Every second of every day babies are being born. The sheer commonality of delivering a child should render it rather unremarkable and yet it is THE most remarkable thing ever. Every mother carries her own story of how her baby was brought into the world – be it a natural birth or not, cesarean or vaginal, live birth or still. No two babies have the exact same birth story – each has his or her own unique tale.

Our daughter Ellie Marie was born in the early morning hours of May 15. Three days overdue, Ellie came more quickly than her older siblings. Turns out all it took was a very effective foot massage by my good friend Jen to set off intense contractions that sent my husband and me speeding to the hospital (I swear he hit every pothole along the way).

Ellie was born in the same delivery room where her brother Lachlan had been born just over one year before. It was just by coincidence that the nurse led us unknowingly into that familiar room. As we stepped inside, the realization of where we were dawned on me and I felt the tears start to fall. It was sad, devastating even, and yet somehow hopeful. Our new baby would take her first breaths in the exact same spot where we held and wept over her brother.

We didn’t find out the sex of this baby ahead of time, and I actually believed we were having another boy. I felt truly surprised when a baby girl was laid on my chest, all 9 pounds 6 oz of her. I may have guessed the wrong sex but looking down on her face for the first time – I would’ve known her anywhere. Ellie shares such a strong resemblance to all of her siblings – Lucas, Rowan and even Lachlan, who like Ellie, was born with much darker hair than my eldest two.

Leo and I had not yet come to an agreement on a favourite boy name, but we had no hesitation when naming our baby girl Ellie. Ellie was the name of my beloved Grandma, who passed away 12 years ago just as Leo and I were starting our relationship. It feels very special to get to use her name again.

Hours later, when the sun came up, my excited children, Lucas and Rowan, came into the hospital to meet Ellie. In these photos you can see the slight apprehension in the eyes of Lucas as he enters the hospital room. There is no denying how deeply Luke and Rowan have felt the loss of their brother. For Lucas especially, it has led to intensely protective feelings towards Ellie.

These precious moments were captured by Alexandra from Tiny Marvels photography. Alex reached out to me about doing a ‘Fresh 48” session weeks before Ellie was born. I hadn’t actually heard of a Fresh 48 before, but she explained it takes place in the hospital (or birth place) and includes photos such as skin to skin with the parents, the first time older siblings meet the baby, and all of those first moments with a newborn.

I felt slightly unsure about doing the Fresh 48. Would it feel invasive? Would I want photos so soon after giving birth as I dealt with all of the inevitable emotions that would hit me? But, I am so glad I agreed to do it.

Alex was such a professional. It was easy to forget she was even there. She stayed out of the way (even in our tiny, shared hospital room) and quietly went about her work. Alex did not force any poses, instead just snapping away capturing natural and unposed shots.

Alex captured the sheer awe, happiness and curiosity felt by Lucas and Rowan as they examined Ellie’s fingers and toes. She captured the tears in my mother’s eyes as she got to experience a healing and happy memory in the same hospital where she grieved for Lachlan not so long ago.

After this experience, I have no reservations recommending that other couples consider a Fresh 48 session. It is important to book the session ahead of delivery to ensure your spot. Then, like me, you have to simply give Alex a heads up when heading into the hospital. She cleared her schedule on short notice so she could be there to capture these shots that morning.

When Ellie was just over one week old I met up with Alex again – this time, in her home studio for a newborn session. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly a baby grows and changes. Ellie already looks different in these photos, though they are taken only 9 days apart.

Every newborn photographer has their own style, and Alex is no exception. I loved her simple, bright and white style with no use of props other than some blankets and a few accessories.

A mother herself, Alex is truly a baby whisperer. She lovingly rocked Ellie to sleep and delicately posed her for shots. I got to sit back and enjoy (even drink a cup of tea) as Ellie served up her best blue steel modelling looks.

It is so important to me to document and celebrate all of these baby stages. My pregnancy after loss was not an easy one. It was anxiety provoking, filled with worry and frankly, hard to enjoy. I am so grateful that Ellie has arrived safely and helped heal my heart and the hearts of everyone in our family. So, despite being sleep deprived and learning how to juggle the needs of three children, I am trying my best to enjoy every moment – even the hard ones. I expect Ellie will be my last baby and I find myself aware that each “first” with her, may in fact be my “last”.

Alex follows my blog and even before meeting me she was well aware of my story and the loss of our son Lachlan. It has always been important for my husband and me that we work to keep Lachlan’s memory alive and acknowledge him as a loved but missing piece of our family. Knowing that, Alex posed Ellie for some shots with this lovely white feather – a nod to her big brother in heaven. “Feathers appear when angels are near“. Ellie will never get to meet Lachlan, but we will share his story with her and she will grow up knowing she has her own special angel watching over her.