This Beach Maternity Photo Is Unlike Anything You've Ever Seen

There are maternity photos, and then there are maternity photos. This shot, taken by photographer Simone Paruta several years ago, has resurfaced online — and with good reason.

The image shows a naked pregnant woman lying in the sand on the beach, just steps from the ocean. What makes the photo so extraordinary, however, is that — thanks to some thoughtful digging and her fetal position — she appears as if she's a baby in the womb, with the umbilical cord opening into the expanse of the water in front of her. It's truly awe-inspiring.