Motherhood is challenging, tasking, and takes a toll on even the best of mothers. No mother should be forced to return to work just days after giving birth to her child. Maternity leave is essential; babies need their mums to grow and nurture.
Today’s story is about Rebecca, a 26-year-old from the USA. She recorded a video and shared it on TikTok, a genuinely heartbreaking video showing her working and inability to be with her baby in the NICU because of how the system works.
A Mother’s Love, Tested
Rebecca’s baby, Eden, was born prematurely at 27 weeks. Because of her premature birth, Eden was kept in the NICU to help with her development. That, in itself, is enough for any mother to bear and go through. But things took a turn for the worse when she had to go back to work 12 days after giving birth to Eden!
This guy wrenching video really shows how distraught
And troubled this new mother is, unable to take care of her baby while trying to lay the bills .
In her video, Rebecca writes:
“You return to work 12 days after having a premature baby at 27 weeks, so that when she is eventually discharged from the NICU you can spend what little maternity leave you have with her.
“You try to pump at work every three hours, but they’re understaffed.
“Your milk supply is diminishing at 8 weeks postpartum.
“Will you even have milk available when she gets home?
“What do other NICU parents do? How can anyone afford to stay home during an NICU stay?
“How can anyone handle the guilt when you have to work and can’t be with your baby?
The sheer trauma and sadness can be seen so clearly on Rebecca’s face as she tries to get on with her day at work. Postpartum is a difficult situation for mothers – it can go from anywhere to depression, decreased milk production, and much worse. But this young lady didn’t give up.
Humanity Lives, Help Swiftly Arrives
After her video went viral on TikTok, showing the true power of social media – Rebecca received tremendous support from all over the world. People asked if they could send her money to help, strangers, friends, people who’d never met her chimed in to help out in any way they could – a pure showcase of humanity in the digital age.
After her video went viral on TikTok, showing the true power of social media – Rebecca received tremendous support from all over the world. People asked if they could send her money to help, strangers, friends, people who’d never met her chimed in to help out in any way they could – a pure showcase of humanity in the digital age.
In her video , looking much less stressed and calm she thanked her supporters wholeheartedly.
“So many of you have shown support, reached out, donated, which is crazy to me. It is absolutely not the responsibility of generous people like you to take on something like this on.
Jessica Reunites with Her Eden
Finally, after going through an incredibly tough time as a first-time mother, Jessica could hold her baby and be with her in the NICU. She posted a video, thanking everyone for all of their love and support. Baby Eden can be seen blissfully sleeping and making cute baby sounds as her mother embraces her.
She wrote in her video:
“TikTok… Because of you, I will not be forced to choose between being with my daughter in NICU or paying the bills. I am eternally grateful.”
Eden Comes Home
After ten long weeks in the NICU, Eden is finally home! Jessica shares their updates regularly on her TikTok – you should follow the mother-daughter duo here.
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