Motherhood entails so many things that someone without the experience may never truly understand. Should one begin the story from pregnancy, or from the pains of labour, or from the sleepless nights that come after childbirth? The truth is, the list is endless. If you are a mother, especially a nursing mother, you can easily attest to this.
I vividly remember my pregnancy journey. Each stage had its own story, but those first three months were something else. Of course, it varies from woman to woman, but mine was filled with constant vomiting and an inability to eat properly. I often asked my husband for foods that didn’t even make sense, and sometimes, when he brought them, I couldn’t eat after all. At times, I simply discarded the food, feeling guilty but helpless. Those cravings and aversions were battles of their own.
Then came the labour pain, an experience words can hardly capture. It is truly out of this world. Sometimes, I wonder if women forget pain too easily, because how else can you explain our willingness to go through the process again and again? Some women give birth naturally, others through caesarean section; whichever way, none is easy, none is light. Every woman has her story carved in tears, sweat, and strength.
After the baby arrives, a whole new chapter begins. Breastfeeding, endless diaper changes, and those nights when the baby cries without end, it all takes a toll. How many sleepless nights can one even count? There were moments I found myself questioning, “Why did I choose this path?” Yet, deep down, I knew the answer every time I looked at my child’s face.
As the baby grows, new challenges emerge. When they start crawling, you must watch every corner of the house. When they begin walking, the entire home turns upside down as they scatter things everywhere. I can remember chasing after little hands pulling down plates, tugging at wires, or opening drawers they shouldn’t even reach. You barely have a moment of rest.
Still, in the middle of the stress, there are moments that melt your heart, the first smile, the little giggle, the way they cling to you as if you are their entire world. Those moments remind you that motherhood, despite all its challenges, is a journey of love, sacrifice, and indescribable fulfilment.
Unless one chooses never to become a mother, there’s really no way to escape these experiences. They shape you, stretch you, and, in the end, they define the beauty of motherhood.