15 Mesmerizing Photos of Parents-to-Be Sleeping (Yup, Sleeping)

When photographer Jana Romanova tried to convince young, expecting Russian couples to let her shoot them while sleeping in their bedrooms early in the morning, they thought she was crazy — but a few open-minded individuals agreed to let her into their homes. So she climbed her ladder, held a camera right over their sleeping heads, and photographed them. Over and over again. Each couple portrayed is preparing to become parents in a few months, and the project investigates their attitude toward each other during the pregnancy period.

Anyone who's ever tried to get a good night's sleep while pregnant will no doubt relate to this project. I was instantly captivated, and not just because I could have never, ever shared a tiny twin bed with my husband when I was pregnant (let alone my body pillow), but mainly because each picture quietly represents the deep slumber before the wonderful storm that is having a newborn rolls into your home. So while the snaps pretty much guarantee that I will never let anyone take pictures of me while I'm passed out in my bed, luckily for us, these parents-to-be did allow Jana to creep into their homes and get a few stunning overhead shots of them.

Love what you see? Jana is currently raising money to fund a book of the images: Waiting (and you can also preorder the book and other goodies there too).

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Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

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Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

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Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

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Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

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Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

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Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

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Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

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Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

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Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

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Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

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Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

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Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

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Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be

Waiting: The Sleep of Parents-to-Be