A woman named Alex who does photography posted the photograph to her photography page and was not expecting the attention it drew. In the photograph, Alex’s friend Tammy Wright was holding onto the side of her hospital bed just after birthing her son. She clearly exhausted and in pain had accomplished something truly amazing. This photograph shows the side of child-birth that most people forget is there. Sure, it’s a magical experience but it’s also A LOT for a person to go through.
The post alongside this specific photograph was present in reads as follows:
“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. 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.
What do mamas really need? Meals dropped off, someone to watch baby so they can shower, solid childcare 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 mams. 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.”
This post has been shared over two hundred thousand times and really makes it clear that mothers are important too. While we might get caught up in the baby we need to remember that the mother matters. She struggles and needs help sometimes and we as her support system should do our best to be there for her.
This photograph has brought people together in an amazing way and really highlighted a struggle that most people do not realize is happening. While mothers do their best to keep things going and hold themselves properly, it is only normal to falter from time to time. The fact that this photograph was posted in black and white makes it all the more touching and it is extremely well done.
Alex when speaking to Good Morning America has as follows to say about the photograph and message she added to it:
“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. 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.”
“This was part of her story.”
GMA noted that while this was Tammy’s first natural labor and delivery she had two other children before this one. She told them that at that moment (the one captured in the photograph) she felt like her whole body was giving out on her. This is a feeling mothers know all too well.
Moms don’t get enough credit for the things they do and manage to keep up all the while going through the things life throws their way. They even when sick still get up to take care of their children and don’t get to just stop doing the things that they have to do. Mothers are some of the strongest people in this world but even they could use a little help sometimes.
Having a baby is a very emotional experience and not all of those emotions are positive. If you are close to someone who has just given birth be there for them. Make them a casserole or swing by and help them clean up a bit. Don’t leave them to fight this battle within on their own. They might not ask for your assistance, but they will appreciate it nonetheless.