Birth, how it can be.
Normalise birth. We are made to do this, and there are so many variations of how it can look and feel. In contrast to the dominating vision of fear and chaos we are primarily exposed to in Western popular culture from an early age, there is a growing movement of women empowering themselves with information and knowledge to make more informed choices on their birthing experience.
My whole perspective on what’s important in life and my work shifted when my niece was welcomed into the world. I was with family and asked to photograph the birth and that’s when it hit me; this is the most real, raw, and powerful human experience there is, and I want to be there to document and celebrate everything about it.
Toes emerging from the birth waters
Two women, best friends connected through the birthing experience. Tori provides comfort to Rosie by holding her hands through heavy contractions in the birth pool in Rosie kitchen.
Winnie looks up at me me as her mother moves through contractions in their kitchen. She is so enchanted by the birth process and is excited to meet her long awaited baby sister.
Rosie and Brennan embrace their third child Willow, their first home birth.
Rosie and Brennan embrace their third child Willow, their first home birth.
Brennan inspecting Willows toes for the first time, while still in the birth pool in their kitchen.
Willow's delayed umbilical cord cutting. Her sister Winter assists their dad Brennan in cutting the cord under supervision of their midwife Jo.
Scene from Sunni's birth. Candles her mother Jacinta carefully and purposefully laid out with Toby in preparation of the arrival of their baby girl.
Jacinta moving through surges in the birth pool.
Doreen comforting her daughter Jacinta through the birth of her first child.
Jacinta moving through surges in the birth pool.
First family photo of Jacinta, Toby and Sunni in the birth pool in their sun room on a stormy night.
Jacinta seeing the face of her first born for the very first time.