The moment a baby arrives is one a new mother will never forget. It’s one of blissful adoration, immense relief, unexpected elation and pure joy. Truly, there is not a more self-less act than the one a mother performs when she gives a child the precious gift of life.
The amazing images were taken by former midwife Marry Fermont, 35, from Zeeland, in the Netherlands, mere moments after birth as part of her project to document the first minutes of babies’ lives. Photos captures the moment babies curled up in the midwife’s arms just seconds after coming out of the womb. Small and pretty hands, toes touching the nose, curled up like a position in a ꜰᴇᴛᴜs…Photos with simple textures, color blends, and black and white highlight the image of beautiful little babies in adult hands. Marry, who became a birth photographer in 2011 has attended over 75 ʟᴀʙᴏᴜʀs in Belgium and Holland, snapping women having their babies at home, in ʜᴏsᴘɪᴛᴀʟ and in ʙɪʀᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴘᴏᴏʟs.
She said:” When a baby is born, it’s like everything happens really fast, but also in slow motion like time is standing still. To be present at such an intimate moment feels like a privilege and you forget everything that happens around you, except for taking photos of course, Many midwifes show women how their baby was positioned in the womb. Once they are born it’s hard to imagine how they looked inside. When I documented my first birth the midwife showed a mother what the baby looked like in her womb. Since then I have always asked the midwife to show it. The most rewarding part is that I’m allowed to be part of one of the most beautiful moments in life. When parents receive the photos they are so grateful. I have the most rewarding job ever. The most difficult part is that you are always on call. It affects your whole life and your lifestyle. You can never go far away from home, you can’t ᴅʀɪɴᴋ ᴀʟᴄᴏʜᴏʟ and you always have to keep in mind that you might have to go to document a birth. But having said that, it’s worth it.”
In each of her photographs, the infants’ eyes are tightly closed, their hair often till wet, with their bodies entirely folded over their legs so that their feet are by their noses.
In one picture, a sturdy-looking newborn appears to almost fit, with his hands held in fists in front of his face, while in another the baby is so tiny and sleepy it remains sound asleep in a folded position in the doctors’ hand.
Marry added:” Sometimes I shed a tear myself, because you are so into the moment. This moment is extra special, because the emotions are so real. It’s the one of the most pure moments in life. There are so many emotions in this moment: joy, relief, amazement, pride, love, euphoria, contentment and so many different reactions — smiles and tears. Moments of silence and moments of extreme joy. It is always magical.”
When the parents received the photo, they were grateful to Mary. This makes her even more motivated to find her work worth doing more than ever. Recently Mary became a mother and she has quite a bit of experience from what she has been through. These photos are more precious than words and texts, she said. It is true proof of what women have gone through.
