Just married, young, and pregnant, it is a
state that one hopes for and dreads at the same time. It is the unknown world
that opens to the young woman, and the doubt remains about whether she can
handle all the stages up to childbirth, the course of which and the outcome of
which are unknown. It is a journey of emotions, challenges, and discoveries.
Motherhood is much more than just a state. It is a complex journey filled with
intense joys, upheavals, and unique experiences.
The only thing I realized with certainty was that the average duration of a
pregnancy is nine months. I found this term extremely long! My pregnancy was
accompanied by multiple physical transformations: weight gain, changes in body
shape, hormonal fluctuations, mood swings, sudden fatigue, cravings,
uncontrollable hunger, and the emergence of new ailments like aversion to the
smell of morning coffee and, above all, digestive issues characterized by
nausea and vomiting. Nevertheless, I was deeply conscious not to use one drop of alcohol or remedies to alleviate unbearable nausea during my pregnancy. These changes were both a source of fascination and
discomfort. On a psychological level, my day was divided between an ambivalence
of happiness and apprehension, an oscillation between serenity and anxiety in
the face of the unknown. Fortunately, time was precious, and the profession
engulfed all my worries. Besides, I had no one to confide my doubts and my
anxieties to and to seek advice from. "Each pregnancy is a unique
journey," my dear family doctor assured me. "Don't worry, I'm
here!"
My prenatal care was provided by a physiotherapist with her weekly light exercises, regular check-ups with my gynecologist in Bruges, and my local doctor for minor ailments. They all try to reassure me as best as they can to ensure a positive pregnancy. My delivery would take place, if possible, in a hospital setting. I worked until the evening before, making sure to give birth before the medical service opened the next morning with an ultra-fast, taxi-style delivery.
My motherhood was ahead of its time in the difficult context of the movement
for women's place in society and the not-so-easy reconciliation of professional
and family life at the time. We were already exposing ourselves to numerous
family and societal criticisms, firmly challenging ancestral norms. While the
support of those around becomes crucial during the pivotal period in the lives
of the mother and child, one struggles with misunderstanding, exhaustion,
hormonal upheavals, identity questions, baby blues, and the increased mental
and physical load. It is a delicate transition where the mother-child
relationship is established and the confrontation with the new role, that of a
parent, takes place. My primary goal: to be a good mother despite the challenges.
Succeed in balancing everything, offering the best to your child. It was
essential to value my atypical journey, to accept imperfection, and to remind
myself that every story is legitimate.
Despite the challenges, motherhood is
rich in happiness: first smiles, first steps, shared discoveries, and bonds
that are woven day by day. The relationship with the child, filled with
tenderness, wonder, and sometimes challenges, profoundly transforms the one who
becomes a parent. Motherhood is also about growing with your child, questioning
yourself, learning to let go, and passing on values. It is a journey marked by
doubts and bright moments, fatigue and laughter, worries and pride.
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