Birth Photography Contest Shows Off Extraordinary Images From Around The World

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Giving birth is an extraordinary and completely unique experience for every individual who experiences it.

Whether it happens at home or at hospital, via Caesarean or in a pool of water, there’s absolutely no doubt that bringing a baby into the world is one life’s most treasured miracles.

Birth Becomes Her, which is an online resource for birth photographers, carry out an annual contest to not only show the world how profound giving birth is, but also to educate on the power of photography.

They received about 1,000 submissions this year with over 20,000 people voting for their People’s Choice winners.

Please note Graphic images of childbirth below

The winner of the competition was the above photograph taken by Marijke Thoen in black and white.

It depicts a child meeting their younger sibling for the very first time, looking through the glass as the newborn is submerged in water.

This photograph was taken by Esther Edith and won the People’s Choice Award for labour.  Titled “Three Souls Labour As One,” it shows a husband soothing his wife as she appears exhausted lying in a pool of water.

Another photograph takes its viewers behind the scenes, delving into the true nature of Caesarean births.

It was captured by Neely Ker-Fox, and a newborn baby can be seen behind a sheet of plastic covered in blood, giving its mother a fist bump as the father looks on.

“Half Born and Already Reaching for Mama”, taken by Selena Rollason, shows a woman screaming as she gives birth to her baby. The baby’s arms can be seen outstretched under the water in the bath.

The photography contest featured several categories, including maternity, labour, breastfeeding and postpartum.

Jen Conway portrayed the serenity and beauty of pregnancy in her photograph, aptly named: “This is what a Goddess Looks Like.”

The image, which won first place in the maternity category, shows a heavily pregnant woman cradling her stomach against a backdrop of water and trees.

The images of pregnancy and birth that have been featured in the Birth Becomes Her contest were submitted by photographers from across the globe.

The entries came from all over including Belgium, Australia, Canada, America, Uganda, Uruguay and many more.

“We believe that images of birth are inspiring and life-changing,” wrote Birth Becomes Her co-founders Jennifer Rainey Mason and Monet Nicole Moutrie.