I began Oh Me, Oh Mãe after giving birth to my daughter in June 2020.
As I had documented 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').
The title is a play on the phrase 'oh me, oh my' as Mãe is Portuguese for mother and pronounced as 'myy'.
(Below are a selection of images)
I am posting all the images 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)
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
Not Sleeping Makes Me Emotional (25th June 2020)
Not Sleeping Makes Me Emotional (25th June 2020)
I really don’t know how long I slept last night
But I didn't rest much
Tiago went 'back to work' today
Paternity in this country is so bad
So bad that he took 1 week of it and 1 week of annual leave
He was only in the other room but I felt alone
Feeding seemed never ending this morning
Then she settled in a wrap
When we took her out Tiago commented on how red her legs were
I didn't want to look
I was getting hungry and I just got upset
I should be lying down more
Now I am getting tired
When I took this picture I was worried that I was not producing enough milk
I hadn't eaten and I had barely drank
It's a big responsibility making sure she gets enough to eat/drink.
I can see why people give up or just bottle feed
I guess I do forget that I can just breastfeed rather than express
Though I have started to do a bit of both
Maybe I should just try breastfeeding her and see how that goes
Less stressful than running round trying to pump
Lockdown just makes it all so weird
She is 2 weeks old and I am yet to go for a walk
Hopefully we will tonight but I say that every night
I guess usually we'd get more support
I just feel like I have 1000 things to do
But I need to focus on my family.
I really don’t know how long I slept last night
But I didn't rest much
Tiago went 'back to work' today
Paternity in this country is so bad
So bad that he took 1 week of it and 1 week of annual leave
He was only in the other room but I felt alone
Feeding seemed never ending this morning
Then she settled in a wrap
When we took her out Tiago commented on how red her legs were
I didn't want to look
I was getting hungry and I just got upset
I should be lying down more
Now I am getting tired
When I took this picture I was worried that I was not producing enough milk
I hadn't eaten and I had barely drank
It's a big responsibility making sure she gets enough to eat/drink.
I can see why people give up or just bottle feed
I guess I do forget that I can just breastfeed rather than express
Though I have started to do a bit of both
Maybe I should just try breastfeeding her and see how that goes
Less stressful than running round trying to pump
Lockdown just makes it all so weird
She is 2 weeks old and I am yet to go for a walk
Hopefully we will tonight but I say that every night
I guess usually we'd get more support
I just feel like I have 1000 things to do
But I need to focus on my family.
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)
