Birth is raw, unpredictable, messy, and just plain magical. Every birth story is different. But what remains the same is the sheer force of a woman’s body as she delivers. Bringing a baby into the world takes power. You can see the power in a woman’s body – from the strong contractions, the gushes of amniotic fluid, birthing her baby en caul, or preparing for surgery to bring her baby here safely. That’s strength. That’s power. That’s birth.
Birth can be transformative, regardless of the method or location of delivery. We collected some of the most amazing photos that showcase and celebrate the awesome power of giving birth.
Talk about an action shot! This mama’s water broke just as the baby’s head emerged. The photographer snapped this once-in-a-lifetime shot that is just jaw-dropping!
Hands-off, instinctual, uninterrupted. This baby was born into their mother’s hands in spectacular fashion
This is birth.
The water splash.
Mother and father working together unison.
The little feet of the new big siblings peeking out in the background.
Such a special shot. Such a special experience
Texas has the highest maternal mortality rate in the industrialized world for Black women.
birthing center – where this birth occurred – along with this midwife have made it their mission to support Black women and provide good patient care and patient advocacy. Being supported in your pregnancy care, during birth, and during the postpartum period is critical for good patient outcomes, and this team is doing whatever it can to support women through this life-changing experience. This momma is a #badassmotherbirther who delivered her child standing up – fully supported by her amazing birthing team, which understands that trust is earned.
Born en caul: this rare type of birth happens in less than 1 in 80,000 births. Many cultures view babies born in their sacs – often called “veiled births” – as a sign of good luck for a baby and their parents
What a catch! This warrior momma birthed her baby while standing, with her trusty birthing team on standby to assist when needed. This gorgeous baby was born covered in birthday frosting, otherwise known as vernix, and was quickly passed up to meet their momma
She felt the urge to push. She surrendered to her body, then ferociously and graciously met her baby boy
This is a photo of the vaginal twin birth of twin B, who was born completely en caul. The little girl, named Luna, gives us a rare glimpse as to what babies look like all curled up inside their mothers. This is a once-in-a-lifetime shot of a very special birth
He entered this world with a splash! This is a spectacular shot of the messy and beautiful side of birth. That moment when the pain stops and your baby is here in all their messy glory. Frozen in time for all eternity
I can feel this photo! The sheer power of the contraction is awe-inspiring. You can see her giving in and letting her uterus do the hard work to move her baby down. A woman’s body is absolutely incredible!
This doula snapped this spectacular image of a powerful momma in what she calls ”the birth prayer” position. With mama perched at the edge of her bed, this baby came quickly as she rocked gently, using a yoga ball for support. The birthing team had just enough time to put some pads down before this baby made their way earthside
This is one crazy nuchal cord. Don’t worry – both baby and momma were just fine. The midwife had to take a few extra moments to untangle this babe before passing them to mom