Home Birth in Ayr, Scotland

June 15th, 2023, was one of those rare, perfect summer days—the kind Scotland only gets about five times a year. The sun was shining, the temperatures were sitting comfortably in the high double digits, and the whole day just had that golden, dreamy feel to it.

That morning, I received a text from Chelsea. She told me she was starting to feel things shift—the first few twinges of labour had begun. Nothing consistent yet, but enough to give me a friendly heads-up: Today… might be the day.

As a birth photographer, my gear is always packed and ready to go. But when I get a message like that, I go into triple-check mode. I run through my bag again, make sure my cameras and batteries are fully charged, and fill my flask with hot tea. And then? We wait.

Waiting is part of the process. I took the opportunity to rest,have a quick nap, and make sure I was ready for whatever lay ahead.

By 8 p.m., my partner, sensing my restlessness, insisted I step outside for a break. "You can’t just sit and wait all day!" she said, convincing me to head to a certain fast-food chain (one with a big ‘M’) for a cheeky ice cream. It was a good plan—until, just as we got our ice creams in hand, my phone rang.

Chelsea.

It was go time.

Without hesitation, I turned to my partner, who, in a true act of sacrifice, took one for the team by eating both ice creams. And just like that, I was off—racing toward the beautiful coastal town of Ayr, ready to capture something truly special.

The Birth

By the time I parked up, the sky had exploded into a breathtaking blend of colours. I couldn’t help but think, Tonight is going to be something special.

Stepping through the front door, I was met with a wonderful sight—Chelsea, happily bouncing away on her pregnancy ball, still bright-eyed and very much in the moment. With a warm smile, she greeted me as if this were just another evening and asked if I wanted a cup of tea. I settled in, chatting with her while the air conditioning hummed in the background.

She and her husband had carefully transformed their living room into a cosy, intimate birth space—fairy lights twinkled, soft lighting set a gentle glow, the birth pool was ready, a diffuser filled the air with calming scents, and in the background… Taylor Swift played.

Amid this serene atmosphere, a midwife from the Ayrshire Homebirth team arrived, and with that, the labour journey truly began. As time passed, the conversations grew softer, the room settling into a quiet rhythm of anticipation.

When Chelsea decided to step into the birth pool, her husband was right there beside her, offering sips of water and quiet words of encouragement. He never left her side.

Time passed in a peaceful stillness, broken only by the occasional soft hiss of gas and air. As the hours stretched on, I took a quiet moment to make a cup of tea for both the midwife and myself. While waiting for the kettle, I was greeted by the most unexpected but welcome company—adorable puppies nestled in their cages in the kitchen. As if this home birth couldn’t get any better… now there were puppies in the mix!

Back in the dimly lit room, I exchanged a glance with the midwife. Earlier, we had agreed that she would give me a small nudge when she thought baby was close. Our eyes met for a brief moment, and then—

Just as we turned our attention back to Chelsea, we heard a series of small grunts. Without hesitation, we sprang into action—only to realise that, in her calm and focused way, Chelsea had already brought baby past crowning. Everything suddenly moved in fast-forward—the midwife offering support, the baby emerging into the warm water of the birth pool.

And then, just like that, baby was earthside.

Chelsea cradled her newborn in her arms, those first golden moments unfolding in a beautiful hush. Soft whispers, tiny introductions, pure awe and wonder. Time moved quickly—first the birth of the placenta, then weighing and checking the baby—all while the room remained wrapped in a blanket of peace.

I captured as many photographs as I could, but soon exhaustion settled over the family. It had been an extraordinary night.

As the midwives and I quietly packed up and stepped into the cool early morning air, I felt the weight of what I had just witnessed—a warm, powerful home birth, filled with love and strength.

Driving home at 5:20 a.m., I found myself wiping away a few quiet tears. In awe of birth. In awe of these parents. And in awe of the fact that I get to document moments like this.

Fulfilled. And oh, so happy.

-A very special thank you to both Chelsea and Ed, and of course the incredible Homebirth Team of Ayrshire. -

Would you also like your birth beautifully documented just like Chelsea & Ed?