In the Netherlands, photographer and former midwife Marry Fermont captures pictures of infants immediately after their born so they look just like they do in the womb.
The Daily Mail reports that she said the following about her photography: “Many midwifes show women how their baby was positioned in the womb. Once they are born it’s hard to imagine how they looked inside. When I documented my first birth the midwife showed a mother what the baby looked like in her womb. Since then I have always asked the midwife to show it.”
Fermont started her photography business in 2011 and has gone to over 75 births in Holland and Belgium. Some of the women she features have given birth at hospitals, while others have at home or in birthing pools. Fermont explained, “The most rewarding part is that I’m allowed to be part of one of the most beautiful moments in life. When parents receive the photos they are so grateful. I have the most rewarding job ever.”
The photographer says she has always loved taking pictures and previously worked as a tour guide, which sparked her interest in documenting the countries she visited. She said, “Many people told me to do something with my photos but I didn’t know what. There were already so many family photographers out there. When I came back to the Netherlands I decided to study midwifery and it was during that time that I got the idea of birth photography. It was the two things I love the most combined.”
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Although Fermont loves photograph, she did mention that it requires a huge time commitment. She explained, “The most difficult part is that you are always on call. It affects your whole life and your lifestyle. You can never go far away from home, you can’t drink alcohol and you always have to keep in mind that you might have to go to document a birth. But having said that, it’s worth it.”
Each of Fermont’s pictures shows the baby with their eyes tightly closed, hair wet and their bodies folded over their legs, which places their feet by their noses. Fermont explained, “In one picture, a sturdy-looking newborn appears to almost fit, with his hands held in fists in front of his face, while in another the baby is so tiny and sleepy it remains sound asleep in a folded position in the doctors’ hand.”
Fermont just became a new mother herself and said she is curious to see how that will change her outlook on her photograph. “It will be different to document, because now I really know what women are going through and how important the photos are. I think I will love my job even more now,” Fermont concluded.
Look at Fermont’s remarkable photos below:
