Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to have a photographer present at a child’s birth to capture unforgettable moments from the extraordinary experience. Kathy Rosario, a photographer based in the United States, has seen her images of a friend’s water birth go viral.
Kathy Rosario, the creative force behind K Ro Photography, has long been passionate about taking striking photos of pregnancy, childbirth, and newborns. In her view, home births offer a distinct atmosphere of pure joy and tranquility, unlike any other setting. While she’s experienced in photographing childbirth, home births hold a special place in her heart.
Kathy captured the deeply emotional moment when her dear friend delivered her third child, a baby girl, during an at-home water birth. She had previously documented six other births with her company, K Ro Photography, as reported by BuzzFeed, but this was her first all-natural water birth.
She told BoredPanda that witnessing a woman giving birth is always amazing, but it feels even more special when it happens in the comfort of their own home. She had photographed several births before, but nothing quite compared to the serenity of a home water birth.
The series of photos, taken over two hours, chronicle the woman’s labor pains, the baby’s delivery, and the tender moments of bonding immediately after the newborn enters the world.
According to Ms. Rosario, the room was filled with the calming scent of lavender, and the mother appeared completely at ease, smiling and laughing between contractions.
As labor progressed, the mother wore a neon pink sports bra while her lower body was submerged in water. Cushions supported her back and head, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
In some photos, cooling cloths can be seen placed on the mother’s forehead and chest, while she sips on a homemade ‘laboraid’ popsicle. ‘Laboraid,’ a play on Gatorade, is rich in electrolytes and is sometimes used to help keep a mother hydrated throughout childbirth.
Finally, the baby, covered in purple amniotic fluid, emerges. The mother pulls her newborn out on her own under the supervision of an experienced midwife.
Assisted by two midwives, the new mom steps out of the tub and wraps a towel around her shoulders. Exhausted, she holds her newborn girl close to her chest.
With the baby swaddled in a blanket in her arms, she then lies down in bed and attempts to breastfeed for the first time. The father joins them, marveling at his newest child.
Ms. Rosario described the atmosphere as pure bliss and tranquility while they waited for the baby’s arrival, in her conversation with BoredPanda.
