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Giving Birth

Each day around 385.000 children are born, yet childbirth is still unfamiliar and distanced to many. From outside it can seem that a baby bump transitions into a newborn, as the birth itself often remains a private and intimate affair. 


In this project we are entering this intimate space – taking part in the birth of Kathrine and Sebastian’s first child together. A space filled with care, strength and emotions. 

It’s 12:20 pm at Hjørring Hospital, where Kathrine is giving birth. Together with her is her boyfriend Sebastian, her friend Carina and her mother-in-law. Outside the summer heat is thick behind curtains, keeping the cold cloths on Kathrine’s forehead in constant circulation. Every time a new contraction comes, she closes her eyes focussing on her breathing. Constantly moving around in the bed uneasy, trying to find a tolerable position. 

In the middle of a contraction Kathrine is panicking. After hours of labor she is now about to push. At her last birth she had a perineal tear, forcing her to be in bed for weeks. This trauma has made her anxious of the pushing stage, and to end in a condition where she is not be able to be there fully for her newborn. The midwife lays her hand on Kathrines knee, guiding her back into a calm breathing. 


As Katrine begins to push, the baby appears, pulsing back and forth a few times. With one push comes the head, and with the next comes the rest of the body. 

“Are you okay Sebastian” the midwife asks, trying to get eye contact with Sebastian whose hands are shaking while starring into the wall. His whole life he has been scared of blood and hospitals. Besides him lays Kathrine with their baby in her arms, delivering the placenta while several doctors and nurses are controlling her physical condition.


Through history post bleeding has cost many women’s lives. This is one of many reasons, that the afterbirth stage follows a strict procedure with examinations of the condition of the mother as well as the baby.


Finally, when the examinations comes to an end, Kathrine and Sebastian can introduce their new child to the rest of the family. Starting with Kathrine’s daughter Vibe, who has been waiting for hours to see her new sibling.

Each day around 385.000 children are born, yet childbirth is still unfamiliar and distanced to many. From outside it can seem that a baby bump transitions into a newborn, as the birth itself often remains a private and intimate affair. 


In this project we are entering this intimate space – taking part in the birth of Kathrine and Sebastian’s first child together. A space filled with care, strength and emotions. 

It’s 12:20 pm at Hjørring Hospital, where Kathrine is giving birth. Together with her is her boyfriend Sebastian, her friend Carina and her mother-in-law. Outside the summer heat is thick behind curtains, keeping the cold cloths on Kathrine’s forehead in constant circulation. Every time a new contraction comes, she closes her eyes focussing on her breathing. Constantly moving around in the bed uneasy, trying to find a tolerable position. 

In the middle of a contraction Kathrine is panicking. After hours of labor she is now about to push. At her last birth she had a perineal tear, forcing her to be in bed for weeks. This trauma has made her anxious of the pushing stage, and to end in a condition where she is not be able to be there fully for her newborn. The midwife lays her hand on Kathrines knee, guiding her back into a calm breathing. 


As Katrine begins to push, the baby appears, pulsing back and forth a few times. With one push comes the head, and with the next comes the rest of the body. 

“Are you okay Sebastian” the midwife asks, trying to get eye contact with Sebastian whose hands are shaking while starring into the wall. His whole life he has been scared of blood and hospitals. Besides him lays Kathrine with their baby in her arms, delivering the placenta while several doctors and nurses are controlling her physical condition.


Through history post bleeding has cost many women’s lives. This is one of many reasons, that the afterbirth stage follows a strict procedure with examinations of the condition of the mother as well as the baby.


Finally, when the examinations comes to an end, Kathrine and Sebastian can introduce their new child to the rest of the family. Starting with Kathrine’s daughter Vibe, who has been waiting for hours to see her new sibling.

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