39 Photos Of Pets Supporting Their Humans Through Childbirth

So sweet!
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Brittney Cruz, Chapter One: Birth
"Loyal Birth Companions: Pets at Births" highlights a special group of birth team members.

For over four years, the Birth Photography Facebook group has been producing slideshows of gorgeous labor, delivery and postpartum images and sharing them on its public page. After compiling photos featuring midwives, doulas, dads and siblings, the group decided to focus its latest project on another special subset of birth team members: pets!

“Dogs and other pets seem to instinctively know that something is up during a pregnancy,” the Birth Photography group’s founder Laura Eckert told The Huffington Post. “They can become more protective of the mother-to-be, as though they sense that something is about to happen.”

Eckert shared photos from “Loyal Birth Companions: Pets at Births” with HuffPost. “As these images show, pets are often very curious and maybe even concerned about what is going on during a home birth, and they often offer a sense of calm for the laboring mother,” she said. “To some moms it’s like having an extra support person right there beside them throughout their labor.”

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Brittney Cruz, Chapter One: Birth
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Before You Go

Best Birth Photos Of 2016
(01 of24)
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"Just moments after delivering her first baby on her knees, this mama was thinking, 'I actually did it! He is finally here!'" (credit:Elise Hurst Photography)
(02 of24)
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"The strength and power mothers possess as they bring their babies into the world is unimaginable. You can see the raw power as this mama roars her baby out." (credit:Vanessa Mendez)
(03 of24)
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"This baby began to suck on the doctor's finger and grasp onto the attending's hand as she was born into the world." (credit:Monet Nicole)
(04 of24)
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"She's here!" (credit:Lillian Craze Birth Photography)
(05 of24)
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"A dads' first moments with his son." (credit:Cherith Hope Photography)
(06 of24)
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"This baby girl came so fast, the birth team didn't have time to finish filling the tub!" (credit:Katie Lew Photography)
(07 of24)
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"People don't talk much about the after birth pains -- the cramping, the stitching. This mom handled them it all so well and it wasn't long before she was able to focus on her sweet newborn." (credit:Fox Valley Birth and Baby)
(08 of24)
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"This mother holds her newborn baby who -- after years of heartache -- was delivered by her 'angel surrogate.'" (credit:Ashley Marston Birth Lifestyle/Documentary Photographer)
(09 of24)
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"This mama had a challenging first birth experience at a hospital with a lot of interventions, so she worked hard for this natural water birth. Her partner -- a first- time dad -- supported her every step of the way. He wasn't afraid to get in the water with her, and he even caught the baby when it was born!" (credit:Danica Donnelly Photography)
(10 of24)
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"The mom and dad both invited their own mothers to the birth, and this is the very moment they first became grandmas. The room erupted into happy sobs!" (credit:The Art of Unscripted)
(11 of24)
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"After her baby flipped into a breech position, this mama had to come to a place of acceptance. She was nervous about how she would feel with a Cesarean birth, but when baby arrived and was placed skin-to-skin with her, the tears and kisses were flowing!" (credit:Capturing Joy Birth Services)
(12 of24)
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"Amazing strength!" (credit:Isabell Steinert Photography)
(13 of24)
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"Sweet relief right after this mama birthed her fourth son." (credit:Santa Cruz Birth Photography Doula Services)
(14 of24)
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"Transition! This mama had a home birth in her off-grid home." (credit:Melissa Cate Photography)
(15 of24)
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"This sweet girl was so alert and eager to see the world just moments after birth!" (credit:An Infinite Moment Photography)
(16 of24)
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"First loves, kissing!" (credit:Hilary Marie Photo)
(17 of24)
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"I cannot even begin to describe how empowering this birth was. The dad welcomed his daughter into the world by catching her and being the first person she ever touched or laid eyes on. These are the moments the world needs to see!" (credit:Love at First Sight Photography Doula Services)
(18 of24)
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"This mom waited 42 weeks to meet her baby and she greeted him after a redemptive VBAC." (credit:Bluegrass Birth Stories)
(19 of24)
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"It takes a village to welcome a baby." (credit:Earth Mama Photography)
(20 of24)
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"After three hours of pushing, she crowns!" (credit:First Light Birth Photography)
(21 of24)
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"Skin-to-skin contact after birth, a beautiful and peaceful moment after all the excitement and hard work." (credit:RAW Photography by Rebecca Ann Walsh)
(22 of24)
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"Paisley, on her way to snuggle with her mama for the first time." (credit:New Creation Photography Birth Photography)
(23 of24)
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"After seven years of trying to have a family, and a long journey with IVF, this couple's arms were finally full of love." (credit:Cradled Creations)
(24 of24)
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"This is my all-time favorite birth photo!" (credit:Green Chair Stories)

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