20 Astounding Photos That Show the Beauty of Childbirth

(Warning: some of the photos have graphic content that some readers may find shocking.)  

We love birth photography. It shows us the beginning of a woman's journey to motherhood, yes, but we also get the privilege to see a mother's strength, and it always shines through whatever type of childbirth it is.  

This year, the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers (IAPBP) has announced the winners of its annual Birth Photography Image of the Year Competition. Each image has its own story to tell, but all of them are equally amazing and breathtaking.  

The judges of this year's IAPBP competition must have had a very difficult job because there were just a lot of astounding images. The winners were chosen on a point system based on technicality, emotionality, and composition.

Year after year, however, birth photographers seem to manage to outdo themselves. For the first time in the competition's history (it began in 2011), a photographer has won the top award for the second time. 

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The winner is Marijke Thoen of Marijke Theon Geboortefotografie who won in 2016 for the beautiful water birth image (above). Her 2018 entry, which has taken the grand prize, has a nice surprise. According to IAPBP founder Lyndsay Stradner in a statement, "The beautiful baby in that photo is now a big sister in the winning photo this year." 

IMAGE Marijke Thoen of Marijke Thoen Birthphotography

Yes, the little girl watching her baby brother (above) had her birth immortalized, so to speak, and now her sibling gets the honor as well.

The winning photo entitled "Stunning Siblings First Encounter" was also awarded the First Place Winner and the winner of the Members Choice Best in Delivery category. The same photo, which Thoen described in her post as "a photo social media liked but everybody else loved" was once controversial. Facebook took it down and Instagram removed it from her account three times. 

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Here are the other winners of this year's IAPBP Birth Photography Image of The Year competition: (Warning: some of the photos have graphic content that some readers may find shocking.)  

IMAGE Rebecca Coursey of Rebecca Coursey, Photographer + Doula

Best in Category: Labor: "Nowhere and Everywhere" by Rebecca Coursey of Rebecca Coursey, Photographer + Doula (It's also the winner of the Member's Choice Best in Labor category)

IMAGE Daniela Justus of Daniela Justus Fotografia

Best in Category: Delivery: "En Caul Baby Birth" by Daniela Justus of Daniela Justus Fotografia (A baby born with caul intact is rare — fewer than one in 80,000 births.)

IMAGE Esther Edith of Esther Edith Photographer & Doula

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Best in Category: Postpartum: "Flesh of My Flesh" by Esther Edith of Esther Edith Photographer & Doula
 

IMAGE Daniela Justus of Daniela Justus Fotografia

Best in Category: Birth Details: "Birth of A Brother" by Daniela Justus of Daniela Justus Fotografia

IMAGE Esther Edith of Esther Edith Photographer & Doula

Members Choice Awards Winner: "Three Becomes Four" by Esther Edith of Esther Edith Photographer & Doula

IMAGE Tamara Milldove of Milldove Photography of Maternity, Birth and Newborn

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Members Choice Awards Best in Postpartum: "Take My Hand, Hold My Heart" by Tamara Milldove of Milldove Photography – Maternity, Birth and Newborn

IMAGE Cat Fancote of Capturing Birth

Members Choice Awards Best in Birth Details: "Bulging Forewaters" by Cat Fancote of Capturing Birth (This is probably a part of birth we haven't seen in close up before.)

These photos didn't make the winners' cut but are too beautiful not to recognize. Here are the honorable mentions of this year's IAPBP photography contest:

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  Photo 1 of 12

  "Underwater scream" by Caroling Devulder of Caromama

  PHOTO BY Caroling Devulder of Caromama
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  Photo 2 of 12

  "Love Complete" by Marjolein Loppies of Curacao Nasemento

  PHOTO BY Marjolein Loppies of Curacao Nasemento
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  Photo 3 of 12

  "Mother hat" by Lela Beltrão of Lela Beltrão | Coletivo Buriti

  PHOTO BY Lela Beltrão of Lela Beltrão | Coletivo Buriti
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  Photo 4 of 12

  "A physiological third stage" by Paige Driscoll of Santa Cruz Birth Photography & Doula Services

  PHOTO BY Paige Driscoll of Santa Cruz Birth Photography & Doula Services
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  Photo 5 of 12

  "Admiration and relief" by Kandyce Joeline of Songbird and Oak Photography

  PHOTO BY Kandyce Joeline of Songbird and Oak Photography
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  Photo 6 of 12

  "How big" by Megan Brock of Meg Brock Photography

  PHOTO BY Megan Brock of Meg Brock Photography
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  Photo 7 of 12

  "Nurse Linda" by Tammy Karin of Little Leapling Photography (The role nurses play in birth is essential)

  PHOTO BY Tammy Karin of Little Leapling Photography
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  Photo 8 of 12

  "Liquid gold" by Carlee Melendo of C Daisy Birth and Lifestyle Photography

  PHOTO BY Carlee Melendo of C Daisy Birth and Lifestyle Photography
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  Photo 9 of 12

  "Labor by candlelight" by Ashley Marston of Ashley Marston Photography

  PHOTO BY Ashley Marston of Ashley Marston Photography
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  "Touch" by Krista Evans of Krista Evans Photography Inc

  PHOTO BY Krista Evans of Krista Evans Photography Inc
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  Photo 11 of 12

  "Fist bump for mom" by Neely Ker-Fox of Ker-Fox Photography (Clear surgical drapes during C-sections are now allowed in some hospitals for C-section births)

  PHOTO BY Neely Ker-Fox of Ker-Fox Photography
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  "Birthing waves" by Robin Baker of Birth Blessings Photography & Doula Services

  PHOTO BY Robin Baker of Birth Blessings Photography & Doula Services

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Thoen said in an interview with Yahoo Style U.K. that birth photography around the world has contributed to the change in how women view birth. "And that is what this is all about: showing women how amazingly powerful they (and their bodies) are during the process of labor and birthing and inspiring mothers-to-be to feel empowered instead of scared to deliver their babies," she said. 

All photos were used with permission from the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers (IAPBP). 

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