Last week, Lindsay, our Community & Engagement Manager, was honoured to attend Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA)’s incredible exhibition “This is Also Motherhood” in beautiful Berkley Square.
Pregnancy Sickness Support is a proud member of the MMHA and we were delighted to be invited to be support this extraordinary exhibition.
Lindsay’s experience
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from ‘This is Also Motherhood as I don’t attend Art Exhibitions very often. And what a delight it was! The crisp November weather added to the festive vibe as I walked along to Berkeley Square surrounded by Christmas lights and the usual hubbub of a Tuesday afternoon in London.
The exhibition was stunning. 10 incredible women. 10 unimaginable stories of a different experience of pregnancy, birth and motherhood. 10 examples of strength and bravery in the face of challenges many of us could never comprehend ranging from fertility issues through Hyperemesis Gravidarum to heartbreaking loss due to TFMR and post partum Psychosis. The diversity in experiences was carefully considered and it was wonderful to see representation from Neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ voices which are rarely heard in the usual stereotypes of the perinatal period. Each story different but with parallels of isolation, an unexpected reality rarely discussed and an experience that left wounds these women still carry today.
There were 2 sections to the exhibition. The first was a compilation of lots of experiences that were shared including photos and text, along with an area that looked like a washing line and incorporated hand written testimonials of women who had difficult pregnancy or birthing experiences which were displayed on pegged muslins. Muslins are often synonymous with the newborn stage and act as a pointed reminder that while all our experiences are individual, some things are universal and it’s these that connect us all.
The main part of the exhibition was beautiful and striking. Made up of simple photograph portraits alongside a representation of the trauma experienced and a card with a QR code to listen to the voices of each woman. All set against a fresh white, even clinical backdrop which created the most powerful image of Motherhood; Individual; Strong; Standing alone; And in the words of the recent movie Wicked, Changed for good.
During the afternoon, we were lucky enough to meet with the participants and the artist, Carolyn Mendelsohn, both as we were walking around the exhibition and also during a panel discussion and talk. Carolyn spoke with such warmth and openness about how cathartic this project had been for her own experience of becoming a mother after a rocky start that she hadn’t faced until now. The participants all spoke with confidence and positivity about not only the Exhibition but also the impact of their various challenges and how they had turned their pain into something positive. The project took 9 months from start to finish which feels like a wonderful parallel of the pregnancies it was designed to represent.
I chose not to listen to the stories whilst at the exhibition as I wanted to be able to give them my full attention (and didn’t fancy sobbing through the panel talk!). They are all available along with all the photos from the exhibition at www.alsomotherhood.com and I would urge you to take a look. The stories are powerful and to hear the voices of those in the photos isn’t something that often happens in photography exhibitions so it adds a layer of depth and emotion to the work.
The inclusion of a story about Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) feels important. So often the condition we know so well is invisible, excluded from conversations about perinatal trauma and dismissed as a normal part of pregnancy. But highlighting HG alongside other forms of perinatal trauma gives it the credibility we deserve. A seat at the table. A chance to be heard. So thank you to MMHA and to Karah who bravely shared her story about HG and while she didn’t seek support from PSS, the opportunity for others to find us through signposting from the exhibition is one we couldn’t refuse.
Whilst this exhibition was a tiny sample of the many experiences women and birthing people have during their journey into motherhood, it was a valuable insight into the impact of this time. The people who care, the voices that judge, the systems that either harm or help and specifically, the recognition that these moments matter. Every interaction is an opportunity to make things better for women in the perinatal period (from preconception to a year after birth) or make things worse.
We know that our maternity system is in difficulty. The Maternity Investigation is currently ongoing and those of us who work within the perinatal space can foresee what it will show…But all of these issues are having an impact on individual women right now. Change can’t come quickly enough for those women navigating the maternity system today. And that starts with understanding that the experiences women have during their pregnancy, birth and postnatally, have a lasting impact on them and their families. We need to take great care and ensure that systems change for the better.
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