“It didn’t hit me when my heart rate was at 40 bpm and the doctor called cardiology in a panic. Or when I was freezing cold in the summer heat. Or when I woke up at 3 a.m. every morning, dripping in sweat. I finally realized something was wrong when I stopped loving my dog.”
“When I became a mom, I was shocked by the amount of unsolicited advice I received. The mommy shaming train took off the second I got pregnant.”
“We had so many misassumptions of ‘what we wanted’ going into the process. We were nervous, excited, and completely clueless.”
“I thought my family and friends would be better off without me. Living with scars and all of the pain, insecurities, and fears they caused felt too hard. I felt like a burden, without purpose or worth.”
“‘At least you know she’ll be right-handed!’ the nurse joked. There was a wave of grief when I realized someone may pull back their outstretched hand when her nubbins reached for it. Education is the key out of the shadows.”
“Nothing prepares you for how hard postpartum hits. With the colossal love for this new life comes grief our world has changed.”
“Grief comes from love. If we never had to love, we wouldn’t miss it. Celebrate the awesome beauty, but don’t diminish the pain.”
“Some days, I feel so much pressure. It’s almost suffocating. So when I have a bad day like today, please don’t ask me if I’m fine. I’m not fine today. But I know I will be tomorrow.”
“I’ll do my best to relax, and appreciate who you are in this moment. And I’ll try not to worry about everything that’s calling me away from you. Because tomorrow you’ll be bigger, and I don’t want to miss today.”
“We texted every day. I’d never met someone I clicked with as much. A part of me knew we would get married someday. I felt fully known and seen by her.”
