“I don’t think a post on Instagram is going to make me lose my baby. It’s that trusting my own happiness is a whole mess of memories and emotions.”
‘I was super excited to post my announcement, but instead of pressing the button, I burst into tears.’: Woman candidly shares reality, anxiety of pregnancy after loss
Dear Postpartum Body—Despite Everything, I Still Love You
“I’m sorry I tuck you into high-waisted leggings so no one sees the excess skin that held my beautiful babies. I’m sorry for hating the way my hips grew in order to bring two children into this world.”
‘I think there’s something wrong with me. I know I should love her, but I just don’t feel anything.’: First-time mom shares battle with postpartum anxiety, intrusive thoughts
“I was never the woman who saw her baby on the screen and fell rapturously in love. I figured it would come once we met in person. It didn’t. And I felt terrified and ashamed. What mother doesn’t love their child at first sight?!”
‘I heard myself saying, ‘I’m just a wife,’ ‘I’m just a mom.’ Why do I diminish myself?’: Mom reflects on the importance of self-worth
“Let’s knock it off. Life’s hard enough without us being hard on ourselves.”
‘I preach body positivity and talk about embracing flaws, but the second I look at myself, all that goes out the window.’: Mom shares journey accepting and loving her body
“Our bodies are amazing. They are full of life and love and laughter, and it’s time we start looking at ourselves as a vessel of incredible emotions, ideas, and thoughts rather than just a pretty or not-pretty face.”
Everything I Wish I Knew Before Getting Pregnant With My Rainbow Baby
“Getting pregnant after a miscarriage can be triggering, but be gentle with yourself.”
Be Kind To Her, She Is Pushing As Hard As She Can
“She’s told herself she should do more, but she’s stuck sitting on her kitchen floor. Come see her and bring her a tea, remind her of what she cannot see. Sit beside her and be a friend. Tell her that this is not the end.”
‘Your baby girl isn’t growing properly.’ My daughter doesn’t need changing. This world does.’: Mom to daughter with dwarfism advocates for inclusion
“Without much explanation, the doctor headed back to her office to look over the measurements, leaving me to delve into Google. Without enough info, full of fear and armed with nothing but shock and anxiety, I stumbled upon scary statistics, a lack of information and words that seemed jumbled on the page.”
It’s Time We Start Assuming The Best Of Mothers
“If you truly want to help her, hold back the little remarks that probably make her feel criticized. She needs time to be a person… and she needs to feel seen and heard.”
‘I heard the word ‘defect’ among whispers. Tears flowed, but her worth remained unchanged.’: Mom shares daughter’s journey with Down Syndrome, heart diagnoses
“I had my 20-week anatomy scan. This is always my favorite appointment, where the sonographer details every portion of the growing baby, and I go home to put a perfect sonogram photo on the fridge. This appointment was different.”