A photographer has shared an incredible photo of a newborn baby with his attached umbilical cord shaped to spell out the word 'love'.
Emma Jean Nolan took the arresting image just 90 minutes after Harper Hoani Spies was born at 3.53am on Saturday 2 January.
Harper's mother, Jolene Spies, asked Nolan to share the resulting black-and-white image on Facebook just a few hours later.
Nolan captioned the post: "Welcome earthside sweet little Harper".
She explained that Harper's mother, Jolene Spies, would be burying his placenta in accordance with Maori tradition.
"As a Maori baby his placenta will now be returned to the land," wrote Nolan.
"The word 'whenua' relates to the placenta and to the land. Whenua (placenta) is returned to the whenua (land) with the pito (umbilical cord) the link between the newborn and papatuanuku(mother earth).
"With this affinity established, each individual fulfils the role of curator, for papatuanuku (mother earth), which remains life long."
Spies is descended from the Ngai Tahu iwi, a Maori tribe of the southern region of New Zealand. Her son's placenta will be buried under a totara tree on his grandfather's farm in Auckland.
Nolan explained that shaping the cord was not a simple endeavour.
"I spent quite a bit of time shaping it into the word love," she wrote.
"It was the 'e' that was the trickiest!"
Nolan told Stuff she'd received a mixed reaction to the post:
"There will always be people who will be shocked or 'disgusted' by the sight of the placenta, and that is ok," she said.
"But many people can see the beauty in the image of the connection to life. The placenta may not be beautiful in appearance but it is beautiful in its existence and its work."
"We all owe our life to a placenta."
Nolan asked other parents to share how they'd "honoured" their placentas on Facebook.
Ian Rush who is from Warwickshire, England, but lives in New Zealand, commented: "You can do this in England.
"It is unusual to ask for the placenta, but we did and is buried under a beautiful maple in me mam's wee garden."
Newborn Photos Every Parent Needs To Take
1. First Family Photo(01 of19)
Open Image ModalThis shot is a no brainer! Once your newborn is here, this is one happy family moment you won't want to miss. After all, the birth of your child is no small milestone. (credit:Pinterest)
2. In The Hospital Basinet(02 of19)
Open Image ModalLikewise, it goes without saying that taking a photo of your newborn at the hospital is a must. After all, these are his or her very first moments of life! (credit:Pinterest)
3. Sleeping(03 of19)
Open Image ModalThere’s really nothing sweeter than a beautiful, sleeping newborn baby. (credit:Pinterest)
4. Siblings(04 of19)
Open Image ModalWhen you welcome another newborn, it’s important that your other children bond with the baby. A great way to do this is to take some tender sibling shots. Ask your kids to hold the baby, lie beside them, hold their hand, or kiss them. The results will be some incredibly sweet and heartwarming pictures you’ll be so glad you caught on camera. (credit:Pinterest)
5. Group Shot(05 of19)
Open Image ModalHere's another sweet example. But be careful, this one can go very, very wrong! (credit:Pinterest)
6. Yawning(06 of19)
Open Image ModalHave you ever seen a newborn yawn? It’s just about one of the cutest things on earth. If you just so happen to be taking a photo at the right time, these shots can be truly wonderful keepsakes. (credit:Pinterest)
7. Stretching(07 of19)
Open Image ModalSpeaking of yawning, stretching is just as adorable when you catch your newborn in the moment. This photo proves it. (credit:Pinterest)
8. Eyes Open(08 of19)
Open Image ModalRemember the first moment your newborn opened their eyes and looked up at you? Of course you remember! That’s one of the most special moments you'll share with your child and I guarantee it’s one you’ll cherish forever. To capture that memory in a photo, take a picture of your little one with their eyes open. Then, every time you look at the picture, you’ll be reminded of the first time they looked at you. (credit:Pinterest)
9. You And The Baby(09 of19)
Open Image ModalDon't forget to get a picture of you and the baby! Sometimes if you're the photographer in the family, this photograph is often overlooked. (credit:Pinterest)
10. Partner And Baby(10 of19)
Open Image ModalLikewise, getting a picture of your partner and your baby is equally important! (credit:Pinterest)
11. Baby Hair(11 of19)
Open Image ModalBaby hair is a unique thing because it changes so quickly. Capture your little one’s hair in all its glory as soon as they’re born. Your kids will love looking back at these photographs and having a laugh! (credit:Pinterest)
12. Funny Onesie(12 of19)
Open Image Modal13. In Grandma's Presents(13 of19)
Open Image ModalPlus, these photos will be hilarious in 20 years time! (credit:Pinterest)
(14 of19)
Open Image ModalAnd here (perfect for twins!). (credit:Pinterest)
14. Feet(15 of19)
Open Image ModalWe can’t deny that newborn feet are the cutest and are often what sparks our incessant baby talk! Capture these adorable, little feet and toes so you’ll always remember just how tiny your kids once were. (credit:Pinterest)
15. Hands(16 of19)
Open Image ModalAnd remember: tiny hands are just as precious, too! (credit:Pinterest)
16. Family Portrait(17 of19)
Open Image ModalNo family is complete without a portrait! Welcome your new baby home by taking a photo of everyone in the family: mom, dad and siblings! What's great about this shot is that you can get as creative as you like! (credit:Pinterest)
17. Silly Photos(18 of19)
Open Image ModalBeing silly and having fun is all part of making memories together. So why not get a little silly with your newborn photos? Your little one will never be this small again, so you might as well take advantage of this time while you can. Take this shot for example. (credit:Pinterest)
(19 of19)
Open Image ModalAnd finally, this.(Note: This is a professional photo and difficult for parents to safely get. So be sure to save this one for the pros!) (credit:Pinterest)