» The Birth of Ellia Brynn

The Birth of Ellia Brynn

HUGE thanks to my friend Kathy who “labored” with me, both alongside me at the hospital filming and supporting me, but also for the many hours she spent on this (heavily edited video and ministering to me over the weekend…she is truly a blessing!

*HINT: If you wish, you can view in full screen by clicking the middle icon on the right, bottom of the video.

children, motherhood, pregnancy, video | Word Warrior | July 27, 2009 6:43 am

68 Comments

By Letisha, July 27, 2009 @ 7:38 am

that was beautiful! I cried all the way through it! You did it! You looked radiant in the midst of pain! I love the joyful moans/sighs after birth when you first see her! Q: Did the hospital provide the birth ball?
By Gina, July 27, 2009 @ 8:01 am

What an amazing and beautiful video. Thank you for sharing it with all of us, Kelly.
By Annette, July 27, 2009 @ 8:09 am

Kelly, that was SO beautiful! Thank you for sharing such an intimate experience with us. The video was so touching…the music and verses you chose were perfectly suited to the occasion and gave testimony to God’s faithfulness and your own obedience and trust. It was so touching to see your husband right at your side, comforting, loving, and encouraging you.

You did such a great job; we are all so proud of you. Your baby girl is beautiful, a perfect gift and such a blessing. I was thinking how blessed we are to be able to experience this miracle of pregnacy and childbirth, when so many women suffer with discouragement and disappointment that they may never know motherhood.

You have a beautiful family. May God richly bless you, guide you, give you wisdom and strength. Psalm 139

love,
Annette
By Marcie, July 27, 2009 @ 8:11 am

Kelly and Kathy, What a beautiful video! Sitting here crying. Next time, we’ll send some jokebooks with you.;-)

Blessings!
By Ashley, July 27, 2009 @ 8:21 am

So beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing it.
Ashley
By Lucy T, July 27, 2009 @ 8:46 am

That was one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed.You are so amazing I would never be so open with something so personal.Kelly you really are a gift to women.THANK YOU!

p.s.I also would NEVER look that put together through labor.AGAIN YOU ARE AMAZING!
By Katie LaPierre, July 27, 2009 @ 8:46 am

I needed a good cry this morning. good way to start the day :0)
By Sandy, July 27, 2009 @ 9:11 am

Kelly… Thank you so much, Friend, for the beautiful testimony of God’s faithfulness to see us through even the most difficult times. Your daughter is gorgeous! I’m so proud of you for sticking to your goal!!!

Kathy… Awesome job on the video! It does a great job of capturing the precious moments of a true miracle. Your friendship is a delight to so many people. Thank you for letting God use you one more time to serve others.

Bria… I’m so impressed with your photography skills. You have a great eye for catching some of the perfect snapshots of life. Let’s find a photography class a bunch of us could take together!

Aaron… You were WONDERFUL! I was teary through much of the video, but the part that really set me off was watching you minister to your wife. To me, that’s one of the greatest benefits of natural childbirth… Mom and Dad working together, learning more about themselves and each other to bring a child into the world… a tremendous bonding experience.

Ya’ll made a great team! Thanks for letting us share in such an intimate part of your lives.
By Shelly, July 27, 2009 @ 9:16 am

Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing this precious part of your life with us. You have encouraged me today. God bless your beautiful family.
By Michelle, July 27, 2009 @ 9:23 am

Beautiful! Good job mama – I love the music selection
By jennifer, July 27, 2009 @ 9:24 am

So heart-touching! I cried the whole way through. Thank you so much for sharing this with everyone. And what a supportive husband! You two have such beautiful children. What blessings!
By Allison P., July 27, 2009 @ 9:39 am

What a beautiful video! Thank you for sharing this with us. I have to say you did such a great job. You were so calm and focused through out this delivery. I have experienced natural child birth so I know this is not an easy task to stay calm like you were…. great job. And such a beautiful family you have! We praise God for this gift!
By Jill F., July 27, 2009 @ 10:53 am

Sobbing away here in the Pacific Northwest….that was simply beautiful! I loved the laughing black lady…was she your doctor? Loved her asking about your family and loved all the supportive nurses and midwives. Certainly it must be a powerful testimony to hospital personel everywhere when they see large families rejoicing in new babies. Loved seeing your eldest daughter greeting her new sister! Those eldest daughters are such gifts as well!
Great great video!
By Alissa, July 27, 2009 @ 11:07 am

Absolutely beautiful! Brought tears to my eyes as I remembered the birth of my 3 precious children and as we look forward to the new sister they will have in December. God is so good. What a treasure to have this video!
By Kristi, July 27, 2009 @ 11:08 am

What a beautiful video!! You did look radiant, and it was so touching to see your husband there by your side. What a blessed family!
By jess in Peru, July 27, 2009 @ 11:43 am

Kelly: Here are my random thoughts as I watched that wonderful video!

What an amazing, kind friend you to have make that for you.

Your hubby seems so sweet and gentle and kind -a beautiful picture of servant leadership and he had the gentleness of Jesus.

You really seemed VERY, VERY calm for as long as that took and as much pain you endured. I felt a relief for you though as she was FINALLY born.

The nurse who was talking was VERY funny! I would’ve enjoyed her company.

It was wonderful that they gave the baby right to you and didn’t try to take her away. That made me smile.

What a cute, chunky monkey! I just wanted to hold her and kiss her myself. My favorite picture was with her and one of your daughters sleeping on the couch with her.

You really must’ve weighed like ONLY 100lbs. before you got pregnant. Because if you gained about 50, it just doesn’t look like it all. You still looked GREAT!!!!

The video just made me cry and cry. The miracle of childbirth and God’s creation just NEVER gets old. It just doesn’t.

My kids enjoyed it too. They got out their baby books right away to show me when they were born. It made us all so much more excited to meet our little guy in about 9 weeks.

Thank you for sharing this intimate part of your life with us. I know you don’t know us, but we feel like we know you.

And…my last thought is…NO ONE better use this comment section to debating ANYTHING!!!! LOL, but I’m serious!!

Precious, precious, precious!

Many more blessings to you ALL!
By Word Warrior, July 27, 2009 @ 12:17 pm

These comments have made me smile and smile….it has been so much fun sharing this whole experience with all of you–you’ve added a whole new element!

Letisha,

Yes, the hospital provided the birth ball–pretty neat, huh?

Jill,

The funny lady was an LPN who really just assisted my nurse–the nurse that to me, acted more as a midwife. I could not have had better nurses…I’m convinced.

Jess,

Loved your “random thoughts”…the actual delivery part was edited quite a bit–we cut out the first part of it with the “exorcist voice” to spare you So I wasn’t *quite* that calm all the way through–before you give me credit, but not far off.
By Kim Greene, July 27, 2009 @ 12:26 pm

Absolutely beautiful! What an awesome testimony of God’s grace. Thank you for sharing and blessings to you all! Kim
By Lizzie, July 27, 2009 @ 12:37 pm

This was beautiful.
By Lynn, July 27, 2009 @ 12:45 pm

Wow! Thank you for sharing….I had medicine with both of my daughters and you made it look so painful….you are stronger then me:)
By Mrs. Hester, July 27, 2009 @ 12:45 pm

Absolutely beautiful. That’s all I can say.
By Daja, July 27, 2009 @ 1:01 pm

Girl, that was beautiful! And you are beautiful! You look so wonderful even during labor! I always looks like something that had been dragged behind a truck!

Did you write that last song?
By Keeper of our Home, July 27, 2009 @ 1:56 pm

This is the sweetest, most precious video! Congratulations to you and your family.

~Mrs.M
By Word Warrior, July 27, 2009 @ 2:45 pm

Daja,

The song is one from Watermark–I couldn’t believe it when I found it!
By Laura, July 27, 2009 @ 2:57 pm

Thanks for sharing! I cried and smiled throughout it as it made me remember my (very difficult) natural VBAC home birth with my sweet daughter. It was tough, but so worth every day the Lord gives me with her! Blessings to you and your family! She’s beautiful: )
By Mary at Civilla's Cyber Cafe, July 27, 2009 @ 3:05 pm

Touching video — great music!
By Jennifer, July 27, 2009 @ 3:18 pm

I stumbled (by the hand of God, I’m sure) into your site today. Ellia’s birth was the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in a long time. I needed to be reminded of how precious our children are.
But more than anything, I needed to be reminded of how precious our husbands are! Thank you for sharing this intimate time with all of us out here. Many, many blessings to you all. You have a new friend in NC!
By Allison, July 27, 2009 @ 3:33 pm

That video brought tears to my eyes – it was so beautiful! I loved the verses and music you used. Praise God, He is so good!
By Alisa, July 27, 2009 @ 4:43 pm

just beautiful…..what an amazing memory of a special time….

be blessed Alisa
By Kim M, July 27, 2009 @ 4:48 pm

Oh that was just precious! What a treasure that will be for Ellia to watch one day.
I am glad I am not the only one who cried my eyes out while watching it.
But I admit… I laughed so hard at your “exorcist” comment above that one of my boys asked what was so funny.
By Word Warrior, July 27, 2009 @ 4:58 pm

Kim,

LOL! When we were making the video, after I had my cry, we had to play it over and over while we edited it so by the 3rd or 4th time, I was laughing DURING the “exorcist” part…my voice just did this scary thing…I said, “Pull it out”…and then out of nowhere this deep, growling voice…PULL IT OUT! It’s pretty funny now.
By Michelle, July 27, 2009 @ 5:11 pm

I remember having a few exorcist/mooing like a cow moments! : ) My midwives were great at encouraging me to not hold back making noise, but to keep my vocal tones low (as opposed to high) because that actually helps bring the baby down through the birth canal! Pretty awesome stuff what God designed our bodies to do : )
By Michelle, July 27, 2009 @ 5:11 pm

I remember having a few exorcist/mooing like a cow moments! : ) My midwives were great at encouraging me to not hold back making noise, but to keep my vocal tones low (as opposed to high) because that actually helps bring the baby down through the birth canal! Pretty awesome stuff what God designed our bodies to do : ) Glad you can laugh at it now : ) May be next time, I’ll vid. mine.
By Mandi, July 27, 2009 @ 5:16 pm

Kelly, just beautiful…all of it. *sniff sniff*
By Kim M, July 27, 2009 @ 5:27 pm

That is HILARIOUS! I can only imagine. One of my friends at church went natural. She said during her “crazy moment”, she said that she told the nurse to “GET YOUR TAIL IN ACTION”.
By Jennifer, July 27, 2009 @ 7:53 pm

That was beautiful, Kelly! I was almost crying when that baby came out.

That one nurse reminded me in looks and voice of Whoopi Goldberg. I’d love to have her at my first birth
By Word Warrior, July 27, 2009 @ 8:09 pm

Jennifer,

So funny…when we were doing the video I said, “Who does she remind me of?” And Kathy said, “Whoopi, of course!” And I couldn’t believe once I thought about it how much she sounded like her! She was GREAT! She came back each day we were there just to chat and see the baby.
By Jennie, July 27, 2009 @ 9:30 pm

Hey, Kelly!

I finally got to check your blog today and was so excited to see the birth video. It is beautiful! What a gift from Kathy… And you did GREAT! Seeing Aaron coaching you and comforting you just reminded me all over again of the great blessing it has been to have my husband with me and supporting me through all of our births. I am so glad we don’t live in the days when fathers weren’t allowed in the delivery room!

This was a beautiful, moving picture of Christ serving the Church and both bringing forth fruit. Ellia is gorgeous — so bright-eyed and plump. There’s something amazing about a “natural” baby. Thomas smiled like that at three days; what a gift!

We are so happy for y’all and only wish we could be there now to see this beautiful new addition to your family!

Love to all…
By Brandi, July 27, 2009 @ 10:04 pm

I just chewed off my nails watching you and then cried like a baby at the end.

Ohhhhhh, so that’s natural childbirth huh? I think i’ll get the epi next time. hee,hee!!

Really, that was awesome! Your beautiful, she’s beautiful, God bless you all!
By Susan, July 27, 2009 @ 10:43 pm

Kelly, Remember that I told you that I cry every time a baby is born on TLC’s A Baby Story and I don’t even know those people? Well this video just about did me in!! Seeing Aaron so very patient, loving and supporting. Then when your Mom was rubbing your shoulders and kissed you, I just fell apart, knowing how hard it was for her too to see “her baby” go through that pain. Such a beautiful video, Kathy did an amazing job! Thank you for sharing this with us all. Hope to meet Ellia soon (Lucas was a little put out that Ashton wasn’t highlighted more in the video LOL) Welove you all, Susan
By Avaya, July 28, 2009 @ 5:32 am

You showed tremendous fortitude Kelly, and it is lovely to see the love your friends and family have for you. Am contemplating natural birth so the video was very educative for me, but I am worried that it will be very difficult for my husband, who can take any amount of pain himself, but who can’t bear it even if I prick my finger!
By Word Warrior, July 28, 2009 @ 6:47 am

Susan,

Tell Lucas we’re tweaking Ashton’s contract Come by and snuggle the baby!
By brandy, July 28, 2009 @ 8:28 am

Well I am off the the OB for my first appt. for this pregnancy; and started my day off with a good sob. LOL
Thannks for sharing Kelly. So proud and impressed.
By Christina, July 28, 2009 @ 8:30 am

Just beautiful, Kelly! Thanks so much for being so transparent and putting yourself out there. It was an amazing video to watch and I too, was so touched by Aaron’s gentleness with you. It made me appreciate my husband so much more. I don’t think we realize what they do for us when we are in the midst of the pain.
By Olivia Montgomery, July 28, 2009 @ 8:46 am

Thank you so much for sharing this video with all of us! It was so beautiful and I cried through all of it. God is amazing!!!
By Heather, July 28, 2009 @ 9:07 am

You are a brave one to allow a camera into the delivery room!

You did wonderfully, though!
By Daja, July 28, 2009 @ 10:56 am

That is an amazing song! She has such a prophetic name! God is going to do things with her that you won’t believe!
By Corrie, July 28, 2009 @ 12:56 pm

Sobbing in Alabama

You are beautiful!

God bless you and your family.
By Claudia Evans, July 28, 2009 @ 2:15 pm

Sobbing in Kansas! Overwhelmed with joy over the goodness of God! Thank you Kelly (and thank Kathy) for sharing this beautiful video with us! My nine year old son walked in during the middle with grave concern over my tears. “It is all tears of joy, son!” He asked a most profound question: “Mom, WHY would people want to kill them (babies)?” I am ever-more convicted to pray for preborn babies. May God richly bless the Crawford family!
By Audrey, July 28, 2009 @ 9:37 pm

Kelly, I know its going to sound weird but you sounded beautiful! There is so much emotion and power behind a mom bringing forth her baby and it comes out in her voice.

You did a great job. I was much less composed during my “natural” births, quite frantic for a few of them.

Thanks for sharing this with us!
By Taunya, July 28, 2009 @ 9:39 pm

So beautiful, so touching!!
By Kimberly Kovach, July 28, 2009 @ 9:47 pm

Fantastic video of your experience. My sister just gave birth to Arianna Nicole on July 2 and I was blessed to assist her in this second natural childbirth. I still remember the pain, but ahhhh, the thrill of delivering naturally when that precious bundle comes out. Nothing like it in the world. Too bad more women aren’t able to experience it because doctors convince them otherwise. The LPN was great and the nurses looked so attentive, too. Thanks for sharing. Kudos to the videographer:)
By MrsSWM, July 28, 2009 @ 11:44 pm

That was just plumb beautiful! It made me cry (And that last song is amazing!!! Another wonderful touch from the Lord )
By Jennifer, July 30, 2009 @ 12:44 am

“when we were doing the video I said, “Who does she remind me of?” And Kathy said, “Whoopi, of course!” And I couldn’t believe once I thought about it how much she sounded like her!”

Aw, that is funny! I could tell from the video she was a great presence to have Made me laugh and smile.

I just watched this vid for the second time (my computer takes forever to load it) and it remains one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen. The last two songs are my favorite and it’s almost eerie how perfect the very last one is! Great selection. Thank you so much for sharing this miracle.
By Word Warrior, July 30, 2009 @ 7:38 am

Thank you, Jennifer–very sweet! I couldn’t believe I found that last song…I literally stumbled on it days before Ellia was born and I knew that would be in her video.
By Kelly, August 3, 2009 @ 7:27 pm

This is so beautiful, Kelly! Thank you for sharing such an intimate experience. Your daughter is beautiful and will be such a wonderful addition to your growing family!
By shannon, August 4, 2009 @ 2:49 pm

so beautiful and moving! thanks for sharing! i was on the verge of tears the whole time!
By Jennifer, August 18, 2009 @ 1:50 am

Kelly, have you ever seen a beautiful little book called “Angel in the Waters”? It’s a “children’s” book about the pregnancy process…through the eyes of the infant. In this book, a little baby grows in the womb, learns slowly about the wonderful being called “Mother” all around him, and receives comfort and some instruction from his guardian angel as he waits for the time to go from his mother’s womb to her arms. It is sparsely and amazingly written, teaching about God’s creation; I found this beautiful video to be the perfect companion for it It’s amazing how much I feel like part of this video; when that baby finally came out, I released a happy sigh and my eyes filled with relieved tears as though I’d been laboring with you Womanhood is a wonderfu gift.
By Word Warrior, August 18, 2009 @ 8:16 am

Jennifer,

Aw, what a sweet comment
By S. Weaver, August 30, 2009 @ 6:33 pm

Wow! I came to your blog today through another I also enjoy reading, and have been blessed by many of your posts I have gone back to read. What a gift to stumble across your birth video. I just delivered my 5th child natrually on August 11, 2009. I have had epidurals with all my other deliveries and wanted to “give natural birth a try.” I am glad I did it, not sure if I would do it again (ha!) but maybe the pain is still too fresh.
I was wondering, and maybe this is too personal, but would you do it again naturally? It was beautiful for me and my husband and I did rely on him, but I felt like I did that with the last 4 as well. I guess the end result was the same for me either way, a beautiful baby! I was just surprised because I had so many friends who had gone natural tell me how awesome it was and all of the good things they experienced, so I had worked it up in my mind to be an experience like I had not had before, and the only difference was the pain for me. I am totally not trying to argue anyones choice and I also know epidurals don’t go so well with everyone, just thought I would ask you what differences, if any, were there?
In any case, your video was a gift for me as was the scripture sprinkled through out. I have 1 girl and the rest boys….what’s your secret for so many girls? Totally kidding! I wouldn’t trade any one of my boys! I wouldn’t mind playing with ribbons and bows again someday though. Anyway, ramblings from a sleepless, deliriously happy, postpartum person!
By Word Warrior, August 30, 2009 @ 6:55 pm

S Weaver,

Thank you for your comment! I feel so very much like what you described–I’ve also had wonderful experiences with my epidurals and so other than the “extra” work my husband did, the rest of the experience didn’t necessarily produce a hallelujah moment beyond my other births I loved it, but the pain at the end was over the top….not sure I would do it again.

Welcome to the blog!
By Fruitfulvine2, December 3, 2009 @ 5:52 am

This video moved me to tears. I want to do natural birth if the Lord blesses us with more children. Looking at you made me both hopeful and scared(not scared enough to back down just scared enough to say I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me).

Other videos I’ve seen don’t show much of the travail like yours did and I appreciated seeing that. It helped prepare me mentally in the event that we do get blessed with another pregnancy(which is my hope and desire).

Thanks for sharing.
By Jacquie, December 20, 2009 @ 12:37 pm

Kelly,
Wow. This video is amazing. Just talking with this you this past week gave me some hope in going natural, but watching the video gave me some more assurance.
By Lauren, January 19, 2010 @ 12:25 am

I will be having a natural birth in a few weeks- my 2nd birth, my 1st attempt at natural. I read your birth story a few days ago, and it has been playing on my mind and causing me some anxiety since, but since watching this video, I have relaxed again. It has reminded me what it is for. You looked amazing the whole time, what an awesome work birth is. I cried so much watching this
By Kim, February 6, 2010 @ 4:14 pm

Kelly,
I love the article on your quest for a “natural” childbirth. I, too, have 8 children, and have had nearly the same experience and emotions as you regarding this. You put it into words very well. I love the video of your daughter’s birth. It was very touching. Thank you for sharing from your heart and for your honesty.
God bless you as you continue to minister to others through your blog. It has become one of my favorites!
By Kim, February 6, 2010 @ 5:12 pm

Kelly,
Would you please remove my last name from my comment? I put it there without thinking.
Thank you!
By Christine @ Lily of the Valley, March 1, 2010 @ 8:43 pm

This video was such a blessing to watch. I am due, today, and it was such an encouragement to see such a beautiful birth. This will be my second natural birth, and my fourth blessing!
By Kate Scott, March 9, 2010 @ 9:52 am

Thank you for sharing this! I’m a sucker for birth stories! I consider myself very blessed to have been able to have both of my babies naturally AND quickly. My firstborn was 8 hours of labor. My daughter was less than 3 hours of labor and only 10 minutes of pushing!! So, congrats on making it through all those long, painful hours! What a strong woman you are! God bless!