeding in the beginning and Madeline was eventually diagnosed with a lip tie but they were able to work through it and went on to have a healthy nursing relationship. 

When Madeline was about 18 months old, Kayla and her wife decided to try for another baby but things took much longer this time. Kayla says that she spent 7 months living her life 14 days at a time in between ovulation and insemination. Pregnancy went well again until about 36 weeks when Harrison stopped moving in utero and Kayla found herself in the hospital every day to check on and stimulate him. At 38 weeks they decided to deliver via repeat cesarean and Harrison was born with a nuchal knot near the placenta, blue and dusky. He was taken to NICU for observation but they were able to go home about 75 hours later and he's doing great today. 

Kayla says that at 23 she is still learning to love and accept herself for who she is and hopes that her children grow up feeling free to be who they are and do the things they desire, without the inhibitions she has had to overcome. Celebrating and embracing herself and her family is part of that journey towards positivity and acceptance.  

Erin and Jessica Mitchell

The amazing Erin and Jessica Mitchell with their daughters Maeve Madora (4 months) and Jude McGovern (almost three). 

Erin feels like she never really accepted her body until she got pregnant. She found pregnancy to be the most amazing gift: feeling, knowing and growing. Erin and Jessica conceived both of their daughters with sperm from a known donor and self inseminated.  Everything was very personal and intimate between she and her wife and she wasn't certain going into her marriage that she'd be able to have that. She says it's very important for same sex couples to know it can be just as personal and just as intimate; it doesn't have to be a sterile environment. It was so powerful for them to create these lives together out of their love.

Erin had the typical illness that comes with first trimester's with Jude and then transitioned into a blissful alternate reality where everyone was gorgeous and beautiful and lovely and life was very happy. She went into her birth a little trepidatious but expecting it to be as beautiful as her pregnancy had been. While her birth was beautiful in it's own right, it wasn't what they had expected. She labored for about 24 hours and was able to turn away all interventions. Jude waited until her due date to arrive, which was also Thanksgiving day. They were concerned that she had ingested meconium and when she came out. They gave her to Erin ever so briefly before they took her away and everyone left her room. Erin was left alone with her doula to deliver the placenta and she realized before getting pregnant again she had to dive into the feelings of abandonment she had felt.

Maeve was born at home and Erin describes the experience as redemptive, spiritual, and primal. They were scared again that she had ingested meconium but she was just fine and there wasn't the need for separation. After this birth, Erin suffered a serious bout of postpartum anxiety because she didn't want to be away from her. The safest she feels now ever, is in her bed with her wife and her daughters and never leaving which she thinks is where she felt the safest and most vulnerable while giving birth to Maeve. This birth she says, didn't "happen to her" like Jude's birth did. Jude's birth happened to her and this birth was sheer partnership and celebration.

Erin says that the day Maeve was born is the strongest she has ever felt. Yet she realized she was afraid to move past that, to lose the baby belly, because the further she gets from that day the less strong she feels. Motherhood has made her a better person, friend, daughter - as a whole it is the coolest thing that's ever happened to her. She has been able to accept her body now and just loves the person and mother she is.

When Jude was taken away to special care for 7 hours it delayed Erin's ability to nurse her. Once she was able to feed her and hold her skin to skin, Jude stabilized and began to thrive. She was able to nurse her for two years, but every step of the way was difficult. She wonders if she hadn't been taken away, if things would have gone differently. Nursing this time has been epic. Erin pumps six times a day while working, has established a strong supply, and has found the experience of breastfeeding this time to be much more blissful.

Having overcome a life full of discomfort in her body, years of disordered eating and lack of confidence in her physical self even though she was an athlete, pregnancy has shifted that for Erin. She is grateful for the fellowship and community that is motherhood. She thinks it so important for women to find pride in themselves and what they've created regardless of how they come to motherhood, whether they've carried their children or not.

Jessica was always concerned going to motherhood that if she wasn't the birth mom, she wouldn't feel as much a part of the family. It was very empowering when her first daughter was born and they naturally gravitated towards one another. Any fear that she wasn't part of the unit because of genetics has completely faded away. While they didn't feel lacking of anything, adding another child has made them feel even more complete as a family. While it has taken more time to connect with Maeve she has the trust now to know that it's starting and it will come.

Jessica's wife has continually pushed her out of her comfort zone with all things related to pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. She's learned to trust those gentle nudges of Erin's intuition with these things and was honored to join in sharing her self, her story and her experience.

Christine Juliani

Christine Juliani, Eden (3.5 years) and Iris (11 months)

My wife and I conceived our older daughter Eden in February 2011 using a donor after several rounds of fertility treatments and one miscarriage.  I always assumed that breastfeeding would be easy so I didn’t really give it much thought.  I was induced at 40 weeks due to being high risk and Eden arrived 26 hours later.  She would not latch in the hospital so I ended up pumping, using a nipple shield, and supplementing with formula.  Once we arrived home, I continued to have latching issues despite my best efforts.  Eventually, I accepted the fact that nursing directly wasn’t going to happen so I decided to exclusively pump.  I weaned when Eden was 10.5 months old and had enough milk frozen to give her some each day until she was 14 months old.

When we conceived our younger daughter Iris in September 2013 using the same donor, I once again had high hopes that I would be able to nurse.  Iris was born at 38+6 a perfectly healthy little girl.  Once again, I had latching issues with her and decided to exclusively pump.  At a year old, Iris is having a hard time transitioning to solids so it is most beneficial that I have continued to pump.  And since I was blessed with an oversupply, we have several hundred ounces in the freezer.  In addition, our 3.5 year old daughter Eden is able to get some of the benefits of the breastmilk as well.

Initially I was sad about not being able to nurse directly, in part because pumping is a lot of work.  However, there are positive aspects about it, such as allowing my wife to share in the feedings.  

Doe and Rae Griffin-Carlson

The amazing Doe Griffin-Carlson with her wife Rae*, son Jasper (22 months) and daughter Laurence (6 weeks). Doe was able to use the same known donor they used for with Rae for their first child and while her pregnancy went well, Doe says that pregnancy is definitely not for everyone. She felt prepared for the experience having supported her wife but found her own pregnancy to be so very different. She had morning sickness throughout her entire pregnancy and more aches and pains than she'd anticipated. Doe had planned for a waterbirth at home with a midwife but after 48 hours of labor realized she needed some help and went to the hospital for an epidural. After another 24 hours of labor, Laurence was born without complication. Doe knows that it was the best choice for her and her family however, but says that an athlete she was prepared for the marathon that is birth and has often struggled with whether she threw in the towel. Breastfeeding has been a wonderful relationship and Doe says that she loves it much more than she ever imagined. Having her daughter engage and stare into her eyes while nursing has created a bond she didn't realize would be so strong. Doe says that both she and Rae's bodies have changed so much over the past year and while she is currently comfortable with herself knowing that she's still within her own postpartum grace period she wonders how she'll feel personally as time passes. It is very important for her and her family to celebrate the fact that every body is beautiful and now, that their family is complete, document this moment in time together.

*We had the joy of shooting with Rae and Doe when Jasper was just a year old. You can read Rae's story here: http://4thtrimesterbodies.com/doe-and-rae-griffin-carlson/

L'incroyable Doe Griffin-Carlson avec sa femme Rae*, son fils Jasper (22 months) and sa fille Laurence (6 semaines). Doe a pu avoir un enfant grâce au même donneur que Rae pour leur premier enfant et même si la grossesse s'est bien déroulé, Doe dit qu'une grossesse, ce n'est pas pour tout le monde. Elle se sentait prête à vivre elle-aussi une grossesse après avoir supportée sa femme pendant la sienne, mais sa propre grossesse était complètement différente. Elle a eu des nausées matinales jusqu'à la toute fin et plus de douleurs et d'inconfort qu'elle ne pensait en avoir. Doe avait prévu donner naissance dans l'eau, à la maison avec une sage-femme mais après 48 heures de travail, elle a compris qu'elle aurait besoin d'aide et est allée à l'hôpital pour une péridurale. 24 heures de travail de plus se sont écoulées et Laurence est née sans autre complication. Doe sait qu'elle a fait le meilleur choix pour elle et sa famille mais nous dit que comme une atlète qui se prépare pour le marathon de l'accouchement, elle a eu du mal à prendre la décision de lâcher prise et demander de l'aide. L'allaitement est lien merveilleux and Doe nous confie qu'elle aime plus l'allaitement qu'elle ne l'aurait jamais cru. Donner naissance à une fille et la regarder dans les yeux pendant la tétée a créer un lien plus fort que tout ce qu'elle a pu imaginer. Doe rapporte que leurs corps à toutes les deux a beaucoup changé au cours de la dernière année et que si elle est bien dans sa peau en période post-partum, elle se demande comment elle se sentira au fil du temps qui passe. C'est très important pour elle et sa famille de célébrer la diversité des corps, et, maintenant que leur famille est complète, graver dans le temps ce moment ensemble.

* Nous avon eu la joie de photographier Rae et Doe quand Jasper avait 1 an. Pour lire l'histoire de Rae, cliquez sur le lien qui suit : http://4thtrimesterbodies.com/doe-and-rae-griffin-carlson/

Yvonne Hilsz

The stunning Yvonne Hilsz with her daughter Frankie (7.5 months). Yvonne is a single mother by choice. She decided two years ago that she wanted to have a baby and began looking into IVF. Through the process, she decided that she would actually prefer to have a known donor than someone anonymous. She approached friends of hers who had been in a relationship for many years but didn't want children of their own to see if either of them would be interested in donating for her. They were happy to help her and began doing all of the heath-related IVF testings. Through that process, it was her mother, a nurse, who suggested that if everything worked out on their health checks, they could just inseminate themselves. Once they got the all clear, she was pregnant within 6 months but lost the baby to miscarriage at 6 weeks. She was able to conceive Frankie just after and had a very healthy pregnancy. At 26 weeks along, Yvonne decided she could birth to her daughter at home. Frankie was born at home without complication in the presence of Yvonne's mum, midwife, doula and her two "dads". Within 45 minutes Frankie was able to latch herself on and has been breastfeeding exclusively ever since. Yvonne is enjoying her time with her daughter very much and may try for another in a year or so.

Rae and Doe Griffin-Carlson

The amazing Rae and Doe Griffin-Carlson with their son Jasper. Rae and Doe chose to use a known donor and Rae carried their first pregnancy. She was very healthy throughout and things went well but they learned that Jasper was breech and were advised to schedule a cesarean. In Rae's last two weeks of pregnancy they tried everything they could to get him to turn - acupuncture, chiropractor, two external versions, yoga, inversion to name a few but he remained breech. Her midwife was supportive of a natural vaginal delivery and ultimately the hospital was as well. She labored on all fours and Jasper was born without issue. The two have a beautiful breastfeeding relationship and if all goes well they plan for Doe to carry their next baby.

Kelly Flynn

The wonderful Kelly Flynn with her 5 year old daughter, Ivy (5). Kelly is a single mother by choice. She realized she wanted to be a mother around the age of 38 and went on to have her daughter with the help of sperm donation and IVF at 42. Kelly had an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery and she and her daughter have a beautiful relationship. Ivy nursed until she was 2.5 and has an uncanny ability to express how much she adores her own and her mom's body.

Anna Deligio

The beautiful Anna Deligio with 13 month Oliver. Anna is a childbirth educator who had planned and prepared for a very natural birth, but ended up delivering via cesarean. She and her partner plan on trying for another baby soon with the assistance of a new donor.