Photographer chronicles labours on Instagram in real time

Hiring a professional photographer or videographer to capture memorable moments on your wedding day is one thing but a new project by photographer, Cate DePrisco has been chronicling another even more momentous occasion and posting the snaps to Instagram. The Kansas City based photographer has been photographing births and sharing them on the social media site with the #InstaBirthStory to create a sort of live report of the births as they happen, "I started sharing the first birth story live on my personal Instagram account. That story was 54 hours long. That meant there was quite a bit of down time so I'd post a photo I was proud of… and before I knew it, I realised I was telling a story and people were following along," she told the Huffington Post. The photographer stays with the mothers throughout their labour and posts the pictures as she takes them to keep family and friends updated. The pictures are deeply touching and show emotional and powerful moments.

**REAL TIME #instabirthstory IN PROGRESS** He holds her tight through every contraction and doesn't let go. Their love is beautiful. She's getting closer with every contraction. #instabirth #birthstory #birthphotographer

A photo posted by Cate DePrisco (@instabirthstory) on May 18, 2015 at 2:33pm PDT

  She also chronicles the less intense side of labour, the waiting...  

**REAL TIME #instabirthstory IN PROGRESS** Mom and Dad are trying to pass the time with #bananagrams. They think Mom's subconscious was talking when she pulled out these letters to make this word the first round. #instabirthstory #instabirth518 #instabirth A photo posted by Cate DePrisco (@instabirthstory) on May 18, 2015 at 10:57am PDT

And family members passing the time on tenterhooks. Like this little girl who is eagerly awaiting the new arrival and clearly feeling joyful.

While she waited to meet her new baby brother she danced. Because that's what 3 year-old little girls do: they dance, they twirl, and they light up the room. #instabirth #instabirth518 #instabirthstory

A photo posted by Cate DePrisco (@instabirthstory) on May 20, 2015 at 4:44am PDT

And then those first precious moments of life... 

I love watching the parents offer a finger to their #newborn. Is it that moment... That first clasp... Which makes it even more real? I'm not sure, but it's so beautiful. #InstaBirthStory #birthstory A photo posted by Cate DePrisco (@instabirthstory) on May 30, 2015 at 1:42pm PDT

Main image via Cate DePristo