‘I’ve debated on this post for a while but I’ve decided I’d show the hard parts of the aftermath of giving birth, and the ultimate sacrifice mothers make from day one.’: Mom shares candid photo right after birth

More Stories like:

“I’ve debated on this post for a while, but I’ve decided that I’d show the hard parts of the aftermath of giving birth, and the ultimate sacrifice that mothers make from day one.

Kevin snapped this of me. This was two days after I gave birth to Layla. Eating my ‘nice meal’ provided by the hospital. An over cooked steak and sides. 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.

Woman who just gave birth breastfeeding newborn while holding fork with food on it
Courtesy Autumn Benjamin

No one told me that I would spend hours crying and full of emotion. I remember just laying there in the hospital bed crying. I was crying because my baby girl was finally here… FINALLY! But wait… that means she isn’t protected inside of me anymore. And that’s a scary feeling.

At which point, I think Kevin was at a loss. I realized that when I was being held by him in the hospitals shower and I was just crying uncontrollably. It’s all a blur but I do remember saying ‘she’s not safe inside of me anymore’ and that was a really hard thing to work through.

I was also in so much pain… no one tells you that typically with a ‘quick delivery’ comes a bad rip.

I ripped all the way up and down, and also side to side. 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.

Being a mom is the ultimate sacrifice.

You give up your body for 9 months to grow this little baby.

You go through labor and delivery.

You go through the emotions that come with childbirth.

Woman who discusses the difficulties after giving birth breastfeeds in hospital bed
Courtesy Autumn Benjamin

You let go of all shame as you walk around your house in diapers and ask your SO to spray warm water on your rip while you pee to avoid that burn.

You spend tireless hours latching your baby and feeding your baby to establish and keep up your milk supply because you want to breast feed SO. DAMN. BAD.

You remain patient through leaps, growth spurts, and cluster feeding.

But most importantly, moms give up who they were before they were a mother. Most moms give up a lot of their hobbies, dreams, and plans. Moms put their lives on hold, so their babies can live out theirs. We deal with so many emotions that we internalize- just so we can be mothers to our babies.

Don’t ever discredit a mother. You don’t know the half.

I used to be Autumn. Fun loving, crazy, outgoing Autumn. But now I’m Layla’s mama. And I’m okay with that.”

Newborn of mother who talks about struggles after giving birth asleep under blankets
Courtesy Autumn Benjamin

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Autumn Benjamin, 22, of Tennessee. Do you have a similar experience? We’d like to hear your important journey. Submit your own story here. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube  for our best videos.

Read more stories like this: 

‘Gabrielle, look at me.’ I burst into tears and told her I was struggling. ‘That’s it. I’m coming over. I’m taking the baby. You are going to eat and shower!’: Overwhelmed new mom thankful to friend for ‘showing the hell up’

‘Behind every successful woman is a tribe. A tribe of women who could choose to compete, but take the higher road of collaboration instead.’

‘I got the call at 6 p.m., left my kids with my husband and drove to her house with my socks crammed into my Birkenstocks.’: Mom urges others to ‘just show up’ when friends need you, ‘She didn’t need Pinterest, she needed me’

Provide beauty and strength for other moms. SHARE this story on Facebook with your friends and family.

 Share  Tweet