by Carolyn Robertson posted in Pregnancy

We've featured a lot of birth photography here on the BabyCenter blog over the years. Stories and images of natural deliveries, c-sections, home births, hospital births, VBACs, lotus births, births that went pretty much according to plan and those that definitely did not. We've seen babies born in cars and in the middle of a hurricane. We've watched families be born and grow through adoption and through surrogacy. The list goes on.
The remarkable thing about birth photography is the way a single image can tell an entire story. A story of longing and of answered prayers; of fear and pain and determination; of relief and pure, radiating joy. Of family. Of love. One photo that captures the well-tread and winding path to parenthood.
Each year, the International Association of Birth Photographers holds a competition to determine the best in childbirth photography. The 2018 competition saw hundreds of entries from around the world in the categories of labor, delivery, birth details and postpartum. As always, the winners are powerful and stunning, photos that will move you to tears and make your jaw drop. Here are the five photos that a panel of judges named the very best birth photos of the year.
First Place Winner

STUNNING SIBLINGS FIRST ENCOUNTER

Marijke Thoen ? Marijke Thoen Birthphotography

Best in category: Labor

NOWHERE AND EVERYWHERE

Rebecca Coursey ? Rebecca Coursey, photographer + doula

Best in category: Delivery

EN CAUL...