Stunning Pictures Portray The Reality Of Childbirth

A series of incredible pictures have been praised for their honest depictions of giving birth and motherhood.

Lacey Barratt, a birth photographer from Melbourne, released a number of her favorite photos from the past year, which show women during labor and moments after they gave birth.

One striking picture depicts a woman with her baby before the umbilical cord was cut, without realizing she had already given birth.

Another demonstrates a woman in the midst of labor while in a birthing pool, while her husband is trying to make her drink from a water bottle.

Lacey, also a doula, has received global acclaim for her images that portray the reality of childbirth.

Here, she narrates the stories behind some of her favorite pictures over the last year.

CHANTELLE WATT

The baby in the picture is being delivered by C-section in the operating theatre.

"I don't always get allowed into theatre, so when I do, I always make sure to ask if they can lower the drape or I can come on the other side," Lacey said.

"That isn't exactly greeted with the best of responses, but as my job, I have to ask. This team was so supportive of mum having pictures."

MADDISON GORE

The image depicts Mother Maddison Gore the moment she was handed her baby, without having realized she had already given birth.

The photographer recalled: "Maddison's birth in the hospital was so special because her boy was born so quickly that when the staff handed him to her, she didn't realize he had been born."

"This image captures the moment she realized she did indeed have a baby, and the ride was coming to a close."

MICHELLE SIMMONDS

Michelle Simmonds, another of Lacey's clients, is depicted in the birthing pool with her husband, who's trying to make her drink water.

"We don't see dads talked about a lot in birth spaces, but I really love to capture the connection between mothers and fathers," Lacey said.

"They are integral in making the woman feel safe and loved and raising oxytocin."

"Here you can see how Michelle's husband was totally submerged in her everything and dedicated to serving her however he could."

AMY O'BRIEN

New mother Amy O'Brien is crying with relief and happiness moments after she gave birth.

"Amy kept control of every aspect of her birth. She was not swayed and not once bullied into alternate forms of intervention," the photographer commented.

"This was right after her girl was born standing and she raised her to her chest. This is the moment of relief and happiness."

UNNAMED MOTHER

This unnamed mom is pictured gently guiding her newborn baby while in a birthing pool.

"This was my last birth for 2017, and this mama gently guided her own baby earthside. Not enough women are touching their babies, so I love this," Lacey commented.

"There is way more about birth that isn't normalized than what is normal. I fight really, really hard against social media to make sure my images stay up and aren't removed."

BRITTANY ATTARD

Lacey said that she was struck by how much hair new mother Brittany Attard's baby had.

"Brittany's babe was born with so much hair," the photographer recalled.

"I remember seeing her and thinking how she looked like Rapunzel out of the womb."

SELF-PORTRAIT

Also, Lacey shared a self-portrait showing herself with her baby, that she explains "marked the rebirth of herself into a new mother."

"This is a self-portrait that I released of myself exactly 12 months ago," Lacey said.

"It marked the rebirth of myself into a new mother, new wife, and new human."

"This was to explain not everyone feels connected to their babies at first, and that's OK."

Reference: Dailymail.co.uk