These 16 Award-Winning Photos Capture What It’s Really Like To Give Birth
Even though birth is something as natural as can be since we all wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for that, yet the topic is still quite taboo. However, a resource for birth photographers named “Birth Becomes Her” tries to shine a light on the topic by holding an annual birth photography contest. The founders, Monet Moutrie and Jennifer Mason launched the photo contest back in 2016 after being convinced that birth photography is some of the most powerful documentary photography in our world and this incredible maternity photo work deserves to be showcased. “We hope that these stunning pictures help dispel fear,” Mason added. Even though their general idea was to highlight breastfeeding photos during World Breastfeeding Week back in 2016, they evolved it into a birth photos contest after that. Even though they only had a couple of hundred submissions in the first year, the contest grew and received well over 1,200 amazing photos from all over the world this year. Now scroll down below and check this year’s best photos.
3rd place, postpartum
Image credits: Hanna Hill Photography
3rd place, black and white
Image credits: Salt City Birth & Newborn Photography
3rd place, color
Image credits: Chiara Doveri
3rd place, out of hospital
Image credits: Cradled Creations
3rd place, hospital
Image credits: Bree Downes
2nd place, postpartum
Image credits: Coastal Lifestyles Photography
2nd place, black and white
Image credits: Sashi Hesson
2nd place, color
Image credits: Kendal Blacker Photography
2nd place, out of hospital
Image credits: Micah Lynn Birth Stories
1st place, postpartum
Image credits: Art by Jessica
1st place, black and white
Image credits: Cat Fancote
1st place, color
Image credits: Mary Nieland of Fox Valley Birth and Baby
1st place, out of hospital
Image credits: Northern Light Photography
3rd place overall
Image credits: Toni Nichole Photos
1st place overall
Image credits: Sadie Wild Photography
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This kind of thing should be part of the sex-ed curriculums. Folks need a look at reality not just diagrams.
No, as a teenage boy I would not be ready to see female nudity like this. Intimate images like this shouldn't be forced on children without both them and their parents' explicit consent.
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Beautiful. As a mum of two who's currently pregnant with a third, these pics resonate with me so much.. Mothers are powerful..
I am pregnant with my first and this is scary as f*ck and hella nasty looking......... I am scared shitless now lol
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I have the most amazing picture that my husband took, right after I gave birth. I told him to photograph the second the baby was born, so he did. I look amazed and a bit confuzed and overwhelmed. I didn't really get that I just had a baby (even though this was my third). I grabbed the baby myself and I still didn't know whether it was a boy or a girl. Umbillical cord still not cut and placenta not born yet. I showed this to some of my girl friends and they all teared up. I love this picture so much. So powerfull.
As a wanna be mother, these convey so much emotion. I’ve been trying for 2 years and have gotten nowhere yet. Seeing this shows me that the most powerful image, is the women giving birth to these beautiful children. Each shows the emotion and happiness each mother goes through. Gorgeous
Good luck, internet stranger. I wish you the fulfillment of your dreams.
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Giving birth is literally an act for mother's life. Thank you so much, mothers!
....and it's needed, or the planet Earth will burst in the seams.
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I'm not into children but this speaks to me. Mainly men supporting their wives, showing love and giving comfort. I now realize I've never wanted children because no man ever gave me something like that and I didn't want to be alone with the baby, pain, parenting, life and everything.
Wow... that's the first time I've seen someone post the exact reason I didn't have kids. I never ever trusted a man to stay with me to the end, and I didn't want to be a single mom for anything in the world.
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I would not want to sit in a pool of afterbirth. Just my humble opinion, it's not meant to offend anyone who chooses that route.
my children's father took awsome pictures of our girls when they were born..they can't handle looking at some of them. and yes I was scared to death having C section babies cause I carried really low. my husband was awsome always my rock then..
I wish there were c-section depictions included in this - all kinds of birth can be beautiful
This kind of thing should be part of the sex-ed curriculums. Folks need a look at reality not just diagrams.
No, as a teenage boy I would not be ready to see female nudity like this. Intimate images like this shouldn't be forced on children without both them and their parents' explicit consent.
Load More Replies... Beautiful. As a mum of two who's currently pregnant with a third, these pics resonate with me so much.. Mothers are powerful..
I am pregnant with my first and this is scary as f*ck and hella nasty looking......... I am scared shitless now lol
Load More Replies... I have the most amazing picture that my husband took, right after I gave birth. I told him to photograph the second the baby was born, so he did. I look amazed and a bit confuzed and overwhelmed. I didn't really get that I just had a baby (even though this was my third). I grabbed the baby myself and I still didn't know whether it was a boy or a girl. Umbillical cord still not cut and placenta not born yet. I showed this to some of my girl friends and they all teared up. I love this picture so much. So powerfull.
As a wanna be mother, these convey so much emotion. I’ve been trying for 2 years and have gotten nowhere yet. Seeing this shows me that the most powerful image, is the women giving birth to these beautiful children. Each shows the emotion and happiness each mother goes through. Gorgeous
Good luck, internet stranger. I wish you the fulfillment of your dreams.
Load More Replies... Giving birth is literally an act for mother's life. Thank you so much, mothers!
....and it's needed, or the planet Earth will burst in the seams.
Load More Replies... I'm not into children but this speaks to me. Mainly men supporting their wives, showing love and giving comfort. I now realize I've never wanted children because no man ever gave me something like that and I didn't want to be alone with the baby, pain, parenting, life and everything.
Wow... that's the first time I've seen someone post the exact reason I didn't have kids. I never ever trusted a man to stay with me to the end, and I didn't want to be a single mom for anything in the world.
Load More Replies... I would not want to sit in a pool of afterbirth. Just my humble opinion, it's not meant to offend anyone who chooses that route.
my children's father took awsome pictures of our girls when they were born..they can't handle looking at some of them. and yes I was scared to death having C section babies cause I carried really low. my husband was awsome always my rock then..
I wish there were c-section depictions included in this - all kinds of birth can be beautiful
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