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Instagram Censorship: The Battle Over Birth Photography
In the world of motherhood, birth is celebrated as a miraculous event. But not everyone seems to agree, especially when it comes to sharing those moments online. One photographer, Lily Harper, is voicing her frustration after Instagram removed her breathtaking birth photo not once, but twice, claiming it violated their “community guidelines.”
Lily, the creative mind behind Little Moments Photography, recently posted a gorgeous shot from a home birth in Melbourne, Australia. The original image captured a mother in the throes of labor, with her newborn just moments from arrival. Wanting to embrace the “real and raw” essence of birth, she decided to crop the photo, showing just the baby’s face and the midwife’s hands to avoid potential backlash.
She shared, “I uploaded the image with the caption, ‘Check out this adorable, squishy baby emerging into the world, with a little amniotic fluid on their face (I cropped it just to be safe).’” The post quickly garnered hundreds of likes and heartwarming comments. Some even mentioned sharing it with their children! But alas, the joy was short-lived as it was reported and deemed too graphic for the Instagram community. Just hours later, Lily found herself locked out of her account, receiving a notification stating, “We removed your post because it doesn’t follow our community guidelines.”
Lily was understandably furious. “How could anyone find this picture offensive? It’s a natural part of life! It’s hard not to take it personally.” A young mother herself at 17, she believes sharing birth photography is vital for empowering women. “As a young mom, I was terrified of childbirth, only knowing what I’d seen in movies, which is hardly realistic. I want to show the beauty and strength of birth, that it’s a natural process.”
After the first removal, she bravely reposted the image, and despite racking up over 800 likes, it was taken down again. She insists there’s “no way” it contravened Instagram’s rules and reached out for clarification, but two weeks later, no response had arrived.
“I genuinely believe sharing images like mine can help dismantle the unnecessary stigma surrounding birth culture,” Lily stated. “There was nothing inappropriate in my image—no nudity, no violence. It was all about fostering meaningful connections.”
She tried a third time, and so far, the image has remained live for a week. But will it last? This isn’t the first time photographers have faced censorship for birth images, raising the question: why is there such a stigma around depicting the beauty of childbirth?
It’s puzzling that while celebrities can post nearly anything, including nude photos, images celebrating the empowerment of women are deemed inappropriate. Sure, some folks may find birth graphic or uncomfortable, but that shouldn’t prevent others from sharing their beautiful experiences. It highlights a larger issue about how society views women’s bodies and the natural process of giving life; we still have a long way to go in changing perceptions around the beauty of birth and motherhood.
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In summary, Lily Harper’s fight against Instagram’s censorship highlights the ongoing struggle to normalize and celebrate the beauty of childbirth. Though her photo faced multiple removals, her determination to empower women through authentic birth imagery continues.