Maternity photography often captures joy on the surface, but behind every image is a deeper story waiting to be told. This feature highlights a pregnancy shaped by perseverance, unexpected hardships, and the quiet determination to reclaim moments of beauty. Her reflections offer an honest and moving glimpse into motherhood, love, and the power of being seen during one of life’s most vulnerable seasons.
This second pregnancy has definitely been much harder than the first.
“This pregnancy was definitely not a surprise. We struggled to get pregnant with our first and ended up using assisted reproductive technology to achieve pregnancy. For this pregnancy, we went straight back to that and had success during our first cycle!
When I first found out we were having another baby, we were just so excited that it worked since we had used assistive reproductive technology to achieve pregnancy and only had 1 shot! My second thought was "aww, no more poke bowls" :(
Unfortunately, one of our family members was diagnosed with cancer soon after we found out about the pregnancy and we had to rapidly shift gears in order to take care of them.
This second pregnancy has definitely been much harder than the first. The symptoms hit much harder and faster, the nausea lasted for longer, the hip pain started earlier, and I had pain in my belly button that I've never experienced before!
It's so much tougher to be pregnant with a toddler because I definitely cannot just come home and relax.
I had so many more physical discomforts this pregnancy and needed more help than I remember last time but that may just be because this time I have to run after a toddler while pregnant! There are also a lot more social and emotional stressors this time. I recently started a new job, my husband is in the process of trying to get a promotion at his current job, and on top of that, multiple family members have recently been diagnosed with life-altering medical conditions and we've been called upon to be that majority support for one of them, so unfortunately we haven't been able to focus much on the joys of pregnancy this time. There's just too much going on.
My first son is such a wonderful and beautiful human being that brings joy to everyone he meets, so my biggest joy is imagining how amazing this baby will be!
I have never liked surprises, so I found out the sex of the baby as soon as possible with a commercial blood test. I tried to keep it a secret from my family but it was impossible because I would always accidentally call the baby "he." His name is a well-kept secret though!
My son is so excited to have a little brother. He always asks if it's time for him to come out and says he wants to share his toys with him. It's extremely adorable.
When we finally get to introduce our son to the new baby, the baby is going to gift him a giant garbage truck toy!
As long as there will be an epidural, I'm ready! I really really want to eat sushi again and sleep on my stomach.
We are so excited for our future child, but like I said earlier, my partner and I just have not had the mental or emotional space to focus on the joys and wonder of pregnancy.
Not only has this pregnancy been physically more challenging for me, but there are also just too many difficult things going on in our world and the world at large. I intend for this to be my last pregnancy, so it was especially bothersome to me that I felt like I haven't been able to enjoy it almost at all. I chose to do maternity photos to try to reclaim some of that joy and to have at least one positive to look back on from the pregnancy itself. After seeing the photos, Ani definitely helped me accomplish that! The entire process was a joy and the photos are beautiful and powerful. I'm so excited to have them.”
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