At the end of August, my husband and I welcomed our son Henry into this amazing world in Barcelona, Spain. The experience in itself was not so average, as Henry wanted to make a statement by arriving feet first at the ONLY hospital in Barcelona that was trained in natural breech deliveries. After some minor complications due to the delivery we were allowed to go home.

Home in Barcelona would only be short lived as we boarded a plane not but 10 days later for Poland where Henry and I would cozy up with the in-laws until Christmas.

This magical period was nothing short of a blessing. Not only was I surrounded by family, but I was gifted time, such a valuable commodity nowadays. It was time spent bonding with my son, healing and accepting the incredible changes that not only shaped my physical appearance, my surroundings, but embracing this new role of mother.

I have stepped into a new phase of life. After being pregnant for the greater part of last year, preparing for Henry’s arrival, it seemed like in a flip of a switch, I was no longer nurturing a growing bump but rather cuddling with this tiny bundle of joy.

While entering this new facet of adulthood, parenthood, is nothing short of extraordinary, knowing that I created a human in the span of just nine months is amazing. But no one really alludes to the wealth of emotions new moms face after the dust has settled. Reflection, patience and nourishment are in order during this period of adjustment

There was a huge learning curve to overcome. I had a stack of books I delved into every night preparing for this moment, but there was only so much reading that could prepare you mentally for what happens.

Experience. Everyone is different.

I wasn’t always comfortable in my body. With everything expanding, I became a little self-conscious. At about 24 weeks along, I gifted myself a pre and post-natal yoga teacher training program in Tuscany. It could not have been more perfectly suited for the moment. It was a chance to connect to other like-minded women wanting to deepen there knowledge and help other expectant mom’s transition through this journey into motherhood.

The enlightened conversations with the women at the teacher training gave me the confidence and assurance that not only would the following months leading up to Henry’s arrival go smoothly, but they provided me with the tools and understanding to cope with my body after pregnancy.
No one ever really talks about the postpartum body.

During pregnancy the spotlight is on the soon-to-be mommy, but once the little bumblebee arrives, mom takes a backseat to this new incredible being.

Reincarnating oneself after childbirth takes compassion.

Nine months. It is not instantaneous that our bodies should miraculously go back to their pre-pregnancy shape. And that is something I think many women, even I struggled and still struggle with. The extra skin, the soft spots, the uneven boobs, weight …it is all a part of the territory.

I have learned to take life slow, to acknowledge that it takes time to heal, that my body may never be quite the same as it was before, and that it is alright. My body today is all the more attractive because of Henry. He makes me beautiful inside and out. I am a new version of my former self, and I LOVE IT!

Yes, I do yoga every day. We walk. We enjoy the outdoors, and I am mindful of what I put into my body as a source of energy and fuel not only for my own well-being but for Henry as well, as I continue to breastfeed.

Priorities change; what may have seemed important before may seem trivial today.
I feel like this is a new beginning on so many levels.

From my marriage with my husband to rebuilding the strength in my body and redefining my professional career, I get to decide how these relationships manifest.

I get to slowly advance towards a better, healthier version of myself than ever before.
I also get to release expectations, even my very own.

While I was pregnant, there was one thing I knew: I was going to give myself time and space to come back home to myself. And I knew my home would look and feel different. That is the beauty about embracing change.