The stunning Sara Ryans, Jack (6), Xander (19 months), and Evan (2 weeks).
"I have been blessed with three healthy pregnancies and three healthy boys".
Sara says that after seven years of marriage, Jack arrived on his "due date" after nearly two days of labor and three hours of pushing. He was born with a midwife at a large Boston hospital and despite some complications, he was delivered vaginally, but needed the support of the NICU team in the delivery room to clear his lungs of meconium. Fortunately, he did not need to be separated from them but did received some "standard" medications despite their wishes otherwise. "It may seem like such a small thing, but getting over this less-than-imagined birth was difficult. The most magical part of his birth came at the sweet moment when the midwifery student thought to look at my iPod to see what was playing when he was born; it was Pearl Jam's 'Smile'".
Almost five years later, after a career change for her husband, training as a postpartum doula, and moving into a house, Xander arrived on his "due date" also, after 18 hours of labor and 15 minutes of pushing. He was born with a family practice doctor at a small community hospital. Despite different complications (a decelerating heart rate), he was delivered vaginally, before the consulting surgeon could arrive. "My husband thought to check my phone to see what was playing when he was born; it was Pearl Jam's, Parachutes".
Shortly after Xander's birth, they discussed being done having kids, but decided to leave drastic measures until a later time. They did add a puppy to the mix, though and less then a year later found out she was pregnant, again. While the pregnancy was relatively uneventful, it did disrupt the breastfeeding relationship with Xander, who was nursing around the clock. They made it past his first birthday, but nursing was incredibly painful and he weaned completely when Sara was 28 weeks pregnant. Six long days after Evan's "due date," he arrived after 10 hours of labor and 2 pushes. His birth was attended by their family practice doctor at a birth center within a Providence hospital. "It was a beautifully uneventful birth. He was caught by my husband, who passed him to me, and then checked to see what was playing; it was Pearl Jam's Man of the Hour (this was a very selective playlist, there was some other music on there, but it was heavily Pearl Jam). I cut the cord when it was time. We united our family at home just a few hours later. We feel very much at peace with the idea that our family is complete now."
"I've followed this project for a while and have always been inspired by the stories of motherhood. When I heard that you were going to be nearby so soon after my estimated due date, while I am in the throes of the fourth trimester with our last baby, I was eager to capture these moments, as crazy as they may be."