Unassisted Home Birth in Los Angeles | The Birth of Lev

Unassisted Home Birth in Los Angeles // This is the birth of Lev

Gabi was experiencing early signs of labor one morning, so I went to her house to document. Gabi’s daughters were so excited for their baby brother’s arrival. After a couple of hours, the contractions spaced out and eventually stopped. So I went home.

Fast forward to three nights later. Just after midnight, I received a call from Gabi that contractions were happening and they were coming in strong. I remember her giggling her words as we got off the phone. It threw a huge smile on my face. I snapped out of bed, threw on some sweats, and grabbed my to-go bag. The night was windy, drama was definitely in the air. While on the freeway, I got a text from within the group chat I was in, from dad, saying, “Baby is coming please hurry.” I was PRAYING I would make it there in time.

Twelve minutes later, I pulled up to the house. My hands were shaking from the adrenaline as I grabbed my back pack and pulled out my camera. I opened the front door: no one was there. I walked through the dining room: silence. I opened the bedroom door, and lying there was Gabi with her baby boy, Lev, lying on her chest. Her midwife, Blyss, had arrived just minutes before me. We all immediately fell into a joyful giggle.   Gabi’s doulas arrived moments later and collapsed at the sight of baby Lev. Sure, I missed the birth, but it felt like I was always meant to miss it. And after experiencing two births that required intervention, Gabi received the unassisted birth she was hoping for, in her very own home. At one point, Gabi told me, “well, Cristina I am so sorry that you missed this birth,” and I remember saying to her, “please don’t apologize to me, your son came into this world exactly how he was supposed to,” without intervention, without cameras or anyone else; just the parents.