Birth photographer at Leicester Royal Infirmary

Birth photographer at Leicester Royal Infirmary

On 6th April I went to see Sylvie whose maternity photos I posted recently. We chatted and I ended up staying for dinner. We had agreed that I’d photograph the birth of the baby. I had my bags packed in the car and with me at all times.

During dinner I could see her face strain and reminded her that practice contractions don’t hurt. If it hurts… we went into hospital later on. I was on the birth plan as well as dad as you’re allowed two birth partners. We got in around 10pm

I must say that having experienced giving birth was essential. I knew what she was going through and said what I would have listened to myself. So I was there for moral support as well as to document the whole miracle. It is a painful miracle and dad was very supportive. He had been in hospital himself not long before but he put all that behind him and held her, looking concerned. He did all he could. I can’t stay just taking photographs so I got involved, from cups of tea to massage , any way I can help.

The light is never ideal in hospital, especially at night but the staff were very helpful and I photographed the whole event. The labour had seemed long and was painful, but what happened after the birth was so emotional, so fantastic that it seemed ages ago. Baby recognised mum’s smell immediately and stopped crying. He was then put on dad and started again but when dad spoke, he stopped mid-cry and stared: You are the voice! he knew dad’s voice, smell and couldn’t take his eyes off him. I went home on a little cloud!