30 of the most magical childbirth photographs you will ever see.

They say that mothers forget the pain of childbirth over time, but one thing every mother always remembers is the beauty of the moment a child is safely delivered into her arms.

No matter how scary the journey, or what it took to get there, the safe delivery of a child is forever significant and etched on a parent’s memory. And if they’re lucky, captured on film, too.

We’ve discovered the most magical professional birth photos that demonstrate the emotion, pain, elation, and joy of childbirth.

Marijke Thoen Birth Photography

Marijke is a Belgian birth photographer, and mother of Merel and Sieben. According to her website, Marijke has had a long term interest in childbirth.

“When I was 18, I doubted whether I wanted to study photography or obstetrics. Now I work as a birth photographer. And that is immediately the lesson I want to give my children: You can be anything you want. All you have to do is really really want it. Not like in “hocus pocus pats, I wish I was a frog” or as in “I’m going to stamp my feet and roll over the ground until I get what I want”. But by discovering where your passion lies and daring to go for it.”

The First Hello

Photographers and curators of The First Hello Project, Bel and River, explain on their website why they are passionate about birth photography:

“There is nothing quite like seeing a baby being born. It never leaves you. We often walk away feeling so privileged to have witnessed it. We are working in an environment where there is nothing staged or posed - just powerful, raw human emotion. We are constantly watching for the tear on the father’s face as he meets his child for the first time, or the overwhelming relief of the mother when she stops labouring. Joy is so evident to everyone in that room. We like to think of ourselves like a ‘fly on the wall’, capturing humanity’s story as it unfolds.

"We believe photography can unlock the human heart. We as creatives challenge ourselves to be brave enough to step into those intimate spaces that some may shy away from and capture it. The world needs images that will set hearts on fire more than ever.”

Rebecca Anne Lawrence Photography

Rebecca Lawrence told Mamamia:

"I started taking photos in high school when I was around 15, I took photos on the streets of Sydney. I loved capturing all the interesting people and all the different things happening around me. I am drawn to documentary photography.

"Nearly four years ago, after graduating university I started my photography business, at this time a lot of my friends were having babies. And of course I instantly fell in love with documenting their lives. I value authenticity, I am so privileged to capture life's most amazing journey.

"I love to capture real connections, the anticipation, love, support, happiness, pain and all the raw emotions that happen throughout a birth. There is nothing more amazing and beautiful to me, when you see the mother and fathers first look at their baby."

Life and Lens photography

Sydney photographer Sarah Widnyana has this to say on her website about her interest in childbirth photography.

"I am passionate about birth. Birth outcomes. Journeys to birth. Pre and post natal periods. Babies. I just love all things birth and babies. I want to empower women to take control of their birth spaces and arm themselves with advocates and knowledge that can support them and their wishes in birth."