‘WHERE’S the girl with the list?’ is a question many people know will follow when someone online shares some randomly horrific fact about their pregnancy and childbirth.
The ‘list’ was compiled to emphasise the great stresses and strains women’s bodies go through during pregnancy and childbirth, and explain why mothers deserve the ultimate respect.

From losing teeth to developing chronic illnesses, the stories shared have been horrible. Below, Jamaican women share their own horrors of the changes to their bodies and lives during pregnancy and childbirth.

Joy 38:

I had a big baby, and thus required a C-Section. All was well during the procedure. But my child is now four, and I still can’t sleep on my stomach, because I still have weird, stretching pain in that area. My shoe size also went up a half size, I have zero short-term memory, and my eyesight is destroyed. My vision got so blurry after birth that the eye doctor thought I had diabetes. I did not. This child basically took my vision, and now I have glasses and so much trauma. I had 20/20 vision before pregnancy.

Christie, 35:

I lost two premolars which is embarrassing, because I can’t smile properly. I also have dental bone loss, and just a lot of dental problems, after having perfect teeth before. I had three kids each a year apart, and they were like parasites, devouring my calcium and enamel. My teeth are so weak that I was chewing bread once, and one broke. Also, the pregnancies made my mild scoliosis worse. Now I can’t sit or stand for long periods without horrible back pain.

Leah, 25:

Haemorrhoids, at my age! My daughter is two, and I still have haemorrhoids, because I birthed a nine-pound baby vaginally. No more kids for me, ever!

Marlesa, 33:

I lost lots and lots of hair. I didn’t even make the connection until my hairdresser told me about post-partum hair loss. My hair was falling out like I was on chemo. It just got better now, after three years.

Steph, 34:

I’m pretty sure that my pregnancies caused my ADHD and mental issues. I was absolutely able to cope before children. But once I had my second child three years ago, my mental health crashed. And I’m not talking about post-partum depression. Rather, I have issues that make me unable to function when I’m close to my cycle. I’m 100 per cent sure it was triggered by the pregnancies and only medication has helped me.