Mother Documents Her Own Labor and Delivery Through Photography

When photographer Lauren Chenault gave birth to her son, she wanted to document the experience. But instead of hiring a birth photographer, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

The mom photographed her own labor and delivery on Jan. 31.

LAUREN CHENAULT

Lauren Chenault photographed her son’s birth.

Chenault told The Huffington Post that taking pictures didn’t affect the experience. “I had my camera on my chest, and I just kept clicking away hoping to get the shot I wanted,” she explained.

“I didn’t take any while I was actually pushing,” she added. “My friend Wendy, who was holding one of my legs, told me, ‘Get your camera ready, he’s coming.’ It wasn’t hard at all since I was just clicking a button.”

LAUREN CHENAULT

This was Chenault’s first time photographing a birth.

Although Chenault runs a photography business in Rockville Centre, New York, she had never photographed a birth before last week. “It’s an awesome concept that women can grow a child inside them and then push it out,” she told HuffPost. “And I wanted to document it.”

Chenault said she’d planned to photograph her first child’s birth but wasn’t fully prepared. “I didn’t realize I had to hold my own legs,” she recalled. This time, she brought her closest friends to help with the logistics.

The results were stunning.

LAUREN CHENAULT

“I just want to show people how powerful women are, and that we can basically do anything,” she said.

The photographer credits her doctor, nurse, husband Byron and friends Wendy, Megan, Lauren and Becca for helping her bring this plan to fruition. The day after the birth, she posted some highlights on her Facebook page.

“Yes I took my own birth photos yes I know I’m insane lol,” she wrote in the caption.

Chenault said she hopes her photos move people. She told HuffPost, “I just want to show people how powerful women are, and that we can basically do anything.”