A mother holds her daughter for the first time.

Olga supports a woman during birth. 

A woman during a contraction, minutes before her baby is born. 

Patty holds a newborn. 

Father meets his baby for the first time-- surrounded by family and birth attendants. 

A husband supports his wife the initial stages of labor. 

His support continues throughout labor as he embraces her during a contraction. 

Sandra provides a comforting hand during a contraction. 

A mother looks at her baby for the first time. 

An alert baby examines his surroundings during his first moments. 

A father gazes into his baby eyes. This was this couple's second child, the first they had at the hospital and the father was not permitted to be present during his wife's labor. His support, and the connection between him and his wife, was a vital part of the labor. 

Sandra helps a laboring woman walk between contractions. 

A laboring woman receives care from her mother. 

As the laboring mother takes a squatting position, Sandra and her mother rub her back and offer comforting words. 

Sandra eases a woman into a helpful position for the final stages of labor. 

Baby's first seconds of life. 

A mother rests with her newborn at birth. 

Sandra instructs a woman how to breathe during a contraction. 

A mother rests her hand on her laboring daughter's belly. 

A woman and her husband look at their baby together for the first time. 

A grandmother makes eye contact with her granddaughter. 

A mother rests with her baby after giving birth. 

Judith shares stories and smiles with a woman during the early stages of labor. 

Judith provides reassurance and connects with a laboring woman. 

A woman rests between contractions. 

A woman is handed her baby boy. 

A woman smiles and gives thanks moments after giving birth.