To the Stressed Momma-To-Be:

Being pregnant means dealing with a lot of hormones. It means dealing with unexpected emotions & overwhelming feelings.

This is true for unplanned & intended pregnancies alike. The biggest difference for moms is where those emotions stem from. But I want you to know that the fear or stress or overwhelming pressure is normal! It's normal for new moms, as well as seasoned moms.

If you know our family, you know this is a very unplanned, shocking, 6th pregnancy for us. But can I be honest? Yeah, Daddo & I have done this quite a few times before. We know what to expect. We have most of the baby things we need.

But we’re still totally overwhelmed. Each time, adding a new little life is a new dynamic. It’s a new, completely reliant little human that will have needs & demands & be depending on us entirely. We’ll have to figure out how to balance that with all the other demands in our life, not the least of which is making sure our other kids don’t feel ignored.

Your worries will likely look different than ours. But I want you to know that the chill demeanor you see in me, or your experienced friends, do not show the full story.

You are not alone. You are ALREADY an amazing mom, even though you haven’t met that little babe yet.

You care. You fret. You worry BECAUSE you are a great mom.

Pregnancy is hard… something you’re learning each day. Having a newborn will be hard too.

But I promise you, YOU are what that little one needs most.

Breastfeeding or bottle feeding? Pacifier or no? Baby-wearing? All the latest baby gadgets? Honestly, who cares? Your baby won’t.

You are & will continue to be THEIR. WHOLE. WORLD. & for them, that’s enough.

Please hear me- you are more than enough.

I know that won’t help alleviate all the pressures you feel right now. I know you want to do the very best for your little one & give them the world. There’s nothing wrong with that.

But right now, while you’re planning & fretting & nesting & trying to ensure that everything is as it needs to be… I want you to take care of yourself too. It’s genuinely the most important part of preparing for your baby. Make sure that your needs are met.

If you have a toxic, critical friend, now is a really great time to take a step (or three) back from the time you spend with them. If you have a challenging relationship with your partner, go to counseling. Trust me- a newborn will intensify the difficulties you are having now. If you have a strained relationship with family, work to mend it or set parameters/limitations of what will be acceptable. If you are struggling with your own emotional health, talk to a counselor.

I know everything right now is about the baby, what is best for the baby, what your baby needs… That is obviously important. You do need a car seat to take your baby home. You need clothes for them & a safe home.

But so many times, new moms neglect to recognize the importance of themselves. I know even now, you probably don’t believe me, so I want to share an amazing secret with you. I don’t know why everyone doesn’t talk about this fact, because I didn’t learn it until my 2nd or 3rd kiddo… Are you ready?

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Babies have this amazing, innate ability to sense stress in us. If your baby is crying & you are stressed, they can sense it. On the other hand, if you can find some internal peace while they cry, you will be much more successful in calming then, because they sense your calm.

It sounds crazy, but seriously, look it up. It’s amazing! There’s actually a mountain of scientific research surrounding this astounding ability in babies. It is the reason grannies & old ladies in church can soothe your baby when you can’t. They know this secret.

I share this to say, it really is important to make sure you’re emotionally & socially & mentally ok before your little one arrives. It’s imperative that you don’t get so caught up in the baby stuff that you neglect this. So, please take care of your health too. & never forget you ARE ENOUGH.

Keep it up momma, you're doing amazing!

As always, love to you all! Until the next adventure