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Motherhood

Postpartum and the powerful picture that has gone viral

Postpartum and the powerful picture that has gone viral

I prepared myself in every way I knew how for my first baby. I took classes. I read books. I connected with moms. And though nothing can truly prepare you for motherhood, I can honestly say I had a smoother transition to it than my personal recovery. Baby blues. Sleepless nights. Painful recovery.

That’s why I love this photographer who captured a seemingly overlooked moment of a woman post-birth has sparked conversation among thousands on social media.

Alex Dovel, owner of Alex Michele Photography, photographed her friend Tammy Wright of Jacksonville, Florida, after Wright welcomed a baby boy May 20.

The black and white picture showing Wright grasping the hospital bedrails and its powerful caption quickly racked up 170,000 shares on Facebook:

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 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.

Be kind to yourselves, Mamas, and remember to look out for your fellow warriors. 

Amber Johnson
Author: Amber Johnson

Amber is the founder and editor of Mile High Mamas, travel writer and former columnist for The Denver Post. She is a passionate community builder and loves the outdoors. She has two awesome teens and is happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin.

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Amber is the founder and editor of Mile High Mamas, travel writer and former columnist for The Denver Post. She is a passionate community builder and loves the outdoors. She has two awesome teens and is happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin.

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