Striking Photo Of Newborn Baby Boy Laying Below Mother’s Caesarean Wound Goes Viral, Sparks Controversy


A striking photo is circulating on social media, grabbing the attention of social media users everywhere. According to the Mirror, the compelling photo was uploaded to Facebook by Helen Carmina, a notable photographer with a fervent love for newborn photography.

The viral photo captures a sleeping 3-day-old newborn baby laying directly below his mother’s surgical scar, which is the result of an emergency Caesarean section. The captivating photo was taken in an effort to provide a visual of a compelling story. It has been reported that the procedure actually saved the baby’s life.

Carmina desired to capture the true essence and significance of the experience. However, she definitely wasn’t expecting the overwhelming response she’s received since she opted to share the photo via Facebook on August 11. The photo has been viewed by more than 11 million social media users and has over 200,000 likes. During an interview with the publication, she shared her reaction to the feedback the photo has received.

“I photographed this mama’s pregnancy a while back and she was telling me how terrified she was of having a C-section. Last week she went into labour but had to have an emergency c-section after complications. She asked me to come over and shoot this particular image as her worst nightmare proved to be what saved her and her child’s lives. My images usually get seen seen by 100 people at most so I never thought it would reach anywhere near what it has done. So far it has been seen by over 7.5 million people. I didn’t expect this image to reach so far.”

But, of course, the overwhelming response hasn’t just been from supporters. There have definitely been more than a few social media users who insist the Caesarean photo’s intimacy is a bit inappropriate for social media. In fact, some users have even reported the photo, classifying it as “pornography.” However, Carmina’s intent was to capture the beauty of a life being born.

“To me it’s a beautiful image that shows both a struggle and something beautiful. I have received so, so many stories from c-section mums saying how it has changed the way they look at their scars. I can’t believe the amount of women that are ashamed of their scars and are made to feel like they haven’t done the job properly because they didn’t give birth naturally. I feel proud that an image I created has allowed so many people to open up about their experiences and change the way they feel about something they should only feel pride for.”

Although many social media users have reported the photo, Facebook has opted not to remove it from the site.

What do you think of the Caesarean photo? Share your thoughts.

[Stock image via Shutterstock]

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