Here Comes Life: a Birth Photo(story) exhibition

In honor of Mother’s Day, I was given the honor of displaying my artwork at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and love of Black birth joy.

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Jo Thelusma is a Boston-based doula and birth photographer. 

Her passion is birth work, cultivating empowered and healthy mothers and families through compassionate care as well as education. As a doula, she not only bears witness to the birth of babies, but to the birth of parents. As a photographer, she commemorates parents harnessing their strength to unspeakable levels, welcoming the newest, littlest members of the family with emotions that swell and carry the room.

Please enjoy the following images in the exhibit. Thank you.

Euphoria

Description: A new mother holds her newborn while looking up at her husband with a joyous smile. She is reclined in a hospital bed.

Held

Description: A new mother holds her newborn in her arms. The hands of her midwife is further supporting the baby. The mother is sitting upright and her newborn is wrapped in blankets to keep her warm.

this Is Us

Description: A new father peers lovingly and curiously at his newborn baby as she is held by his wife. He has lowered his head next to his wife’s to get a closer look.

His Mother’s eyes

Description: A newborn boy wrapped in blankets is held by his father while his mother watches. The newborn boy is looking at the camera.

The Window

Description: A newborn rests against her mother’s chest. Her mother’s eyes are closed and resting while the newborn’s eyes are wide open and peeking through an opening in the hospital bed rails.

Three Generations

Description: A new grandmother and new father look lovingly at the newest addition to their family.