by Carolyn Robertson posted in Mom Stories

A stunning image snapped by Brazilian photographer Camila Mendes gives a unique bird's-eye view of childbirth that most of us have never seen.
The incredible shot looks down on a laboring mother in the midst of an at-home water birth, capturing the moment that the baby's head is crowning.
Camila, who is a mom-of-two herself as well as being a birth photographer by trade, shared the image on Instagram this week, captioning it, "Light of life."

Birth photography - particularly raw, real images such as this one - isn't for everyone. I love this picture, though. When I first saw it, my jaw literally dropped a little.
I love the different perspective it lends. There is peace and power in that moment, from the soft glow of the candlelight to the focused determination of the mother's posture. There's pain and release in that final push, the end of a very long journey and the start of something new. Though the photo did receive a few negative comments, most of Camila's 3,000 Instagram followers thanked her for sharing the striking and intimate image.
"She chose to share this beautiful experience," reads a response to one critic. "There's nothing gross or embarrassing or secretive about it. It's life."
Thanks to Camila for sharing this photo with us. Be sure to visit her web site, Camila Mendes Fotógrafa, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram to see more of her work. The mother featured in this ima...