Mothers are often said to forget the pain of childbirth so they can willingly experience it again. But why do these birth photos evoke such a range of emotions, from intense pain to immense joy, resurfacing in the most beautiful way possible?
Most likely because Leilani Rogers, a birth photographer based in Austin, TX, knows how to capture not just the moment but the profound meaning behind it.
“To capture those fleeting, remarkable moments, you have to always work in anticipation,” she told POPSUGAR. “Camera ready, thinking ahead to mama’s next move.”
Rogers has captured incredible birth stories, whether they unfold in the comfort of home or in a hospital delivery room. From a surrogate delivering twins for an expectant couple to a baby born still inside its amniotic sac, she skillfully documents these precious moments. Here is a collection of her finest work that will surely make you long to revisit the day when your own birth story was in the making.
“I love images that show a woman can birth in many different positions. They should not be limited to their backs.”
“This mother’s 7-year-old daughter wanted to be a part of the birth. She calmly and sweetly entered the room and genuinely wanted to help.”
“A baby born with six fingers! Definitely a surprise, but a special one. There was no hope in the finger, but it had a nail. Intriguing, to say the least.”
“It doesn’t matter if you birth at home, in a birth center, in a hospital, vaginally, or by C-section. Birth is birth!”
“Another beautiful hospital moment. It wasn’t until after I got home and began editing images that I noticed this little one’s hand signal, showing that she felt at peace.”
“Birth is considered by many to be a private matter. And yet, it is this amazing thing.”
“I made my bucket list one day, and photographing a surrogate birth was, of course, on that list.”
“This was an incredible experience for me, to see this family made whole through the patronage of ‘once a stranger.’ It was also a good challenge for me, documenting all the small details of not one baby, but two babies’ births!”
“Herbal baths are my absolute favorite to capture. They smell divine — herbs like chamomile and lavender are used — and promote bonding between mother and baby.”
“This is my peace, just minutes old. Her birth was so tranquil. She looks like she just stepped out of heaven. She took her time opening her big beautiful eyes to take in her new surroundings.”
“What a privilege it is to get up close and personal with placentas and umbilical cords. They are fascinating and serve an amazing purpose.”
“This two-mama-family’s birth was so beautiful. It was fortunate that this mother’s partner is an experienced doula because she was in labor for 35 hours!”
“A close-up look at the placenta. I don’t see how anyone can deny that these images portray birth as the miraculous occasion that it can be.”
“I just love the juxtaposition of this experienced midwife’s hands against this young mother and newborn baby’s skin.”
“Every now and then, birth happens so quickly there is no time for a birth tub! In this case, mama knew she needed water, so she gave birth in her bathtub. I photographed it from inside the shower stall!”
“Baby is passing between the womb and her mother. I love the way Mom is reaching for her child, eagerly awaiting her placement in her arms.”
“This baby was just born into her mother’s arms in the water. She is overcome with joy.”
“I didn’t realize what I’d captured until after the birth. There was no time to see the amniotic sac with my own eyes.”
“What happens to the sac when it’s delivered intact? Answer: The midwife breaks it. In this case, she had to tear it with her hands; it was so strong.”
“Mother meets her baby for the first time. The joy, relief, and exhaustion are just so palpable.”
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