HÀ NỘI — A photo exhibition depicting the various emotions parents feel during the process touched visitors’ hearts in Hà Nội this weekend.

The exhibition comprising 100 large photos displayed on 2m-high frames took place during the weekend at the pedestrian zone around Hoàn Kiếm (Sword) Lake.

It attracted thousands of people, getting them involved in the journey of giving birth, showing the authentic experiences of becoming mothers and fathers.

The photos were divided into five sections, namely Waiting, Feeling sore, Crying, Touching and Breastfeeding.

Anonymous photographers captured the moments with the support of families giving birth at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The photos described the emotion and pain of mothers, the nerves of fathers and the happiness of the families when babies are born.

Vũ Bá Quyết, former director of the hospital, said the photos depicted memorable moments in parents’ lives.

“Raising children is a long process full of happiness, however, giving birth is the moment in which the happiness seems to be ignored due to terrible pain of mothers and nerves of fathers,” he said.

“Through the photos, we want to send a message that every moment should be respected. On the other hand, we expect that parents-to-be would gain positive emotions and prepare well for the important moment of giving birth. We want to soothe their pain and nerves.”

“When they know how the process will take place, and imagine what the characters in the photos feel, they would feel comfortable to join their own journeys and enjoy the ‘giving birth process’ completely,” said Quyết.

“Giving birth is a valuable experience. Parents who have children can recall their emotions and memories when they see these photos.”

A visitor to the exhibition recalled her own memory when giving birth at the hospital. In the pain, she heard the nurse shouting “nở rồi” (synonymously meaning hatched and bloomed already).

“It’s the most beautiful and humane word for me at that time, yes, my baby hatched out. At the other meaning, women giving birth are like flowers blooming to lengthen life on Earth.”

“Thanks to the great pain mothers suffer, the Earth has the most miraculous vitality,” she added.

After the event in Hà Nội, the exhibition will be moved to display at Crescent Mall, 101 Tôn Dật Tiên Street, HCM City on November 3-4. — VNS