The 7 Most Painfully Beautiful Birth Photos of 2016 [NSFW]

The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers announced the winners of their annual Image of the Year competition. Hundreds of photographers submitted pictures for the first-place award as well as the labor, delivery, and postpartum categories.

Winners were chosen based on technicality, emotionality, and composition, according to the announcement, and this year's batch was so hard to choose from because of all the gorgeous submissions. Several photographers were awarded honorable mention in addition to the winners.

Be warned: Though the pictures are stunning, they're not for the faint of heart. See the winning photographs below:

​1. First-place winner

​2. Best in category: labor

​3. Best in category: delivery

​4. Best in category: postpartum

​5. Honorable mention

​6. Honorable mention​

​7. Honorable mention​

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