Navigating the New Normal: The Beginning of Motherhood

Becoming a mother is an experience I cannot fully prepare for. No amount of videos or conversations with other mothers can truly prepare you for the journey ahead. Even my previous experiences as a big sister, helping out with my siblings, or working as a nanny for different families did not fully equip me for the nuances of motherhood. In truth, you only learn certain things once you go through them yourself.

Starting with pregnancy, so many changes and feelings occur in your body and mind that you don't know how to react or understand them. Your body is tired, but you still have your life and things to do, even when you only want to lie down and rest. You start to feel heavy and hungry all the time, and in the beginning, you may experience pain and cramps because the baby is still fitting around your uterus. Most days, your mood is terrible, and you don't want to see people.

There are so many things going on, but you may feel alone because not all of your friends are experiencing this moment unless you are also pregnant. Your partner may not understand how to help or make things smoother because they don't fully understand how hard and incredible it is to generate a little human being.

During the initial stages of pregnancy, you may not feel any significant changes in your body as the hormones continue to affect you. However, a baby requires your complete attention, and you may find yourself forgetting who you are as your entire world now revolves around the little one. Your baby becomes the center of your universe, and everything else seems to take a backseat.

Pregnancy is a unique and transformative experience that can bring a variety of emotions and anxieties to each woman despite the abundance of love within us. When I found out I was pregnant, it felt like I had opened a portal to a new world filled with uncertainties. I was excited to welcome a new life into the world, but at the same time, I was anxious about how my body would change, how I would cope with the demands of motherhood, and whether I would be a good parent.

As the months passed, my entire world revolved around my son, even before his birth. I spent hours researching baby names and classes, reading parenting books, and preparing his room. I daydreamed about the moment I would finally hold him in my arms.

The changes that my body and life have gone through during pregnancy have given me a deeper understanding of the divine and unparalleled experience of motherhood. I have felt my body grow and change as it nurtured and protected my son. I have experienced the joy of feeling him kick and move within me and the anticipation of finally meeting him.

On the journey of motherhood, I was told that I would discover the greatest love in the world. That this love would be so unique and all-consuming. Being a mother has been an experience that has challenged me in ways I never thought possible, but at the same time, it has been the most rewarding experience of my life. The journey of motherhood has taught me patience, sacrifice, and unconditional love. Despite the sleepless nights, endless laundry, and constant worry, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Every day, I feel grateful for the opportunity to be a mother and to witness my child grow and flourish into a beautiful human being.