Giving birth is an incredibly beautiful part of life that needs to be talked about and celebrated more. Birth photography awards Birth Becomes Her 2018 encourages everyone to do just that by honoring the most stunning pictures of mothers going through this one-of-a-kind experience.

The photo contest received over 1,000 submissions from all over the world that competed in 5 categories: Maternity, Labor, Birth, Fresh, and Breastfeeding. The best photos were chosen by an international jury, while the admirers of the impressive kind of photography could voice their opinion by voting for their favorites too and deciding who will take the People's Choice prizes.

Scroll down to see the beautiful photos that have won and see what impressed the audiences in the last photography contest here and here.

Source:  Birth Becomes Her (h/t design you trust)

#1

Overall Winner. Marijke Thoen Of Marijke Thoen Geboortefotografie – Serving Lochristi, Belgium – “Stunning Siblings First Encounter”

Overall Winner. Marijke Thoen Of Marijke Thoen Geboortefotografie – Serving Lochristi, Belgium – “Stunning Siblings First Encounter”

Marijke Thoen Geboortefotografie Report

Jan Cowan
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is the water so clear? We all know the ‘stuff’ that happens during birth/afterbirth.

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    #2

    Maternity First Place. Jen Conway Of Jen Conway Photography Serving Greenville, Sc – “This Is What A Goddess Looks Like”

    Maternity First Place. Jen Conway Of Jen Conway Photography Serving Greenville, Sc – “This Is What A Goddess Looks Like”

    Jen Conway Photography Report

    Alusair Alustriel
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She seems so calm, strong and confident. I love this picture.

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    #3

    Birth Third Place. Dominique Lamontagne Of Dominique Lamontagne Photography – Serving Ottawa, Ontario – “Caught In Between Worlds”

    Birth Third Place. Dominique Lamontagne Of Dominique Lamontagne Photography – Serving Ottawa, Ontario – “Caught In Between Worlds”

    Dominique Lamontagne Photography Report

    #4

    Maternity Second Place. Melissa Benzel Of Benzel Photography – Serving Orlando, Florida – “Staying Afloat”

    Maternity Second Place. Melissa Benzel Of Benzel Photography – Serving Orlando, Florida – “Staying Afloat”

    Benzel Photography Report

    PyroarRanger
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Beautiful! I love how majestic she looks, so beautiful. Amazing.

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    #5

    Birth Second Place. Neely Ker-Fox Of Ker-Fox Photography – Serving Columbus, Ga – “Fist Bump For Mom”

    Birth Second Place. Neely Ker-Fox Of Ker-Fox Photography – Serving Columbus, Ga – “Fist Bump For Mom”

    Ker-Fox Photography Report

    #6

    Birth First Place. Selena Rollason Of Brisbane Birth Photography – Serving Brisbane, Au – “Half Born And Already Reaching For Mama”

    Birth First Place. Selena Rollason Of Brisbane Birth Photography – Serving Brisbane, Au – “Half Born And Already Reaching For Mama”

    Brisbane Birth Photography Report

    Maggie Wang
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is so unbelievably beautiful that it breaks my heart

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    #7

    Breastfeeding Third Place. Christina Benton – Serving Milwaukee, Wi – “Stir Fry”

    Breastfeeding Third Place. Christina Benton – Serving Milwaukee, Wi – “Stir Fry”

    Christina Benton Report

    #8

    Labor First Place. Rebecca Coursey-Rugh Of Rebecca Coursey Photography – Serving Los Angles, Ca – “Nowhere And Everywhere”

    Labor First Place. Rebecca Coursey-Rugh Of Rebecca Coursey Photography – Serving Los Angles, Ca – “Nowhere And Everywhere”

    Rebecca Coursey Photography Report

    #9

    People’s Choice Category Winner – Labor. Esther Edith Of Esther Edith Photography – Serving Spokane, Washington – “Three Souls Labor As One”

    People’s Choice Category Winner – Labor. Esther Edith Of Esther Edith Photography – Serving Spokane, Washington – “Three Souls Labor As One”

    Esther Edith Photography Report

    #10

    Maternity Third Place. Vanessa Mendez Of Vanessa Mendez Photography – Serving San Antonio, Tx – “A Mother’s Love”

    Maternity Third Place. Vanessa Mendez Of Vanessa Mendez Photography – Serving San Antonio, Tx – “A Mother’s Love”

    Vanessa Mendez Photography Report

    Miz T
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I remember holding my gangly little naked babies. *sigh*

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    #11

    Fresh/postpartum First Place. Veronika Richardson Of Fox Valley Birth And Baby – Serving Green Bay, Wi – “This Is Vbac”

    Fresh/postpartum First Place. Veronika Richardson Of Fox Valley Birth And Baby – Serving Green Bay, Wi – “This Is Vbac”

    Fox Valley Birth and Baby Report

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    #12

    Labor Second Place. Ashley Marston Of Ashley Marston Photography – Serving Vancouver Island, Bc – “Labor By Candlelight”

    Labor Second Place. Ashley Marston Of Ashley Marston Photography – Serving Vancouver Island, Bc – “Labor By Candlelight”

    Ashley Marston Photography Report

    #13

    Fresh/postpartum Second Place. Lacey Barratt From Lacey Barratt Photography – Serving Melbourne, Au – “Rebirth”

    Fresh/postpartum Second Place. Lacey Barratt From Lacey Barratt Photography – Serving Melbourne, Au – “Rebirth”

    Lacey Barratt Photography Report

    #14

    People’s Choice Category Winner – Breastfeeding. Gabriella Hunt Of Gabriella Hunt Photography – Serving Rochester, New York – “A Hush Fell Over The Crowd”

    People’s Choice Category Winner – Breastfeeding. Gabriella Hunt Of Gabriella Hunt Photography – Serving Rochester, New York – “A Hush Fell Over The Crowd”

    Gabriella Hunt Photography Report

    Pia Dorer
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Still love these moments with my just turned two year old girl..

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    #15

    People’s Choice Category Winner – Fresh/postpartum. Deborah Elenter Of Neo Photography – Serving Uruguay – “Success”

    People’s Choice Category Winner – Fresh/postpartum. Deborah Elenter Of Neo Photography – Serving Uruguay – “Success”

    NEO Photography Report

    MEB
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If someone took a picture of me right now, it could be titled "The Ugly Cry", in the category "Hormonal Mess". PS : Going for my first ultrasound this afternoon. Wish me luck!

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    #16

    Breastfeeding First Place. Cory Janiak By Ebb And Flow Photography – Serving Treasure Coast, Fl – “Within Reach”

    Breastfeeding First Place. Cory Janiak By Ebb And Flow Photography – Serving Treasure Coast, Fl – “Within Reach”

    Ebb and Flow Photography Report

    #17

    Breastfeeding Second Place. Veronika Richardson Of Fox Valley Birth And Baby – Serving Green Bay, Wi – “Tranquility”

    Breastfeeding Second Place. Veronika Richardson Of Fox Valley Birth And Baby – Serving Green Bay, Wi – “Tranquility”

    Fox Valley Birth and Baby Report

    Lisa Sharp
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They've found that if you wait to cut the cord for approximately 5 mins or so the cord empties all the nutrient rich and stem cell blood into the baby. Looks like that's what they're doing.

    Tabby Lynn
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I waited to cut the cord until I was all stitched up and my little one settled down. :) I did that research before going into the hospital.

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    Janel Holbrook
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What a great picture of prolonging the cuttong of the cord

    Suz Protz
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've heard of waiting as "long as possible" to cut that umbilical cord.:)

    Pamula Furness
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    not disgusting, imho. Practical and vital, unfortunately, I never got offered either of mine. I HAD hoped to plant it in my garden, under a spell, but hey-hoe.

    Miz T
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As disgusting as it is, some people cook and eat that stuff, others plant it in their garden.

    Trude Donnelly
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I left mine at the hospital for them to dispose of.

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    Nikki D
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh Lord I thought she was being offered some hot links.

    Lydia Curio
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    it's the placenta and the amniotic sac which held the baby. it looks gross but we all were attached to one when we were in utero, and the placentas all come out of the womb after we are born, either vaginally or by c-section. it is why women bleed after childbirth, because the placenta was attached to the side of the uterus and then leaves a large ''wound'' after becomes detached. The uterus contracts again to get smaller and smaller and this closes the space where the placenta was implanted, thereby reducing blood loss, which takes up to 6 weeks.

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    Sayouri H
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How did they get all this stuff into thw bowl lol....? im afraid to watch a full-movie with birth since i'm hemophobe, so.. if any1 knows... please comment.

    Patsy Robins
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lifted it into the bowl with their hands! The placenta is solid tissue, you usually catch it with your hands and guide it into a dish. Haven't done one in water, not sure if she would've gotten out to deliver the placenta or not. Water is remarkably clear considering she just gave birth in it.

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    Pia Dorer
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    oh I love this! I did delayed cord clamping (and then placenta capsules) and this picture is stunning on all levels. Although I must say my bath did not look that clean after lol

    A from Austria-Europe
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So much single use plastic in the tub. Why not just use a inox-tub and clean it afterwards? Possibly for surgery,should be possible for birth.

    Okido
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That doesn’t have to be single use plastic. Our birthing bath had the same kind of plastic, it was cleaned to be used again.

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    Miss MonMon
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Ugh. Did she cook up a placenta pie?

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    #18

    Labor Third Place. Laura Wando Of Laura Cate Photography – Serving Kampala, Uganda – “Before The Cut”

    Labor Third Place. Laura Wando Of Laura Cate Photography – Serving Kampala, Uganda – “Before The Cut”

    Laura Cate Photography Report