Photographer Captures ‘Pleasurable’ Homebirth That Is ‘So Rich In Ecstasy’

A birth photographer has shared the ‘ecstatic’ moment she captured on camera a mother giving birth to her baby girl in a powerful yet ‘pleasurable’ homebirth.

Birth photographer Angela Gallo, from Melbourne, will never forget the day she witnessed the birth of Kalesia to parents, Sasha and Kiaran, last month.

“A short six hours in length, each ounce of energy spent was used with reason; each second of pain or pleasure had purpose. I have never seen a birth so rich in ecstasy,” Ms Gallo wrote of the labour.

Ms Gallo wrote about the ‘unassisted, unhindered and pleasurable’ homebirth, and how Kalesia was born ‘from a place of love.’

“Kalesia was born between a rush of surges and smiles across her mother’s face. Deep, sultry breaths and lots of self stimulation (and coconut butter!) really helped to keep the perineum soft and stretchy,” she wrote.

She described the labour as ‘spontaneous’ and ‘both hormones and love came together ferociously’.

“Sasha exhibited animal like signs; self cleaning, smelling, pacing, roaring I cried and watched in awe because in the deepest parts of me I couldn’t shake the feeling that this is exactly how nature intended birth to be and yet it was so seldom seen,” she wrote.

Ms Gallo said she cried during the powerful experience, realising that not all women who want a similar birth can have it the way Sasha and Kiaran did.

“I have seen many truly physiological births but to see one so unhindered and so primal has given me renewed conviction in my beliefs,” she wrote.

“A belief that each woman is uniquely incredible and amazingly capable of pushing beyond the limits imposed by our minds & the systems we have in place.”

Ms Gallo believes that the childbirth experience should be relished, and the life-changing moment shouldn’t be underestimated.

“A belief that every human being should have the right to choose the type of birth that feels right for them.

“A belief that, should they desire to, every woman have the opportunity to birth without the presence of prying eyes, bright lights, interventions, stress or trauma,” she added.

Ms Gallo, who is also a doula, hopes to guide women through birth with as much love and support as possible while making sure women are able to give birth in the way that they want.