Photojournalism - Professional

Gentle Caesarean Birth

Belle Verdiglione
Australia

Honorable Mention

"Gentle Caesarean Birth"
Em suffers from Crohns disease and autoimmune arthritis which meant she could only give birth via caesarean. With baby number four, Em spent months searching for an obstetrician who would respect her desire for a gentle caesarean. As a birth photographer, I was honoured to witness Noahs birth as it is an extremely rare event. The Obstetrician gently delivered Noahs head, then stood back for a few minutes so Noah could start to breathe on his own. There was no surgical drape so the parents could watch him half inside Em’s belly. 'I can't even begin to describe what I felt watching our baby lie on my stomach, seemingly asleep! It was the most beautiful, raw and amazing experience I could have ever imagined', Em.

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