The raw, unfiltered truth of giving birth.
New mum, Autumn Benjamin, decided to show the world a real, unedited picture of the aftermath of giving birth. This photo shows the less joyful, less picture-perfect side of what it’s like to be a new mum.
The photo was snapped by Autumn’s partner, Kevin, two days after she had given birth to her new daughter, Layla.
Autumn was still in the hospital after having a very bad tear “all the way up and down, and also side to side.”
The picture shows her in huge hospital nappies (the ones that no one tells you about, Autumn points out), trying to breast feed her newborn while also trying to grab a bite to eat herself.
Autumn says that she debated uploading the post but in the end, she felt that this aspect of giving birth needed to be shared.
She describes her situation:
“I was in new territory. Learning to breastfeed this little human being that I just brought into the world. Wearing these big mesh panties, still sporting a pregnant belly… no one told me your belly doesn’t go down immediately. No one told me I’d be bleeding out.”
She talks about the conflicting emotions of the joy at finally meeting her baby but also the fear that she’s not safe inside her anymore.
Then there is the physical pain that mothers go through.
Of course, labour itself is painful but many women either have to have a C-section or they rip during labour, both of which add extra discomfort and recovery time after the birth. Autumn’s tear left her essentially helpless and unable to do anything by herself.
“The weeks following I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t use the bathroom. I wore these big depends diapers. I never thought I would be normal again. Kevin had to help me do EVERYTHING from pee, to walk upstairs.”
Autumn thinks that being a mum is the ultimate sacrifice.
She says that mums give up their dreams, their hobbies, future plans. They sacrifice what they need to put their children’s lives first.
“I used to be Autumn. Fun loving, crazy, outgoing Autumn. But now I’m Layla’s mama. And I’m okay with that.”
