Being Pregnant
25 Beautiful Photographs of Women in Labor
Last week I shared a photograph of a woman who was giving birth. When I saw that image for the first time it took my breath away. It was beautiful, raw and powerful. The comments from the Babble community started pouring in and I was taken aback by how many were questioning if it was real – simply because the mom looked too good, too perfect or too small.
There is no cookie cutter image of what labor and childbirth look like. It is as individual from woman to woman and even with each child. There is no one way that we should look, no perfect image – all beautiful, all powerful and all incredible.
Click through to see 25 beautiful photographs of real women in labor:
Photos used with permission from Jumping Jax Designs and Lynsey Stone Photography.
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11 Comments
jaclyn commented on Dec 05 11 at 11:49 ami’m so jealous….wanted my birth to be as natural as possible but ended up having to be induced due to losing amniotic fluid and then ended up having to have a c-section. come to find out umbilical cord and placenta were 1/3 the size they were supposed to be so once my water was broke the contractions were cutting off oxygen to my little girl. everything i didn’t want to happen inevitably happened. we are both alive and very healthy girls though and thats all that matters. i would do it all over again for my little girl if i had to though!
Candace commented on Dec 05 11 at 1:17 pm**tears** So beautiful!
Ruth commented on Dec 05 11 at 1:29 pmWow. I love these. They show the true side of labor: the pain, the exhaustion, those sweet little moments with the husband. Very powerful. Makes me wish I had a photographer at my birth. Almost. :)
Tat commented on Dec 06 11 at 3:41 amWhat an amazing collection, thank you for sharing.
Chelsea commented on Dec 09 11 at 1:26 pmThese pictures are truly breathtaking….brings a lump to my throat and makes me wish I wasn’t done having babies :(
Missm commented on Dec 13 11 at 6:37 amLove this…wish I had beautiful pictures of when I was in labor all I have are some hilarious ones my husband took (even though I still love them :P) Husbands/Partners at the side make it soooo much easier
Dani commented on Dec 16 11 at 11:10 amI may be CRAZY but I LOVED labor & delivery. This pictures take me back to my three little ones. I would LOVE to do this again. It is such an amazing, beautiful and spiritual time. Thanks for sharing these amazing pictures.
Jamie Escobedo commented on Dec 24 11 at 5:49 amAbsolutely beautiful pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had my first three births natural and I remember that I hurt but I don’t remember what that hurt felt like after seeing those 3 beautiful little babies. I had to have a C section on my last birth a month early with twins, boy and girl. At first there wasn’t a bonding between us but after a day or two of constantly being with them it was great. But honestly, the most intense, scarey, beautiful moment of my life is when I gave birth naturally to my 3 oldest. Well actually there were 4 I gave birth to naturally, my second birth was a twin also but that was before ultrasound and we lost one after she was born. Funny thing to me is that after giving birth to two sets of twins, even though 1 was c section I still had labor pains, the pains were no where like the single births were. I didn’t even scream at my twins births, but I sure did at the single ones, lol. Lovely project.
Jamie Escobedo
NC
Leah commented on Jan 11 12 at 7:37 amWOW….brought tears to my eyes…and then I cried all the way through…took me back and reminded me of what is coming..lol…it is truly amazing how something can hurt soooo bad and be so wonderful….I hate pain…but to have our children..we are willing to do it again and again…thats the crazy amazing wonderful part of it all…what are you are willing to handle to get it…! I am expecting twins in April 2012…it is my 4th and 5th …but my husbands 1st and 2nd…lol…he is so excited and scared and has been so wonderful through all of this…the anticipation of labor makes my head swarm…I pray to god that my boys will be ok..and me too…I hope everything goes well, I want to have this with my husband..a special moment in time that we can remember together forever…I am definitely having photos done every step of the way..with the first 3 I didn’t get any..thank you for sharing …I loved these photos..
Brittany commented on Apr 25 12 at 11:41 amI know the couple in the 7th picture! Such a sweet family and a lovely moment captured during her labor. :o)
Hope commented on May 18 12 at 12:00 amThese r amazing. With my first child, I didn’t have anyone. I had to have her alone and basically went thru everything by myself, due to the fact that I was17 and just no one cared. Now I’m 37 weeks with my second and married to my perfect partner! Given I have to have a cesarian with this one I’m still so excited to have someone there beside me, especially because it is the love of my life…
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