Here’s the thing about pregnancy (and motherhood)...

Society has led us to believe it’s this magical experience, but at the cost of your body. That while pregnancy and a new baby are a beautiful gift, what happens to your body afterwards is not. I’m here to tell you - they’re wrong. You can have both, even if it looks different than it did before. It can take time, but you can grow and birth a child, recover, come out of it stronger than ever before, and love your body throughout the journey.  

What your body does is remarkable, and the changes you are left with are a beautiful reminder of the blood, sweat and tears you put into creating life. It seems so ordinary because we see women doing it every day, but it is nothing short of amazing to witness firsthand the strength mothers wield as they create life.

I have never felt more powerful or in-tune with my body than I have during my three pregnancies, and journey to recovery that follows.

That’s not to say I don’t have tough days when I struggle with body image, or question if I’d ever feel like “me” again, or rely on some good mom humor to get through. But I have this unexpected level of peace that came with it. More pride and love for my body, knowing what it has gone through. It has become about so much more than the physical. And call this cliche, but I truly mean it when I say I am comforted and motivated by the fact that if I can create life, I know my body is capable of anything.

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What if we reframe how pregnancy changes your body?

Instead of it being a temporary physical inconvenience, what if we begin to treat it as an incredible milestone that inspires growth and a shift in priorities. A life event that changes you, yes physically, but emotionally, mentally and spiritually too. The physical is just one small piece of it. And then, as you start to embrace the journey, you give yourself the space to love and honor your body throughout all stages. You treat it in a way that is loving. You nourish it. You move it in a way that feels good to you. You talk to it in a loving way. You rest when it’s tired and needs to heal. And ALL of that plays a role in coming back to yourself.

And it is truly a weight lifted (and beautifully shocking) when you look into the mirror and redefine what your body means to you. Your relationship with your body. Your body’s relationship with your baby. It all becomes so connected, and about so much more than what it *looks* like. And while the right food, the movement, the sleep, and the mindfulness is all an important part of the journey, I find time and time again it’s the women who *embrace* the journey that feel the most confident and empowered by their pregnancy, and their bodies.

It takes time, effort and presence. Be patient, and try to see beyond the fear. Trust the process, and know that your pregnancy journey can leave you feeling more empowered than ever before. 

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“Because the truth is this - the first few years of postpartum are going to pull you so far away from who you used to be - and then they’re going to put you back together as the person you’re meant to become.” - January Harshe

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