Powerful Photo Of A Mom Moments After Giving Birth Highlights The True Pain & Struggle Women Go Through
A female photographer who captured a seemingly overlooked moment of a woman post-birth has sparked conversation among thousands on social media.
Alex Michele photographed her friend Tammy Wright of Jacksonville, Florida, after Wright welcomed a baby boy May 20.
Alex was with her friend as she had a natural birth with her third child, Christian Robert. But while everyone was distracted by the new-born, Alex snapped a photo of Tammy.
The incredible black and white photo showing Wright, a mother-of-3 grasping the hospital bed rails in pain and its powerful caption quickly racked up 170,000 shares on Facebook.
Alex wrote,
”In the hustle of the room I peered over at my friend bent over in pain. Baby had just been born and everyone was surrounding the miracle that happened before our eyes and naturally everyone was in awe of him. But I was especially in awe of her. I saw you, mama. I saw the pain in your eyes and in your face and in your body.”
She added that times have changed now, and there was more emphasis on the mum and their mental health.
”Because this is now a new season called postpartum. We tend to forget our mamas when babies are around. We ask how baby is, what does baby need, can we hold the baby, can we buy this for the baby but… what about mama?
Let us not forget the hard work she endured to carry this child AND the hard road ahead to mother and heal and feed and rest and parent her other children also.”
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She said what mums really need is someone to drop off hot meals, to look after their baby while they shower, people to help clean the house, coffees and comfy pyjamas – as well as a Netflix login.
”What do mamas really need? Meals dropped off, someone to watch baby so they can shower, solid child care for her other children, house cleaners to stop by and help out. Heating pads and coffee and comfy PJs.
Maybe fast food. Or a friend to fold laundry. Maybe a new movie to watch or your Netflix login. Let’s not forget the mamas. It’s just so easy to because women are incredibly strong and seem to have it all together but they need the support and the extra hands more than ever entering into that fourth trimester.”
In a chat with Good Morning America, Dove said:
“There were quite a few people in the room and everyone was surrounding the baby. I was taking photos and I turned around and I see Tammy [Wright].
She was [still] in a lot of pain. Nobody talks about that — what’s actually, physically going on. It’s not pretty. It’s messy, and postpartum is hard. People need to love on the moms.”
“I had to photograph her,” she added. “This was part of her story.”
READ ALSO: Professional Birth Photographers Show The Miracle Of Child Birth In Breathtaking Pictures
Wright said that was her third pregnancy, but her first time experiencing a natural labor and delivery. She shared:
“I felt like my whole entire body was giving out on me. I was a little anxious because I knew there was going to be so much on mine and my husband’s plates with three kids.”
Wright said she’s thrilled the photo ignited conversations about postpartum.
“It was that bond of womenhood and respect of everyone knowing it’s not an easy transition. It’s not talked about enough in society. [W]e act like we’ve got it all covered, but we need help. I think if it was talked about more, there would be less postpartum depression.”
Hundreds of people have commented on the photo, saying it perfectly sums up the stresses of motherhood.
One commenter shared her own experience on Dovel’s Facebook.
She wrote: “When our bodies don’t seem to go back to normal and your emotions so sensitive. This is hard.”
Another wrote: “This is the most beautiful post and so true. Not enough people pay attention to mama afterward.”
A third said: “It has brought back memories and tears to my eyes. We must not forget the mamas.”
This mum shared: “I would have loved any of this. Luckily my friend and midwife, Jenny, was there for me. Mums need help in those early days. Even peeing can be challenge.”
This person wrote: “I couldn’t agree more! That 4th trimester is always a struggle for me so I have made a mental note to myself to always ask the mama how SHE is doing!”
One person made a suggestion on how to lend a hand to a postpartum mom, “I always gift my mama friends spa gift cards and meals and stop by so they can go shower or I can do a chore.”
https://www.facebook.com/alexmichelephotography/posts/10156066330032019:0