4-year-old’s raw photo of postpartum mom perfectly captures new motherhood

Sure, motherhood is beautiful, but it’s also a whirlwind of exhaustion, love, and unfiltered moments that only another mom could understand. One mother’s unintentional postpartum portrait—snapped by her 4-year-old—has taken the internet by storm, racking up 8.4 million views on Instagram and sparking an outpouring of support from moms everywhere.

Jessica Bailey, 38, had no idea her daughter was capturing one of the most honest depictions of new motherhood when she took a candid photo just days after Bailey gave birth to her third child. In the now-viral image, Bailey sits holding her newborn, her hair in a messy bun, wearing a hoodie, and—most importantly—sporting a look of pure postpartum bewilderment.

Bailey, who is from Southern California and posts on Instagram as @jessicabaileyhassan, waited a full year before sharing the picture online. And she had a very mom-reason for doing so.

“I knew it would resonate with other moms because having a new baby is such a unique experience,” she told Newsweek. “I didn’t want to still look like that when I posted it because that way, if anybody left mean comments about the way I looked, it wouldn’t hurt so much.”

Postpartum in one photo: Moms say this is “art of the highest caliber”

Since it was posted on January 3, Bailey’s Instagram Reel has amassed 430,000 likes and thousands of comments from moms who immediately felt seen.

• “Man it really embodies the postpartum experience 😂” wrote @andi.renee
• “This is art of the highest caliber 🤣 this should be in anatomy books to show what a woman in postpartum is like,” joked @migdallia_.

One user simply commented, “Honestly, I felt that look deep down.”

And it’s no surprise why. The early days of postpartum are unlike anything else—an emotional and physical rollercoaster of healing, sleep deprivation, and raw love. A 2019 John’s Hopkins study found that new mothers lose 1-2 hours of sleep per night in the first six weeks postpartum, which can significantly impact mood, cognition, and emotional regulation. Bailey’s expression in the now-famous photo? It captures that exhaustion perfectly.

Related: Pampering postpartum moms shouldn’t be a luxury—how can we make it accessible for all?

The internet can be harsh, but moms showed up for her

Despite her initial hesitation about posting the photo, Bailey was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming support she received from fellow moms.

“It turned out I didn’t get any mean comments at all,” she said. “The online community has been really supportive.”

As for her 4-year-old daughter, who unknowingly created a viral moment? She’s proving to be an exceptional big sister.

“She is an amazing big sister and was always protective of her sister since day one,” Bailey shared. “As a matter of fact, when the baby first came home, any time she would cry and I didn’t pick her up immediately, [she] would come over and be like, ‘Mom, your baby is crying, your baby is crying!’ She is really smart, sweet and caring.”

For many moms, Bailey’s unfiltered moment is a refreshing reminder that the postpartum experience isn’t always picture-perfect—and that’s exactly what makes it so beautiful.

Related: Why moms need to prioritize sleep—and how to make it happen

Sources:

1. Pregnancy mood disorders. Johns Hopkins Medicine  “Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression: Mood Disorders and Pregnancy”