Birth is a profound and beautiful experience, yet not everyone appreciates it in the same light. This has been made clear by a photographer, Mia Thompson, who has expressed her outrage after Instagram removed a serene birth photo from her account not once, but twice, for allegedly breaching their community guidelines.
Thompson, known for her work with Tiny Miracles Photography, shared an exquisite image capturing a home birth she photographed in Melbourne, Australia. In the original shot, a birthing mother is positioned on all fours, with her baby’s head emerging. Hoping to celebrate the raw beauty of childbirth, Thompson opted to crop the image to focus solely on the baby’s face and the midwife’s hands to avoid any potential censorship.
Four weeks ago, she uploaded the cropped image with the caption, “Look at this beautiful, precious baby emerging into the world, with amniotic fluid glistening.” Despite garnering hundreds of likes and positive feedback—including comments from parents who shared it with their children—the photo was swiftly reported and deemed inappropriate. Shortly after, Thompson found her Instagram account temporarily disabled, receiving a notification stating, “We removed your post because it doesn’t align with our community standards. Please review our guidelines to understand what is permitted on Instagram.”
Thompson recounted her feelings of frustration, saying, “I was furious. How could someone find this offensive? It was difficult not to take it personally.” As a young mother herself, Thompson believes in the power of birth photography to empower women. “I was terrified of childbirth at 17, having seen only dramatized versions in films. I want others to view authentic, strong portrayals of birth—the kind that highlight its normalcy and beauty.”
Determined to share her work, Thompson uploaded the image again. However, after receiving over 800 likes, it faced removal once more. She firmly believes that her photo did not violate Instagram’s policies and even reached out for clarification, but two weeks later, she has yet to hear back.
“My image was purely about the beauty of birth, without any sexual content,” Thompson pointed out. “It sparked meaningful conversations and portrayed the natural process of bringing life into the world.” She feels that sharing such images can help dismantle the negative stigma surrounding childbirth in society.
After re-uploading the photo for a third time, it has remained visible for a week so far. Still, the uncertainty of its future lingers. This incident raises questions about the societal stigma attached to birth imagery. While celebrities can freely post revealing photos, why are empowering images of childbirth considered inappropriate?
Ultimately, if some individuals find birth to be graphic, that’s their viewpoint, but it shouldn’t hinder others from sharing what are perfectly acceptable images. This situation reflects the ongoing skewed perceptions about women’s bodies and reproductive processes, showing that society has much work to do in appreciating the beauty of childbirth and motherhood.
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In summary, Mia Thompson’s experience with Instagram highlights the ongoing challenges of sharing birth imagery in a society that often stigmatizes it. Her commitment to showcasing the beauty of childbirth serves as a reminder of the importance of empowerment through authentic representations of women’s experiences.