Sara Farrow, 27, was scared of people seeing her newborn daughter Lacey-Dee Barrett in public because of the port-wine stain birthmark covering 90% of her body.
It was caused by the abnormal development of her blood vessels during pregnancy, and protective Sara was scared people would single out her daughter.
Tom Maddick/SWNS
So for the first six weeks of her life, single mom Sara covered her daughter's bright-colored skin and hid her away from strangers.
And when she posted photos of Lacey-Dee on Instagram, Sara said she used filters to mask the true color of her daughter's skin.
She only changed her ways when she became worried Lacey-Dee would look back on her baby photos when she is older and asked her mom if she was embarrassed.
But even when she finally plucked up the courage, Sara claims strangers told her her daughter looks “diseased" and "contagious."
Sara Farrow /SWNS.COM
Sara, from Lincoln, England, said:
"Until she was six weeks old I covered her up whenever we went out in public. As her mom obviously I am not bothered about her appearance but I was scared about what other people would think."
"When she was first born she was very red and looked bruised. I've had people say lots of things when we are out. I was scared of what people would think of me as a mum."
Sara Farrow /SWNS.COM
She added:
"People have said she looks diseased and have asked what's wrong with her face. One person asked 'is she allergic to the washing powder I use' and people think there is something really wrong with her.
"She is completely unique and it's just how she is. It makes her who she is and for me now it would be strange to see her without the birthmarks. I think she is beautiful and love how she looks."
Lacey-Dee was born at Lincoln County Hospital in April and Sara said she realized something was different straight away.
She had darker patches on her chest and doctors thought she may have been bruised.
Sara Farrow /SWNS.COM
Within hours, the birthmark appeared in full on the surface of Lacey-Dee's skin and Sara said initially it was "hard to come to terms with."
Former retail worker Sara said:
"It was only on her chest at first and we thought it might be bruising. But after a couple of hours her whole body turned purple and blue. It was a real shock to be honest and I was really worried because doctors weren't sure what was wrong."
She was referred to specialists and diagnosed with port wine stains in October.
Sara Farrow /SWNS.COM
Only three in every 1,000 babies are born with the condition which occurs during pregnancy, and usually only appear on one limb or area of the body.
Sara said she covered up as much of her daughter's skin with baby blankets, long sleeved clothing or hiding her away in her buggy.
"I just thought 'oh god' and it was hard for me to come to terms with," she said, adding:
"I was most worried about her face and I'm scared for her future. But it got to the point where I didn't want her to look back on baby photos and see I wasn't confident enough or I was embarrassed."
"I had to get brave for her sake as much as mine. I had to come to terms with it. I'm worried for when she goes to school. I don't want her to be called names or to be bullied."
Tom Maddick/SWNS
The condition comes with no other side effects, and Sara said Lacey-Dee is a “very happy" baby.
But she said when she is out and about she faces having to explain her daughter's discoloration.
Sara said:
"We went to the GP and a receptionist there said she should be kept in another room away from children playing in the waiting room in case she's contagious."
"It makes me feel bad but regardless of the birthmark, it doesn't change who she is. We have seen so many dermatologists and they all said this is the most extensive case of Port Wine Stains they have seen."
Tom Maddick/SWNS
Lacey-Dee will meet with specialists next month to see if she is eligible for color-corrective treatment.
Netflix describes the upcoming special on its show page:
"Amy Schumer spills on her new marriage, personal growth, making a baby and her mom's misguided advice in a special that's both raunchy and sincere."
Given the subject of the special, Schumer decided to share a promo poster to Instagram and Twitter on International Women's Day.
The poster draws definite inspiration from the "We Can Do It" World War II poster of Rosie the Riveter by J Howard Miller, and portrays pregnancy as empowering.
Schumer has been quite open about her pregnancy, and her exposed baby bump in the promo reinforces this idea that pregnancy isn't something shameful that needs to be hidden.
Quite a few people loved the poster, and the encouraging message that all bodies are beautiful.
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@amyschumer Amy, you big, tall, brilliant, funny, beautiful, gorgeous, sexy, leggy blonde bombshell, I LOVE ❤️ YOU!… https://t.co/yu6oRUUNyt— Hartley Pleshaw (@Hartley Pleshaw) 1552062713.0
@amyschumer You are gorgeous Amy. I cant wait to see your show soon— Jose Estrada (@Jose Estrada) 1552076405.0
@amyschumer Beautiful!!!!!!— Finney (@Finney) 1552079929.0
@amyschumer love this photo!— chelle (@chelle) 1552057256.0
One woman shared similar pregnancy photos.
@amyschumer #Twinning! This was me posing for my mothers artwork last year when I was pregnant. https://t.co/24QE6MOwWj— Michaela Lamy (@Michaela Lamy) 1552057847.0
Others were excited to watch the new special.
@amyschumer Omg this is awesome! 😍 and I can’t wait to watch!— Jennifer Correa (@Jennifer Correa) 1552057768.0
@amyschumer Can. Not. Wait!— Alison (@Alison) 1552060105.0
@amyschumer Yessssss Give me birthday gifts of laughter!!!— salima kamau (@salima kamau) 1552065621.0
@amyschumer I'm so excited!!! Love @amyschumer :3— Radeon9 (@Radeon9) 1552068542.0
@amyschumer Just watched @IFeelPretty very funny and sad, i shed a tear or 2...thoroughly enjoyed it 😍💕— Sisi (@Sisi) 1552087894.0
Some were also looking forward to Amy's future endeavors.
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Schumer's special will be available to watch on Netflix starting March 19th.
Lindsay Stauffer, a married mother of two, struck nerves when she shared her poignant and heartfelt memory of the day she gave birth.
Her husband's reaction to the birth had the most powerful effect on her.
She wrote about him in a Facebook post, recounting how the birth convinced her even further not just of her husband's love, but that he was meant to be both a father and provider.
Stauffer starts off with the following message:
"I was there the day you lost your heart."
"I watched you from across the dimly lit hospital room as you twisted and turned your body in every way imaginable, trying to get comfortable in the hard, stiff chair that would be your bed for the next few days. Your eyelids were heavy with exhaustion and rightfully so because the hands on the clock had moved into the wee hours of the morning."
"You'd been awake for almost twenty-four hours and yet you had stood by my bed arranging pillows and blankets to make me comfortable, leaned down to kiss my forehead, and told me to get some rest. I should've listened to you but I couldn't."
"Because just a few short hours ago we had officially become Mommy and Daddy, the evidence curled up and sleeping ever so soundly against your chest, and it had happened so quickly that my mind was in full sprint trying to catch up to the present."
She recalled how she felt watching her husband immediately adapt to fatherhood:
"And my heart?"
"It was busy taking in every single moment of you in your new role as Daddy. The way your eyes stayed fixed on our son's flawless newborn face, the way you studied his tiny fingers, the way you so carefully swaddled his little body, and the way you leaned down and whispered to him how much you loved him."
"Up until a few hours ago, you had only known this child through grainy, black and white photos and the sound of a strong, steady heartbeat but watching you with him now made it seem like you'd already known him forever.
I watched as you willingly gave up your comfort, your convenience, and your needs."
"And I watched as you gave up your heart."
"All for a sweet baby boy you'd known for only a few hours."
That was when things shifted:
"That was the moment I knew you would give anything for the precious, little life snuggled up against your chest, no matter what the cost."
"And husband? You haven't disappointed me."
"Not for a single second."
"You give when it's hard, when it's frustrating, when it's inconvenient, when it's uncomfortable, and even when we don't deserve it. But you never complain."
"Because giving isn't just what you do."
"It's who you are."
"You may question whether you're doing enough as a father and as a husband," she continues, before putting any concerns he might have about his abilities to rest:
"You may question whether you're doing enough as a father and as a husband, whether you're involved enough, whether you listen enough, whether you're strong enough, whether you love enough, but just know this:"
"We've never questioned you."
"We've always been sure of your love, not because you tell us, but because you show us. Your love shines through every act of selflessness and every sacrifice."
"You couldn't have loved us better."
"Not even if your heart was still completely yours instead of being held in the hands of the little ones who call you Daddy."
The post resonated with and touched the hearts of multiple women.
Stauffer's experience is only the latest to resonate with the online community.
In 2017, writer Juli Williams penned a similar post thanking her husband for all that he does.
"I want to thank you.
For holding my hair back as I hovered over the toilet those first few months of pregnancy.
For running out at 3AM to get me donuts because donuts make the happiest pregnant girls.
For letting me use all of your pillows so I could feel more comfortable sleeping with my big belly.
For holding my hand during labor to remind me how strong I am and how proud of me you are.
For rocking, swaying and bouncing our newborn even at 1AM, 3AM and 5AM so I could get some sleep.
I wouldn't be the mother I am today without you."
She proceeded to acknowledge him:
"I want you to know that I see you."
"I see how you stay up late at night looking for ways to provide for our family."
"I see that you've had a long day at work but still come home to happily put our baby to bed. And I see how she places her head on your chest and listens to your heartbeat as she drifts off to sleep."
"I see how you look at me when I take care of our child and how proud you are to see me grow into a new role before your eyes."
"I see how much you care about us and how hard you work to make us happy."
"I see you when you run to the drugstore at 2AM because I realized we were out of formula—again."
"Maybe our baby will grow up and not understand all you've sacrificed for us. But I want to let you know that I see you, and that."
"I know how much you pour into your work and to our lives together."
"I couldn't be the mother I am without you."
We're definitely better people after having read these. Kudos to all the fathers out there who are stepping up to the plate.