Novalee Mae :: A birth lodge birth

The women sang softly, the gentle rhythm filling the birth lodge. The song washed over me and tears filled my eyes, slipping down my cheeks  as I stood quietly watching, waiting, bearing witness.  Amaris offered each woman a portion of ceremonial tobacco and I took some in turn, leaving the warmth of the birth lodge as I slipped into the cold October night. I stepped towards the birth fire, built and maintained by Hope’s husband, Russell, and reverently tossed the tobacco into the orange flames.

 

How, I wondered, did I find myself here? Experiencing THIS?

Last May, I’d met Hope at the Ashland Birth Center. While I’d been at the birth center, she’d taken a pregnancy test learning she was expecting her fifth child. Tonight, I was here to document the final chapter of Novalee’s birth story. Now I assure you, this is not the norm. But somehow, the fact that I was there when Hope learned about Novalee made her birth story that much richer, that much sweeter.

 

Now fifth babies are a bit of a wild card: will baby roar into the world in record time?  Something every birth photographer fears! Or will baby dawdle along–seeming to start the arduous journey–only to change her mind? As a result, I slept more lightly than I normally do, my phone set to the most obnoxious ringtone, at the highest volume. If I had anything to say about it, I would NOT miss this birth. After one false start in early October, labor began nearly a week later. . . 

I arrived before a little before the midwives and Hope greeted me with a warm smile. She looked. . . comfortable.  And beautiful. A colorful ribbon skirt and intricately beaded earrings  highlighted her dark hair and long braid.

 

 

As labor progressed, we transitioned from the house to the birth lodge, the lodge a canvas structure, framed with saplings. Surrounded by her siblings, papa and grandfather, Novalee made her way to earth drawing her first breaths in a birth lodge built by her papa.  Less than an hour later, he gently brought Novalee’s tiny feet to the bare, cool earth as if to say: This is your home now, here. With us.

Hope and Russell: I’m not sure that there are words to describe what a gift it was to attend Novalee’s birth, to meet your children, to meet your extended family. From the bottom of my heart: THANK  YOU.