Oh Me, Oh Mãe (2020-)

I began Oh Me, Oh Mãe after giving birth to my daughter, B, in June 2020.

As I had made a project about my pregnancy, I wanted to document early motherhood whilst being as honest as possible about my experiences. The images are accompanied by diaristic text (either in the form of hashtags or 'normal text').

Mãe is Portuguese for mother (B is British-Portuguese).

(Below are a selection of images)

I am posting all the images & text to my Instagram account, and blog.

5 Hours Before Giving Birth

5 Hours Before Giving Birth II

24 Hours After Giving Birth

24 Hours After Giving Birth II

What I Wore For My Four Night Hospital Stay After Giving Birth (19th June 2020)

#WeHadPackedTheBagJustInCaseACoupleOfWeeksPreviouslyEvenThoughWeWerePlanningForAHomeBirth

#IThoughtAtLeastEverythingIMightNeedEvenForHomeWouldBeInTheSamePlace

#IKeptSayingWeShouldRevisitThemButWeNeverGotRoundToItEspeciallyAsSomeThingsWeNeededForEverydayUse

#SoWhenICalledTheHospitalToSayMyWatersHadBrokeTheySaidToBringBagsInJustInCase

#WeSpentHalfAnHourRushingRoundButIDidNotTakeItTooSeriously

#INearlyDidNotPackThisDressAsItWasWhatIWasWearingInBedWhenMyWatersBroke

#ItWasALittleWetAndItDidNotSmellSoIPutItInMyBagThinkingIWouldBeComingHomeSoonForMyHomeBirth

#WellObviouslyIDidNotComeHomeAndWasInHospitalFor4Nights

#AndILivedInThisDress

#ICouldHaveAskedTiagoToBringMoreThingsButByTheTimeIThoughtAboutItIKnewMyStayWasComingToAnEnd

#OriginallyIWasInHospitalDueToProblemsWithBreastfeedingAndThenBabyBGotJaundice

#TheDressShowsColostrumStainsAndThenMilkStainsAfterMyMilkCameInOnDay3

#ItWouldHaveBeenEvenMessierThanThisButOftenISatWithMyDressOffToDoSkinToSkin

#SoManyWomenTouchedMyBoobsDuringMyStayToHelpMeTryToFeedSoIDidNotCareAnymore

#PlusAround6PeopleWereAtTheBirthPlusTiago

#ItWasWeirdToSuddenlyBeAroundSoManyPeopleAfterHavingNotSeenMyFamilyFor3MonthsDueToCovid

#MyCurtainWasNeverFullyClosedAsThereWasALightSwitchJustBehindItThatTheHospitalStaffUsed

#SoPotentiallyPeopleCouldSeeInButIReallyDidNotCare

#AfterAFewDaysIThoughtIBetterWearSomethingElseButItWasTooHot

#TheOtherWomenOnTheWardProbablyJudgedMeForWearingAStainCoveredDress

#ButSoManyCameAndWentBeforeMe

#IDidNotWearMyWatchBecauseOfBreastfeeding

#ISometimesWoreANursingBraButInTheBeginningIDidNotAndThenIUsedBreastPadsOnceMyMilkCameIn

#IHadMyEyeMaskOnMyHeadAllTheTimeAndEvenAfterIGotHome

#TheJokeWasIWasNotSleepingThoughAndIStillAmNotReally

#IBoughtItAsItWasOnARecommendedHospitalListButIAlsoThoughtItWouldBeGoodForHomeAsIFindItHardToSleep

#ItWasProbablyTheMostUsefulThingInMyHospitalBagInTheEndAndIAmUsingItAtHome

#AndThenIWasGladThatIWoreMySandalsAndNotTrainers

#SoEasyToJustSlipOnAndOffAndMoveAbout

#IHaveJustLivedInSandalsForAllOfLockdown

Breastfeeding, Bottle Feeding, Whatever Feeding (26th June 2020)

I Feel Like I Am Definitely A Changed Person – I Am Wearing Cleaning Gloves (1st July 2020) I

I Feel Like I Am Definitely A Changed Person – I Am Wearing Cleaning Gloves (1st July 2020) II

I Feel Like I Am Definitely A Changed Person – I Am Wearing Cleaning Gloves (1st July 2020) III

With My Child In My Childhood Home (6th July 2020)

My Baby Is A Brick Wall (14th July 2020)

Stuck (Don’t Wake The Baby) (4th August 2020)

Don't wake the baby

I want to make lunch

Don't wake the baby

I want to get up

Don't wake the baby

My phone's about to die

Don't wake the baby

My arm is stuck

Don't wake the baby

I removed my arm

Don't wake the baby

I woke the baby

I Am Worried That Someone Will Say I Am Holding Her Wrong (11th August 2020)

They Say That It Takes A Village To Raise A Child, But We’re Cut Off From The Village (7th October 2020)

Imitating B Trying To Eat Her Toes (24th November 2020)

Weaning Has Been Really Stressing Me Out (13th December 2020)

Imitating B’s One Red Cheek (19th December 2020)

I Have Started To Balance Things On My Head For B’s Amusement (30th December 2020)

Imitating B Trying To Eat Her Pan/Drum During Online Baby Classes (10th February 2021)

Previous Project: Waiting For Things... (2019-20)

5 Hours Before Giving Birth

5 Hours Before Giving Birth II

24 Hours After Giving Birth

24 Hours After Giving Birth II

I Feel Like I Am Definitely A Changed Person – I Am Wearing Cleaning Gloves (1st July 2020) I

I Feel Like I Am Definitely A Changed Person – I Am Wearing Cleaning Gloves (1st July 2020) II

I Feel Like I Am Definitely A Changed Person – I Am Wearing Cleaning Gloves (1st July 2020) III

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