Words to help you through the first few days of motherhood
On Friday 29 May, fourteen paintings were donated to the maternity ward at Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital. The works were created by a group of young mothers to bring comfort to the women who, in turn, will stay in these rooms after giving birth.
Two days before Mother’s Day, new pictures appeared in the maternity ward. A total of fourteen pictures, one for each room, will soon adorn the walls of the ward. The initiative began in Room 14, explains Noémie: “I came up with this idea after giving birth and thought, why not suggest it to other mums?” Jenny, Luna, Anaëlle, Éléa and Agathe then joined in. “I took care of the design and asked the mums to focus on the message they wanted to convey,” explains the young woman. Inside each frame are kind words written in French, English and Spanish, to offer comfort to expectant mothers in hospital.
A project born of mutual support
Beyond the pictures, this initiative is based above all on a story of connection. During the Covid period, exchanges between midwives and new parents had largely taken the form of WhatsApp groups. This spirit of mutual support continued thanks to Éléa, who brought together several mums who had given birth between December 2025 and April 2026. “I felt very lonely during my pregnancy, far from my family. I thought that together, we’d be stronger,” she says. A group was then formed, and every Thursday these women meet up with their babies. It’s a get-together that allows them to chat, of course, about their children, but also about all the changes motherhood has brought to their daily lives.
Towards a mothers’ association
A project that has helped forge friendships and strengthen the bonds between these young women. They all now hope that this initiative won’t remain a one-off. Éléa would like to take it further by setting up an association that will continue even when their children are older. “The aim isn’t for this to be a fleeting thing. I’d like to establish a club that lasts, with a real turnover of members so it doesn’t become stuck in one generation,” she explains. For now, these fourteen pieces already bear witness to the strength of the group, and they all hope that these few words hanging on the walls will help future mums remember that, despite the many challenges that await them as parents, they are not alone.
