93 hours with an OP Baby

Time moves differently in birth. For Elisa, it stretched across 93 hours - each one a testament to her strength, each contraction bringing her closer to meeting her daughter Noa.

As her doula, student midwife, and birth photographer, I watched her dance with labor's rhythm. The day turned to night. The night turned to day. Still, she persevered. Her determination never wavered, even as birth carved its own path.

Then labor showed us its complexity. Despite Elisa's powerful efforts, Noa remained in a challenging position, her little body unable to navigate the final part journey. This was birth asking us to listen, to adapt, to choose a new path.

The decision to transfer to the hospital wasn't defeat - it was wisdom. After days of active labor, an epidural offered Elisa's body the rest it desperately needed. Hours of pushing followed, each effort powerful, each breath purposeful. Yet Noa had other plans for her entrance.

In the operating room, after 3 days, 18 hours, and 10 minutes of labor, Elisa and Noa finally met. Their first touch, first gaze, the first moment of recognition - proof that the journey to meeting your baby is as sacred as the meeting itself.

Some might see this as a birth plan unraveled. I saw a mother's incredible strength - knowing when to persist and when to pivot, understanding that courage comes in many forms.

To Elisa - you showed me what it means to trust both your power and your intuition. Your journey to motherhood was nothing short of extraordinary.