Wow.

A mother gives birth to her son. This photograph captured a momentous introduction of a mother and baby's first exchange. The baby is suspended in time, half way inside his mother and the world; being guided out by his mother's own hands. Photograph was captured by a friend and doula of the mother.

This photo was submitted by Tara Garner, Summertown, TN, to National Geographic’s 2011 Photo Contest. The image, obviously, has gone viral on the Internet.

14 thoughts on “Wow.”

  2. Makes me wish I could have had the courage to do that. But with my first being twins, the risks were too great. With my second she was late and I was worried that if I did it differently I would feel differently about her (shortchanging the twins as it were). The third was a high risk one because of my age but it was great because my husband and daughters were there so it was a family affair. I swear the girls bonded with their brother so tightly because they were there and got to see and hold him right away.

    These experiences changed me so profoundly. I believe thew birthing labor we as a species are going through is the beginning of something that could be wondrous; it is up to us.

  8. Gorgeous! And so important at a time when so many women are being told that elective caesareans – an unnecessary major surgery – to fit in with their diaries, or allay their fears, are the way to go.

  9. yep, that’s the one Amanda. that baby comes shooting out, totally freaked me out. but even then i knew if/when i was going to do it, it would be like this, within water. their calmness hit me too, the only birth i’ve been part of was with a friend who was also in water, but she was all but calm. i was behind her too, but the water was not clear like this at all when he came out.

  10. I’d vote for first breath, definitely.

    First house is all about the moment when we are first ourselves, separate from Mom…sure, the umbilical cord may still be pulsing, but when the baby takes its first intake of air is “The” moment when we begin our journey on this planet in an independent body, taking in this atmosphere into our own, new body. Astrologer Ellias Lonsdale doesn’t even use the word “Ascendant” very often, he uses “Inbreath” signifying all that we take in along with our first breath of air.

    However, this question begs another one…. if the first breath does indeed define the Ascendant… what of those people who have clinically “died” and lost their breath…and have been clinically dead…. shouldn’t they technically get to have a second “Natal” chart based on the moment when the breath returns to their body? What about those who are in a suspended, in-between state, say on a heart-lung machine during thoracic surgery and may not draw breath for up to 90 minutes? It’s all wonderfully murky, isn’t it?! 😉

  11. oh, and a nerdy astrology question: so would time of birth here still be “first breath” — that is, not till the baby’s face surfaces out of the water? or would one go with the moment shown, since his eyes are open?

  12. stormi — is that the one where the baby comes out BLUE and screaming? yeah, i’m with you — scarring.

    i was immediately struck by how relaxed they both look. such a contrast to the usual portrayals. i think i’d have loved to come into this world swimming, if my current proclivities are any indication, rather than c-section. but hopefully the more people see that it can happen this way, the more women will look for this kind of experience. it might be a slow revolution, but i’d like to imagine it.

    i’m deeply grateful the photographer took the shot and released it into the world…

  13. Oh My Goddess!!!!!

    This has to be one of the most profound images I have ever seen… tears stream down my face as I recognize ALL of us in this most Holy moment…we are birthing a New World together…we are the mother, we are the baby, we are meeting ourselves for the first time and for all time…but in this moment, we are One with She who brings us Awake.

    This image is the most perfect compliment imaginable to today’s “A moment of Transparency” post.

    Holy moly…. you guys not only hit it out of the park, you sent it out of the Solar System!!! Truly awesome – in every sense of the word!

    Deep, deep gratitude to Amanda for putting it here…wow is right.

  14. this is sooo beauty*full! way better than “the miracle of life” required viewing in high school, which scarred my fear of this moment. blessed gratitude for the visual shift! ♥☮♫

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