Incredible candid photos capture home water birth

A US couple have shared intimate photographs of their son's water birth in an effort to encourage other women to feel comfortable in choosing the birthing option that feels right for them. After suffering a number of miscarriages, Kaylee Mauder and her husband Brad welcomed daughter Sabryn in 2013. Soon it was time for Sabryn's baby brother Cian to join the family and the couple enlisted birth photographer Monet Nicole to capture the process and record his first wonderful moments. Kaylee says her choice to opt for a home birth was influenced by the Ricki Lake documentary The Business of Being Born:

“I had my heart set on home birth long before the idea of becoming a doula even surfaced. Water birth was just something that appealed to me from the moment I knew it even existed. I really like the whole idea of it being a sacred transition from life in the womb to the ‘dry land’ of being Earthside.”

Telling her story to Cord Mama, Kaylee said:

"While pregnant, I heard many horror stories and more discouragement than anything else - how hard it was going to be and that I have no idea what I'm in for. "I thank the few voices that gave me encouragement during my pregnancy; the voices that lifted me up instead of feeding my fears and self-doubt."

To read Kaylee's story in full, visit Cord. The HSE guidelines on home birth in Ireland are available here.