1: I Became Physically and Emotionally A New Person

When I was pregnant with my first, I didn’t have a perfectly clear picture of what it would be like. I wasn’t expecting an Instagram-worthy glow or weekly bump photos, but I also didn’t realize just how much it would change me physically, emotionally, and in ways I wouldn’t see until later.

I spent most days in my husband’s oversized T-shirts, eating whatever sounded good in the moment, and occasionally Googling things like can I eat goat cheese while pregnant at 2 a.m. My belly button looked different, my clothes fit differently, and my sense of time shifted. I was learning to adjust to a body and a life that felt new every single week as I checked my apps to see if he was a plum or an apple.

2: I Am Forever Humbled By My Two Different Pregnancy Experieces

By the time I was pregnant with my second son, I thought maybe I would know what to expect. But pregnancy has a way of humbling you. My cravings were different (hello spicy food!), my energy was different (partly because I was chasing a toddler) and my belly carried differently thanks to an umbilical hernia and diastasis recti.

3: I Embraced Healthy Habits For Me and My Baby

Another big difference the second time around was how I took care of myself. Although I was more uncomfortable, I ate healthier (minus the occasional entire bag of chips), made time for daily walks, and even worked out more regularly. I wasn’t perfect, but moving my body and fueling it better made a noticeable difference in my energy, my mood, and even how I recovered postpartum. It also helped me be a better pregnant mom to my older son. I definitely felt more capable, both mentally and physically, than during my first pregnancy.

4: I Am Overwhelmed With Gratitude To Be Someone’s Mom

One quiet afternoon stands out most from my second pregnancy. My oldest was napping and I sat at my kitchen counter to do some work when I felt a kick. Not the faint flutters I had been feeling, but one of those startling kicks. I put my hand there and waited. Another kick.

It didn’t feel like it was just my baby moving in my belly. It felt like he was saying, “Hey! You’re my mom, too! This is real!”. That small moment changed something in me. It reminded me that my body was building a new person, another son to love just as I love my first. I remember smiling at the excitement that I was lucky enough to have two of these boys. Looking back now, I still have that same feeling.

5: My Perspective on Life is Drastically Different Now

Pregnancy isn’t just about the obvious physical changes, it changes the way you think, the way you see yourself, and the way you move through your days. It changes your priorities, your patience, and even your definition of strength. You can’t go through it, even once, and come out the other side unchanged. This is the best transformation you will ever go through, and you will be amazed at the person you will become.

For another blog on pregnancy, read, “How Bumpdate Made My Pregnancy Better“.