I love being a birth photographer at Magee Womens hospital! I have been photographing births for over ten years now and nearly half of the many births that I have photographed have taken place at Magee Womens Hospital.
Magee is the main birthing hospital here in Pittsburgh, PA and I just read that “Nearly 11,000 babies are born at Magee each year…” I had no idea! But I do know that they are usually pretty busy there! Although they are quite busy, I have had nothing but positive experiences and interactions with the staff for every birth that I have documented there. They are always so very kind and accommodating to me when I am there with a family.
I am so grateful that they are accepting of birth photographers. It is always a pleasure to see familiar faces and to meet new nurses and doctors and they are almost always so positive when they find out I will be there to photograph a birth. And it is always such an honor when a nurse or a doctor has heard of me or has seen my work! That always makes me smile.
I met this lovely Mama to be earlier in her pregnancy when we met for our pre-consultation. I meet with almost everyone prior to accepting them as a client. I am happy to go to their home if it is convenient or we meet somewhere like Panera. I want all expecting couples to get the chance to meet with me prior to making the decision to hire me as their birth photographer. It’s also nice to meet before baby arrives so they do not feel like a stranger is in the room taking pictures.
This Mama was scheduled for an induction to begin her labor and she did a great job of keeping me up to date with her progress. Communication between my clients is so important when it comes to birth photography. Often, especially with a first baby, this process can take some time. I arrived to the hospital shortly after they broke her water to help speed up her labor. She labored for hours without an epidural and her husband and Mom were there to support her each step of the way. It’s always such a joy to have the soon to be Grandma present for the labor and delivery!
After a very long day or laboring, she received an epidural to allow her to rest and regain the energy to push out her baby. Then the next day, this rockstar of a woman pushed for four hours to finally have her perfect baby boy laid upon her chest. After an hour of skin to skin with his beautiful Mommy, the nurses arrived to look the baby over. This beautiful little one weighed in at a healthy 8 pounds and 3 ounces!
I love to document those first moments when Dad stand by the side of his new baby to watch over while the nurses do their job.
I am so grateful to this couple for choosing me as their birth photographer.
Are you expecting a baby?
Maybe you are considering a birth photographer?
I have just a couple of spots left in my 2019 schedule so please do not hesitate to get in touch!
And you can click on over here for more details about a Birth Story!
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~All images by Mary Beth Miller Photography ~
Mary Beth Miller Photography specializes in birth, hospital, newborn, family and child photography in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas. She has photographed births at Magee, West Penn, Mercy, Forbes, St. Clair, Jefferson, Heritage Beaver Hospital and The Midwife Center in Pittsburgh.
