What not to eat. What vitamins to take and what bras to buy. Allll the prenatal yoga moves to do.

 

But they forget to tell us how to put ourselves back together once that baby is born.

They forget to tell us how we might feel like we’re drifting.

Afloat. Alone. On a life raft with leaky breasts and sore stitches and a tiny little being dependent upon us for survival.

They forget to tell us how weird and wild it feels to have loose organs shifting about inside of us. How there will be so much softness still.

 

I get it. You don’t want to startle us. You don’t want us to be scared about what’s ahead.

But….a little heads up would be helpful

We’re brave enough for the truth.

And those things you find so scary- loose skin and leaky breasts and big feelings- we might just be bold enough to welcome them.

To see the beauty there.

 

So here’s the truth mama-

Your pelvic floor will probably need work and attention. You’ll have to put in some effort to regain that muscle strength, no matter how gentle your birth. Your breasts and belly will probably never be the same. Love them anyway. Love than more than before!! Celebrate them! Buy bras that make you feel sexy. Then move on.

 

Your identity and sense of self will change radically. Buckle up for the ride. You’ve got this. Your partnership and friendships and general relationship with the outside world might feel foreign for awhile. Or forever. Those relationships might crack and break under the weight of new parenthood. Live your truth. Leave the rest behind. In love.

 

The whole world might feel shaken up.

You’ll probably feel shaky and raw

That’s normal (they just forgot to tell you.)

 

You’re new here. In this skin. In this role. In this love. You’ll find your way. You’ll find your rhythm. It will all fall into place- with time.

Until then- breathe.

As deeply as you can.

Drink your tea before it gets cold.

If you can.

Rest -

whenever you can.

And love on your new self.

As deeply as you can.