“What is that?!” Shocked mum gets huge surprise 15 minutes after giving birth
We spotted this photo on birth photographer Lauren Jolly’s Instagram and followed the link back to the very surprised mum in question, Nancy Ray.
“I’m pregnant!”
US-based Nancy shared the now-viral image, with the backstory on just why Lauren captured her as the current winner of the Most Surprised Mum in the history of Surprised Mums Award.
Nancy explained she found out she was pregnant – “Surprise!” – in April 2019.
She explained that they hadn’t found out the sex with their first two babies, who turned out to be girls, but, explained Nancy “My husband insisted to know if he was having three girls so he could mentally prepare!”
“So we asked our ultrasound tech to give us an envelope with the gender written inside, so we could take it home and open it together.
“I made him open it, and as soon as we read the words “IT’S A GIRL!” I laughed so hard. ANOTHER GIRL! I was thrilled. Will put his head in his hands and couldn’t believe it. He smiled, shook his head, then put his head back in his hands. It was just hilarious, because he comes from a looong line of boys. We didn’t think we’d ever have one girl, much less three!”
A little late
Nancy’s baby was due on 10 December, but by 12 December – as is often the way – there was still no baby. The family spent a couple of days snowed in with no electricity, and what happened next was even more challenging.
“I get the stomach bug all day and my husband is diagnosed with 2 strains of the flu that night (and let me just say puking while 40w2d pregnant is a unique kind of awful),” Nancy explains. Ugh.
By 13 December, things were on finally the move, and Team Nancy headed for the hospital with the labouring mum herself behind the wheel.
“I drive to the birth centre with intense contractions with my mom at 11am and meet my hubby there – he spent the night at his mom’s because #flu,” she recalls.
No worries though, because “two hours later, my baby was born with me halfway in the tub!”
“They wrapped her in a blanket as I laughed and Will cried and we couldn’t believe it,” Nancy wrote on her blog.
“The word to best describe the arrival of my sweet baby was RELIEF. After a long, difficult pregnancy, and after 24 hours of sickness and weakness, it was all reversed in a moment! I felt strong and excited and so full of joy!”
Hooray! Mission accomplished.
A little surprise
This tired and relieved couple were obviously thrilled with their bundle of joy, especially after so many curveballs. And then – speaking of curveballs …
“15 minutes later, we went to cut the cord and I said … “WHAT IS THAT?!? Is this a boy baby!!? Indeed, it was a boy!”
“I looked at the midwives with wide eyes and they smiled so big and said, ‘YES! We have been waiting for you to discover him!'” Nancy wrote in her birth story.
“I looked at Will and he quickly came over and lifted the baby’s leg to see for himself! Then he proceeded to fall on the floor! It’s a BOY! We have a SON!”
As some hospitals roll out birth photography bans, Nancy says this photo holds such a special place in her family’s hearts. To not have it would be such a shame.
“I will forever advocate for birth photography because this is one of my very favourite photos of all time. Thank you @laurenjollyphoto !! ”
Thank you to the brilliant Nancy and Lauren, for sharing this gorgeous, surprising and bolstering birth story! Welcome baby Beaufort!
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