Now, the award-winning series has been transformed into a book.

I think were discounting ourselves by portraying it in this way.

Maggie Shannon’sExtreme Pain, Extreme Joyis now available via theMother Tongue website.

“Extreme Pain, Extreme Joy” by Maggie Shannon

Photographer Maggie Shannon began photographing home births during the pandemic.

Extreme Pain, Extreme Joyis a documentary series on the birthing experience.

Her intimate black-and-white photographs show the raw emotion and realities of childbirth.

“Extreme Pain, Extreme Joy” by Maggie Shannon

A new book published by Mother Tongue includes text and never-before-seen images from the series.

“Extreme Pain, Extreme Joy” by Maggie Shannon

“Extreme Pain, Extreme Joy” by Maggie Shannon

Woman during a water birth by Maggie Shannon

Birth photography by Maggie Shannon

Birth photography by Maggie Shannon

Birth photography by Maggie Shannon

Birth photography by Maggie Shannon

“Extreme Pain, Extreme Joy” by Maggie Shannon