See the Gorgeous Photos That Tell a Tragic Birth Story

Photographer Amber Fife tells her clients that she is available at any time, should the mom-to-be go into labor earlier than expected. Families who are expecting hope for the best — to go to full term and deliver a healthy baby — but that isn't always the case, so the birth photographer makes herself available.

When Amber's friend Sarah received news at 23 weeks pregnant that she'd needed to be on bedrest until her December due date, Amber hoped for the best — that she wouldn't get a phone call about an early delivery any time soon. But Sarah went into labor the next night, and the doctors gave the baby a five percent rate of survival rate. Sarah's baby boy was delivered via C-section, and two hours later, Amber and Sarah's husband, Bryan, were able to see him.

His tiny one pound, five ounce body was tangled up in wires, with doctors surrounding him, trying to keep him alive. Amber left to give the family alone time while they waited the night out, and hoped, once again, that she wouldn't get another phone call — but again, the phone call came.

Sarah and Bryan's sweet little boy lived for six-and-a-half hours, and Amber photographed his last minutes, with his mom and dad holding and kissing him. Though this story is truly tragic, Amber — and the family's — wish in sharing the photos is that "they bring compassion, hope, gratitude, and healing for anyone they can."

Read through to see the beautiful images.