Motherhood¤

Motherhood brought a new dimension to Mayra’s life; one filled with unexpected joys and challenges. “Now I read e-books,” she says with a laugh, describing the creative ways she navigates holding her baby while indulging her love for reading.

But her tone shifts when discussing the weight of postpartum realities.

“After the joy of meeting my son for the first time, I felt a tidal wave of responsibility. It was overwhelming like carrying the world on my shoulders.”

Mayra is unflinchingly honest about postpartum struggles, emphasizing the importance of community and support.

“In Angola, as in many African countries, women are surrounded by care after giving birth. It’s a form of therapy an unspoken acknowledgment that motherhood isn’t meant to be faced alone.”

She contrasts this with the isolation many women face in Western cultures, urging new mothers to seek help, talk openly, and find sisterhood in unexpected places.