Moa Karlberg, from Stockholm, attended labours in Sweden and Tanzania for her series of black and white pictures called Hundred Times The Difference, staying with the mothers during those life-changing moments anywhere from ten minutes to 18 hours.

While in Europe the mothers took advantage of painkillers, nitrous oxide and a stream of medical help, while the women in Tanzania were in clinics lacking basic medical essentials like blood supplies or formula and were often too far from any trained midwives.

But despite the dramatically different circumstances, Moa told FEMAlL: 'I was struck by the many similarities of women's expressions. Everybody goes through the same physical phases, even though Swedish women use painkillers and nitrous oxide that most Tanzanian women don't have access to.

'It is when complications arise that the external disparities become more obvious.

Many Tanzanian clinics lack resources and equipment like specialists, anesthesia, blood supplies, premature care and infant formula. Some women are just too far from any clinic or skilled birth attendant. These are leading factors causing maternal deaths.'

The pictures are incredibly personal but Moa observes: 'These photos show only faces – no private body parts, blood or any other revealing details. I find it interesting that people, including myself, find photos of faces even more intimate than naked bodies. A facial expression tells a lot, and most people can identify with that.

'When I took the photos it felt less invading to focus on the women's faces than other body parts. A birth is a private moment that most people only witness when their own children are born.

In many of the photos, the Tanzanian women look calmer and more relaxed than their Swedish counterparts, which Moa says could be about the stage of their labour - and whether the women had a room of their own.

(Source & Pics - Daily Mail )