Inspirational Birth Photos

Labor & giving birth is an adventure which may challenge us to the core of our being; a right of passage that invites us to realize that we are so much more, so much stronger, far more capable than we ever imagined. While none of us can expect that this journey will end up looking exactly as we've planned, it's important to align the anticipation and imaginings of our labors with images that inspire us. I wanted to forward a link to a website with images that have brought a lot of inspiration to many, myself included.

One of the co-teachers of my prenatal yoga teacher training was another amazing childbirth educator, doula/birthing advocate, like our phenomenal Monica, named Anna Verwaal. She was featured briefly in the film, The Business of Being Born. In her sojourn through doula-hood, after witnessing too many Dads/partners stressfully juggling the role of birth photographer while simultaneously attempting to stay intimately involved with their birthing counterparts, Anna found herself putting on the birth photographer hat. We had the good fortune in our training of Anna using her enormous, awe inspiring volume of photographs, collected over many years in many different birth places and situations, as she guided us through the childbirth education portion of our training. I do hope she puts a book together someday. Her photographs, taken in all birth settings from hospital non-emergency, hospital emergency, cesarean, and home birth environments, have an incredible story to tell. The images posted on her website, however, present birth in the home setting. There are a few graphic images, in the same nature as the film Monica presented, Birthing in the Squatting Position, but the majority of the photos capture the essence of each couple/family as they work together supporting Mom in the delivery of their new baby. I love returning to her site from time to time to sit with these images, the spirit of peace & joy they generate. Regardless of whether you are planning a home or hospital birth, you may enjoy viewing these photographs, too.

Check it out! www.fromwombtoworld.com Click the "Photography" link at the bottom of her homepage. Her story in the link "About Anna" is interesting, too. Actually, each of her other links feature more of her birth photography. Two of my favorites, highlighting Dad's experience, can be found in the links "Services" and "Contact".