By: Amy Xu

When Natasha (starred by Michelle de Swarte) has a baby drop from a cliff into her arms, she experiences the most eventful moment of her life. It’s clear from the start what the show hopes to convey- motherhood can be horrifying.

The Baby, a comedy-horror show, conveys the realistic aspects of motherhood such as the problems of raising children, pregnancy, labor, birth, and other struggles. This show’s release highlights that society is ready to confront more sensitive and untraditional topics.

“We were excited about the possibility of exploding cultural ideals around motherhood,” says co-creator Siân Robins-Grace, “and revealing the darker, violent, or oppressive forces at play in that kind of ideal account of what motherhood should be. The genre of horror obviously allows you to take that to a really extreme place.”

In white classic films such as Rosemary’s Baby, the wives are always cheerful mothers who are focused on their children. However, “The Baby” exhibits the emotions of a new parent: a life of anxiety, stress, isolation from others, and jealousy.

The anxiety that expecting mothers experience when hitting a significant decision in their life can be overwhelming. When one realizes that a child depends on them, one feels even more pressure. In the 2016 movie Prevenge, a mother’s fetus forces her to murder others to avenge her husband’s death. The power that the fetus has over the mother is terrifying for both herself and the audience.

Even though motherhood can be rewarding and exciting, society hides the dark parts of nurturing. Future mothers need to be aware of these aspects of parenthood and assured they’re not alone.