Birth without fear – Sarah Shambaugh Photo https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com Blog Wed, 08 Nov 2017 02:18:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.25 Featured! https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3995 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3995#respond Sat, 09 Jan 2016 04:54:08 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3995 The surrogate birth I posted a few weeks ago was featured on Babycenter.com! Isn’t that incredible? Babycenter contacted me to see if they could feature this story. Of course! Everyone was thrilled. A big big thank you to the Intended Parents and to their gestational carrier for allowing me to document their amazing story and share it with the world!

Here is the link! babycenter.com

 

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=3995 0 Happy First Birthday Eliana! https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3750 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3750#respond Sat, 05 Dec 2015 05:37:56 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3750 It’s honestly kind of hard to find the words for this post.  First I will say, I can’t believe its been a year.  It’s been a whole entire year since this sweetie began making waves. She was born to change the world, and she  did just that. I never blogged the time I got to spend with Eliana. What a better time to honor her than on her first birthday. I met Naomi, Eliana’s momma the day before her scheduled c-section. We had been in contact for months before that when Naomi was planning a home birth. Shortly after Eliana’s parents found out her diagnoses of Trisomy 18, I said no matter what, I would still be at her birth. I walked into the hospital on December 4th for our meeting to talk about all the different scenarios of how Eliana’s birth could go, nervous as ever. I had no idea what to expect, but like I told myself for weeks, it’s not about me. It’s about them. It’s about her. The following day, December 5th. Eliana would be born. Would she be alive? How long will she live if so? Minutes? Days? Weeks? I (we) had no idea. How would she look? I will admit, I have never ever been as nervous as I was on this day. This day forever changed me.  Here is a little tribute to honor my favorite and most inspiring baby I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I’ll keep it short, because I could go on and on… but Thank you Eliana for leaving your heart with me <3

Eliana’s memorial video that was played during her memorial service:

This slideshow is one that Matthew Eliana’s Daddy asked me to make for Naomi as a surprise.

eliana (matthew slideshow) from Sarah Shambaugh on Vimeo.

 



 

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=3750 0 A glimpse into gestational surrogacy https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3690 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3690#respond Mon, 30 Nov 2015 00:41:46 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3690 I have one sentence to sum up this blog post….

If you can make somebody happy, do it. The world needs more of that.

Perfectly said. Talk about the most selfless gift a woman could ever give. Emily and Gwen are both sonographers in a local doctors office together. After being friends for years, Emily  stepped up became the gestational carrier for Joe and Gwen, also known as the Intended Parents (IP). Baby Paxton was a  frozen embryo from September 2014.

**A surrogacy arrangement or surrogacy agreement is the carrying of a pregnancy or intended parents. There are two main types of surrogacy, gestational surrogacy (also known as host or full surrogacy)  and traditional surrogacy (also known as partial, genetic, or straight surrogacy). In gestational surrogacy, the pregnancy results from the transfer of an embryo created by In Vetro Fertilization  (IVF), in a manner so the resulting child is genetically unrelated to the surrogate. Gestational surrogates are also referred to as gestational carriers. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is impregnated naturally or artificially, but the resulting child is genetically related to the surrogate. In the United States, gestational surrogacy is more common than traditional surrogacy.**

 

These two sonographers were some how able to keep from cheating, and kept the gender a surprise! I have no idea how they did it 😉

Dr. Costa was phenomenal, she had Gwen help deliver her baby, cut the cord, do skin-to-skin, and had her completely involved in her baby’s delivery. Momma announced to everyone, “it’s a BOY!” Tears were flowing, the room was full of love, smiles and laughter. Not a dry eye in the room. Not one face without a huge smile. I have never been in such a heartwarming delivery!

Here is a glimpse into baby Paxtons journey into our world!

 

 

 

It’s a…..

BOY!!!!

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=3690 0 Baby Lennon | Birth day https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3520 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3520#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2015 15:25:47 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3520 I met Miss Hayley Stell, the beautifully talented photographer based in Tennessee through Facebook. We chatted randomly here and there, she always said that when she gets pregnant she is hiring me. No. Way. Seriously? THE Hayley Stell is saying this to ME!?  It made me so happy. So months later I received a message from her with ultrasound photos. My heart flipped! ” Please tell me this is YOU.”

Then she sends me this…

 

I was beyond happy for her. They SO deserved this. I prayed and hoped for a beautifully healthy pregnancy for her, and then I prayed I would make it down to Tennessee for her birth. I was SO nervous.  I didn’t want to miss this. I wanted so bad to be there for her. She planned an all natural birth and to labor at home for as long as possible. Did I mention how nervous I was that I would miss this? Ah. Nerve wracking!

The last week in July came around… I was leaving for vacation August 1st so we both began to panic lol.  A few days later, Hayley text me and says she thinks its the beginning signs of labor. After a few hours and timing contractions, she was pretty confident this was it. I left Columbus Ohio and headed to her. its a 6 hour drive so I was hoping we timed this right. Hayley lives almost an hour away from the hospital so we met each other there when she decided it was time to head there. Talk about perfect timing…

 She labored beautifully. In fact, it was the most gorgeous labor I have ever seen. Honestly. I left this birth feeling so full

Doula Heidi – Expecting New Life Birth Services

Hayley Stell Photography

I can’t thank you enough Hayley and Matt for trusting me with Lennons Birth Day. I am so proud of both of you, congrats on your gorgeous family.

<3

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=3520 3 Baby Solomon https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3074 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3074#respond Thu, 16 Apr 2015 18:24:47 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3074

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=3074 0 Tennessee baby https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2993 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2993#respond Fri, 13 Mar 2015 02:34:09 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2993  

Long story short…. my husbands best friend and his wife live in Tennessee. The boys were in the Marines together. Went through nightmares together. Have seen things no one should ever have to see together, I’ll never forget the day I got that phone call.

Since then they have stuck together. It doesn’t matter how far apart they are, I think it’s safe to say their bond is unbreakable. When they asked me to come down and stay with them and be there standing next to them when they welcomed their daughter into this world, I knew it had to happen! I was so honored. I made the 6.5 hour trip to Tennessee. It was a whirlwind trip but so worth it. We are so blessed to have this family in our lives. I love them so much!!

Meet “my” Tennessee baby… Miss Addilynn Claire

 

 

 

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=2993 0 Tinkerbell and Peter Pan https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2952 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2952#respond Sun, 02 Nov 2014 02:49:16 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2952  Peter Pan meets Tinkerbell for the very first time. <3

 

 

In March a momma contacted me to possibly photograph her birth. We met beforehand and had everything set and ready to go for November when she was due. November 18th to be exact! On August 11th Momma contacted me to let me know she had severe pre-eclampsia and would be delivering very soon. At 26 weeks, this isn’t what anyone expects to hear. On August 18th, Miss Noa was born weighing in at 1lb. 8oz. and 13 inches long. Breathing on her own I might add! Today Noa (also known as Tinkerbell on her nicu floor ;)) met her big brother “Peter Pan” for the very first time. The moment was incredible… I want to do more of this! I want to be in the nicu more often. I really do have THE best job. How many people get to witness this? I am so blessed.

Keep fighting baby Noa! We are all cheering for you!!

I have to add… Noa is doing WONDERFUL! She is a trooper. Even breathing on her own!

His very first glance at her.

This is the exact moment he asked to hold her hand. <3

 Patiently waiting to hold his baby sister for the first time!

And just like that… heart melts. Meet Tinkerbell and Peter Pan.

She is SO beautiful. I can’t wait to watch her grow!

<3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=2952 0 Today https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2526 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2526#respond Sun, 08 Jun 2014 03:23:00 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2526 Today changed me. I can feel it. I know I love what I do.  I know this is really where I am supposed to be. I love witnessing babies come into this world. But today was different. Today I witnessed the sweetest little boy, take his first breath and his last. Today really changed me. I knew inside it would. I didn’t know exactly how I would handle it. But it’s not ME that I needed to be thinking about. Its him. and his Momma, Daddy, his sweet sister and the rest of his family. It’s not about me. It’s about them. Today I knew I needed to be strong. When I posted this morning on Facebook that a family needed prayers for healing and peace. One comment really stuck out to me. “Trust that God put you in their path for a reason.” WOW. WOW. Wow. So true. I am having a really hard time finding the right words to describe how I feel right now. I feel like I really was meant to do this. I am so proud of his Mom. and his Dad too. But his Mom, she’s remarkable. She carried him for 9 months. Knowing the future they faced.  They have some incredibly tough days to face on this journey. How does one go on? This is one of the questions running through me. How? It was so hard to watch. So hard to witness, but at the same time incredibly humbling to know that I have the power give this gift to this family. They will forever remember their sons face, because of me. I can only hope that I make as big of an impact on their lives as they made on mine. I really want them to know they aren’t forgotten. and won’t be forgotten as some of their toughest struggles lie ahead. This struggle is real.  I really hope to help raise awareness… I only wish I could take their pain away.  <3  Today put a lot of things in perspective for me. Take a step back, look around at all you have to love. Keep those thoughts close to you. When you loose your temper or times get hard… Remember… to breathe.

That’s all for now <3

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=2526 0 Baby Penelope https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2439 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2439#respond Thu, 24 Apr 2014 20:54:39 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2439 Happy BIRTHday Baby Penelope!

Born February 25th 2014. 11:16am

8 lbs 13 oz

 

 

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=2439 0 Baby Asher https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2400 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2400#respond Wed, 26 Mar 2014 18:36:33 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2400 Meet baby Asher.

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=2400 0