Becoming a mother has changed me. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. I knew it would but not really, nothing can prepare you for how much you change.

My pregnancy journey was fairly simple. We tried, I got pregnant. I was under the care of the endocrinologist to ensure my thyroxine levels were right but other than that all was well. I delivered my baby safely and in a moderate amount of time. Pushing my baby into the world will always be my favourite memory. It was that moment my life changed and I became a mother. And an hour later my life changed again. I haemorrhaged. I passed out and woke surrounded doctors. Four days later my life changed again when I developed Post partum Cardiomyopathy.

I’m lucky. I recovered. I’m incredibly lucky, my baby is healthy and an absolute joy.

Every mother’s journey is unique and every story matters. And it is these stories that this charity exhibition will tell.

Whether your pregnancy was easy or difficult. Whether you were induced, went into spontaneous labour, birthed vaginally or by c-section. Whether you were able to take your baby home or experienced devastating loss. Whether you were healthy and recovered quickly post partum or experienced postpartum illness. Your story matters.

This fundraiser will fund an exhibition that explores birth/ becoming mother stories of every kind, the positive, negative and even the banal. Raising awareness of issues that can arise in pregnancy, during labour and post partum, and help normalise birth.

The exhibition will include birth stories from an internet call out and also invite artists to create work based on their experiences of birth.

The exhibition will culminate in an auction of the submitted works, with the funds going to Three charities. Two of the charities will be selected by the public prior to the show, one relating to pregnancy and one relating to infant loss. The final charity will be the British Heart Foundtion, as chosen by myself as my experience was of pregnancy induced heart failure, one of the leading causes of maternal death.

Funds raised in this crowdfunder will go towards gallery costs and marketing with any remaining funds going to the charities.

Thank you for considering donating to this cause.