There’s no denying it – giving birth is tough.
But sometimes we forget about one of the toughest aspects of all – the aftermath.
New mum Autumn Benjamin has shared the stark reality of the aftermath of giving birth, sharing a photo to Facebook breastfeeding her newborn daughter while wearing “big mesh panties”.
“I was in new territory,” Autumn wrote.
“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.”
Autumn, who gave birth to her daughter Layla earlier this year, also wrote about suffering a bad rip due to her “quick delivery”.
"I was in so much pain," she wrote.
"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 diapers. I never thought I would be normal again," she added.
But it wasn't just the physical effects Autumn touched on in her post, she also shared the intense array of emotions she felt in the days following.
"No one told me that I would spend hours crying and full of emotion," Autumn said.
"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," she explained.
"Being a mum is the ultimate sacrifice."
Speaking to Mamamia, Autumn said the post's popularity has been "overwhelming".
Posted just last week, Autumn's eye-opening Facebook post has been shared over 120,000 times.
"The post was super vulnerable, but knowing that so many mamas can relate is huge to me," Autumn told Mamamia.
"Of course, there’s been a few negative comments. But for every one, there’s 100+ supportive comments," she said.
"I’ve heard some amazing stories from some amazing women. I’m completely humbled."
What was your after-birth experience like? Let us know down below.