Shortly after giving birth to my son at the end of September, 2020 I posted a story on my Instagram account asking whether anyone I knew had experienced issues pertaining to postpartum recovery specifically the role of the pelvic floor muscles; its recovery and function in the body. At the time I really had very little understanding of what this muscle group did and how it ensured the functionality of the bladder, bowel and uterus (pelvic floor organs). My antenatal appointments did not focus on this muscle group, the main role of these were to monitor the baby and check overall health. The midwife asking at the very end of each appointment whether I was ‘doing my pelvic floor exercises’ felt like a throw away comment which I flippently half paid attention too.
The responses I received from this call out generated not only an immediate community of support for the sad and confusing postpartum recovery that faced me but a sounding board and space of consciousness that ultimately felt missing from the usual post-childbirth / new parenthood conversations. I commenced several deep and thorough conversations via Instagram messenger initially all of which highlighted the need to create a project to raise further awareness of the issues felt by new parents, the loneliness of this space and the confusing experience of dealing with a postpartum body.
Having spent a good few months chatting to several women I sent out an ‘open call’ style offer to be included in this project to 5 mothers whom I felt would be the most receptive to vocalising their experience publically. What ensued was the creation of a place, a home, a site of safety and security for these tales ultimately leading to progress, rejuvination, rest, recovery and rehabilitation. Sharing our experiences via Instagram messenger, FaceTime, Zoom, phone calls and the occassional face to face physical meeting (pandemic allowing) transformed into a remarkable passage. This experience lifted the veil or shroud of secrecy surrounding the painful place of vulnerability and fragility created as a result of childbirth. As I got to know each story and each person more through this experience it became clear to me how strong and courageous they have been when faced with a physical form that didn’t feel right, looked different or seemingly didn’t ‘work’ as it might have done. These voices became not only crucial supports for my own recovery but I hope through the process of listening and messenging I became a support unit for their own journey.
Each mother has spoken to me bluntly, brutally and with support and conviction about their antenatal journey, childbirth experience and postpartum space, how they feel now and where they want to go from here / what they have learnt. I listened, took notes and sent these to the mother for their own attention- they were then charged with the task of writing their own story in their own voice, something I couldn’t do. It was then that these tales were handed to Rosa who diligently created the fantastic visuals you see below and throughout the micro-site.
I would like to thank all the Mums for their involvement- some may be anonymous, some may have their names attached to their story- each have shown me so much time, respect and support, not only this but more importantly they provided reassurance that what I was experienceing was reasonable- the latter of which was and is utterly indispensible.
Design
Having followed Rosa via her Instagram account for several years I knew that she would be best placed to understand, negotiate and interrogate the complicated subject matter and ideas being faced by people during their postpartum experience. I set up a Zoom call and immediately saw how Rosa’s inbuilt feminism understood the brief and sympathetically valued how I was personally feeling as a result of childbirth. She’s taken the time to read and research each piece representing the texts thoughtfully and with conviction. I’d like to thank Rosa hugely for taking the time to do this work- full image gallery of her illustrations available below and throughout the site.
‘Slow’ project images (scroll to view)
All images © Rosa Gamsu
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