Twins and in the caul home birth – Austin Birth Photographer

Wow. The last few days have been very exciting! Many of you are now visiting from my facebook page and Birth Without Fear where I posted a picture of a baby born in the caul. I am thrilled that you are here and excited to share more images from this phenomenal birth.

Mama Lindsey was 41 weeks 1 day when she gave birth to her babes at home with midwife Heather Hilton (pictured below with student midwife Summer Kirschner). It was a fast labor. Heather made it just in time, and I got there about a minute after baby A was born. I knew we had a special birth on our hands because a) they were twins b) this was a home birth, free of intervention for post due twins (yay!) and c) baby B was breech. What I captured in the end? Far more amazing. Baby B came within about 5 minutes of my arrival and, having turned at the last minute, was born with a completely intact bag of waters. Rare indeed. Heather (of Central Texas Birth Center in Georgetown, TX) was amazing and so was her staff (Salli Gonzales – assisting midwife, Rebekah Galloway – doula, and Summer Kirschner – student midwife). Her skill and care for Lindsey is what facilitated this phenomenal capture. And I feel so fortunate to have been there to document it for her and this family.

So many questions have poured in about this birth. “What happens to the sac when it’s delivered intact like this?” being the most common. Answer? The midwife breaks it. In this case she had to tear it with her hands, it was so strong. Also – what were the baby’s weights? Baby A was 8 lbs. 13 oz. (!) and baby B was 6 lbs. 1 oz. If you have any other questions you should really visit Central Texas Birth Center’s facebook page and ask away. Heather is wonderful at explaining things; I’ve learned so much from her!

This and other images from this magical moment can be reviewed below. Many, many thanks to the family for allowing me to share these sacred images! Enjoy!!!

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  • Sara BJuly 8, 2013 - 7:04 pm

    What a gift!!!! Blessings to the family! Beautiful job Leilani!!!ReplyCancel

    • CeciliaJuly 17, 2013 - 9:51 am

      Thank You for sharing! Wonderful!!!ReplyCancel

  • SalliJuly 8, 2013 - 7:30 pm

    Amazing photos Leilani! You have an awesome gift. And what a birth, huh?ReplyCancel

  • Tiffany HatchJuly 8, 2013 - 7:30 pm

    Stunning images! I live the babies trying to suck on the same hand <3ReplyCancel

  • reyannaJuly 8, 2013 - 7:33 pm

    AWWWWW! These are so amazing! How adorable!! Kudos to the Lovely Mama, you, and the whole birthing team! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Renella Fairley RMRNJuly 8, 2013 - 7:44 pm

    AWESOME! Fantastic images of a truly amazing experience! Congrats to the family xxReplyCancel

  • MichelleJuly 8, 2013 - 8:30 pm

    Many blessings to the family. Thank you for sharing these special moments with all of us!ReplyCancel

  • BrookeJuly 8, 2013 - 8:35 pm

    This is so beautiful!ReplyCancel

  • KimJuly 8, 2013 - 8:42 pm

    So amazing. I’m so glad you were able to be there and capture this beautiful moment.ReplyCancel

  • LarissaJuly 8, 2013 - 9:07 pm

    Absolutely amazing! Beautiful images of beautiful blessings!ReplyCancel

  • JenniferJuly 8, 2013 - 9:08 pm

    Amazing, amazing, amazing!!! And those are some BIG twins lol 😉 Love the one of the big guy looking right at the camera. Great job Leilani!ReplyCancel

  • Stacie L.July 8, 2013 - 10:03 pm

    These photos are just stunning! I could not stop grinning as I viewed them and I may or may not have felt tears welling. Birth in such a loving environment…you captured it perfectly!!ReplyCancel

  • SabraJuly 8, 2013 - 10:17 pm

    Lei. This is so amazing. The pictures are absolutely breathtaking. Beautiful babies, beautiful mama, beautiful photography. Stunning, all of it.ReplyCancel

  • LindsayJuly 9, 2013 - 12:58 am

    i love it! i love it! i love it!

    as a fellow birth photog, you did an amazing job!!!! gorgeous work!ReplyCancel

  • CandiceJuly 9, 2013 - 1:07 am

    Thank you and to the family for sharing these absolutely amazing photographs! Simply beautiful!!ReplyCancel

  • LauraJuly 9, 2013 - 6:52 am

    Absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing!ReplyCancel

  • RachelJuly 9, 2013 - 7:00 am

    Thank you Leilani, and of course to the family of these beautiful babies, for sharing these intimate and amazing photos. I don’t know why I’m so captivated by en-caul births but obviously I’m not the only one! Best of luck and health to both twins and their super-mum. She has given many women an insight into what’s possible in birth and the huge rewards that come with knowing and trusting yourself, your body and your babies!ReplyCancel

  • Shanna-KayeJuly 9, 2013 - 3:20 pm

    So amazing!! Thanks for sharing!! 🙂

    It’s amazing to me for a mama to have twins that are both good sized babies-my son was born at 8 lb 13 oz, and I can’t imagine carrying two of him at once! Congrats to the family 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Jenna DunningtonJuly 9, 2013 - 5:06 pm

    Amazing photos! Well done!ReplyCancel

  • Tatianna M.July 9, 2013 - 8:55 pm

    This is BEAUTIFUL!ReplyCancel

  • MelissaJuly 9, 2013 - 9:34 pm

    Gaaaaa! I am dying of cute over here! What amazing pictures! Thank you for sharing!ReplyCancel

  • Heather GuymonJuly 9, 2013 - 9:58 pm

    These pictures are amazing! Just stunning! The picture of the babies trying to both suck on the same hand had me in tears. I couldn’t wait to show my husband. Such a beautiful family!ReplyCancel

  • caseyJuly 9, 2013 - 10:08 pm

    Omg talk about aching ovaries. These babies are so adorable.ReplyCancel

  • AmandaJuly 9, 2013 - 11:03 pm

    wow!!! simply amazing!ReplyCancel

  • Marie, Petit Chou Rose®July 11, 2013 - 1:07 am

    Just B E A U T I F U L !!! Very nice photos and a family so cute !!!ReplyCancel

  • Chastity ThompsonJuly 11, 2013 - 4:39 pm

    Thank you so, so much for sharing! This is absolutely magical! Stunning! So amazing at how God has created us!!!! Incredible pictures!!!ReplyCancel

  • Di Bustmante, HBCEJuly 12, 2013 - 3:33 am

    Amazing photos! Absolutely glorious!ReplyCancel

  • Maggie HandyJuly 12, 2013 - 6:15 am

    Such a beautiful story of the amazing birth of these two gorgeous babies told with such superb photography. Congratulations Mum n Dad. Gods richest blessing for the whole family. Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing your special and unique experience with us. Love n blessings Maggie UK xxReplyCancel

  • Capturing Joy with Kristen DukeJuly 14, 2013 - 10:50 pm

    So amazing to witness and photograph, I want to see 100 more, did you get more images of the baby/face inside, too? Happy for you, girl!ReplyCancel

  • Melissa LeetJuly 17, 2013 - 7:55 am

    What a gift, in so many ways! Thank you for blessing us with the sharing of these photos, and the story of how birth can be when a woman’s body is left to do what it does best, with support. Congratulations to everyone involved! Hopefully this will inspire many women to consider homebirth. My third and final was a homebirth; My shortest labor by almost half!ReplyCancel

  • JMJuly 17, 2013 - 12:40 pm

    I really wanted to have a at home birth with my twins, they ended up being high risk and born premature and spending their first couple months in the NICU. Seeing these photos makes me really happy.ReplyCancel

  • WaynetteJuly 17, 2013 - 10:59 pm

    I have never heard or seen something like this birth. The babies and momma are beautiful. I loved your photography and your comments about their weight and the water sack.ReplyCancel

  • LisaJuly 28, 2013 - 8:34 pm

    I had a similar experience with twins 3 weeks ago- 41+1 weeks, very fast delivery of baby A, 8lbs. 2 oz., baby B was breech and I ended up transporting and receiving a section. He was only 5 lbs. 5 oz. I will always mourn what could’ve been my twin breech home water birth, but it is good to see others’ experiences. Congratulations to this mama and her babies. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • heatherAugust 8, 2013 - 10:01 pm

    Oh my goodness what a beautiful story, beautiful family, Beautiful choice. Thank you so much for sharing that story I made me smile And restored my faith somehow in the good of the world. God is such an amazing & all knowing dude!! God has blessed us all. Enjoy your incredibly cutie pie babies!!!ReplyCancel

  • AlissabethAugust 8, 2013 - 10:21 pm

    Such beautiful pictures, capturing the essence of birth! The picture of the intact sac is amazing….a glimpse of what goes on inside and how it all works. These photos bring back birth memories of my soon to be two 2 year old’s.ReplyCancel

  • KathrynAugust 9, 2013 - 6:10 pm

    Absolutely beautiful!! Phenomenal pictures and an amazing experience.. Congrats to this blessed family.ReplyCancel

  • NicoleAugust 10, 2013 - 11:04 am

    Beautiful!ReplyCancel

  • Janice (5 Minutes for Mom)August 20, 2013 - 6:27 pm

    You captured this incredible birth so perfectly! I am in awe!!!!! As a twin myself, I love seeing the interaction of the babies too. So beautiful!!!!ReplyCancel

  • Eryn L. ChandlerMay 27, 2014 - 4:27 pm

    This is so inspiring. What a brave and courageous woman for birthing at home, I'm sure she met her fair share of naysayers! I'm a photographer in Austin and have captured a handful of births (mostly at the Austin Area Birthing Center) and others with midwives around town. I love your work! (lewchan.com)ReplyCancel

  • Krystal SoboleskiOctober 10, 2014 - 1:52 am

    Beautiful pictures ReplyCancel

  • Pam JohnsonApril 18, 2015 - 9:44 am

    THANk you for sharing your journey and the beautiful result!ReplyCancel

  • Nicole WeldonJuly 11, 2015 - 4:51 am

    So incrediable!!! Loved looking at them I in awh at how amazing God is!ReplyCancel

  • Diane S De ClerkAugust 20, 2015 - 8:55 am

    Amazing photos. I was also born with a Caul.ReplyCancel

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