Dear Mama-To-Be,

Pregnancy is an extraordinary journey.. one that often surprises us with its twists and turns. As I reflect on my own path to motherhood, I realize how much healing it has brought me, especially with the arrival of my second child. It’s been a transformative experience, one that has helped me grow not only as a mother but as a person, too.

When I was pregnant with my first, Chase, who is now a teenager, I was young, still discovering myself, and learning as I went. Motherhood, at that time, was so special yet so overwhelming. It was beautiful, but also terrifying and foreign. I had no idea what I was doing, and it felt like I was navigating life’s biggest challenge without a map. I was still growing, and so was my relationship with his father. We were both clueless, yet somehow we made it through. Despite the uncertainty, my son came out perfect, and as I watch him today, so full of kindness, thoughtfulness, and smarts, I realize that even though we were learning on the fly, we did something right.

The pregnancy itself had its own share of obstacles. And just when I thought I had everything under control, my water bag ruptured prematurely. The birth was traumatic – an emergency C-section that scarred me in ways I wasn’t ready to face. After that experience, the thought of going through pregnancy and childbirth again seemed daunting, and I wasn’t sure if I could handle it. How I’m glad I took the leap again..

This time around, with my second pregnancy, things feel so different. I’m older, wiser, and more aware of what I need, both physically and emotionally. Finding out I was pregnant again felt like a chance to do it all differently – on my own terms. I had the resources I didn’t have the first time. I could plan, research, and make choices that felt right for me. No longer was I clueless or unprepared. I felt calm, confident, and, most importantly, ready.

With each milestone I’ve reached during this pregnancy, I’ve felt a little more healed from the past. It’s like each tiny step forward has given me the opportunity to release the fears and scars I carried from my first experience. Watching my belly grow, feeling my baby move, and knowing that I’m taking control of this journey has been so empowering.

I was able to embrace the challenges of motherhood with a calm that only comes from experience. I’ll be able to give this child the love, care, and guidance that I’ve always wanted to share, now with more wisdom than I had before. This pregnancy has healed parts of me that I didn’t even realize needed healing.

So, mamas or mama-to-be, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure, just know that with each day, each milestone, you’re growing. You are preparing not just for your baby, but for yourself. And no matter how your journey unfolds, you are enough, exactly as you are.