Leighe and Drake’s Birth Story: A Journey of Strength, Surrender, and Love
- Michelle Glenn-Dunn
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
Birth is one of the rawest, most powerful things I’ve ever witnessed. Every time I’m invited into that sacred space, I’m reminded just how incredible the human body—and the human heart—really are.
On this particular day, I had the honor of documenting Leighe and Drake’s birth story. They had been laboring in the car for almost an hour before arriving at the studio—already deep in the rhythm of labor. The moment they walked in, you could feel it: this was going to be one of those births that stays with you forever.

Leighe moved with so much quiet strength. Every breath, every sway, every pause was intentional—like her body and baby were having a conversation no one else could hear. And Drake… oh, Drake was steady and present. He wasn’t just there—he was her anchor, calm in the midst of every wave.
Birth often gets painted as something scary or chaotic, but when you see it unfold in a space like the Auburn Birth Center, you realize how peaceful and empowering it can be. There’s this sense of reverence there—a feeling that everyone is working together, holding space, letting the family take the lead.

Leighe instinctively moved to the tub, the warm water offering her relief and comfort. There’s something incredibly soothing about water births—the way the water quiets the room, the way it supports and softens the body as it opens. She flowed with each contraction, coming up for air when needed, then sinking back in. It was beautiful to witness.

And then, just as her body reached that primal, unstoppable point—when you know baby is right there—Drake jumped in the water. Without hesitation, without fear. He caught their son with his own hands, where he stood in the water. Leighe still standing outside the tub. I still get chills thinking about that moment. The look on his face.

The way Leighe reached for her baby. The power, the love, the surrender… all wrapped into one breathtaking scene.
These are the moments I live for.

To the first-time parents reading this: I know it’s easy to be afraid. The unknown can be overwhelming. But I want you to know—birth is not something to fear. When you’re supported, when you’re surrounded by people who believe in you, birth becomes something else entirely. It becomes sacred. Transformative. Yours.
Leighe and Drake’s story is a reminder that we were made for this. That our bodies know. That love can carry us through even the hardest parts.
So here’s to the families who choose to birth with intention. To the partners who show up fully. To the babies who make their entrance in the most powerful, unforgettable ways.
And to the honor of documenting it all—so it’s never forgotten.
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