My maternity photography session with Sierra was so much more than a photoshoot. It seemed to be a huge turning point for her during her pregnancy, and I could not feel any more happy that I was able to play a part at the beginning of her chapter of motherhood. She recounts how she began to feel like herself again after losing herself for a period of time, and there is nothing else I could ask to come from a portrait session with me. I get to hear a multitude of different stories from new moms on an almost-daily basis, and ones like these tug at my heart especially. Her journey may have thrown a large curveball, but despite the challenges she faced as a mother-to-be, she has truly shown what it means to grow through adversity and continue to appreciate the life she has created.
It was worth every obstacle just to see him in my arms
My husband and I found out we were pregnant the week before Christmas. I took a pregnancy test before my husband woke up just to check, even though it was earlier than recommended, because I had a gut feeling. When it came back positive, I immediately started crying and ran to wake him up. His sleepy response was “We did it!”
I was so excited to finally be able to take part in the miracle that is motherhood-- to see my belly grow, to feel our little one’s tiny kicks, to hear their heartbeat.
Unfortunately, the joy I had about being pregnant became clouded with all of the things no one told me about. The morning sickness was so severe I had to leave my job months earlier than I planned and it lasted the entire 9 months. All of the different pains I felt all over my body were taking a toll and I couldn’t help with things like moving into a new home, unpacking and setting up the new baby furniture. At my first appointment with my new doctor, I was diagnosed with prepartum depression and I felt like I had finally lost everything that was “me” before becoming pregnant.
In an effort to make me feel like myself again, I decided I would do a maternity photoshoot. Sure I was uncomfortable and still trying to understand my new body, but I believed that seeing how I actually looked compared to how I felt might help realign my perception of myself. Ani was incredible to work with and having a photoshoot is now something I recommend to anyone who is feeling out of body during their pregnancy. I finally felt comfortable, beautiful, and most importantly, like myself again!
I still struggled with prepartum depression, and talking with my husband and Godmother openly about my feelings and checking in with myself each and every day made it manageable. I am lucky to have had my depression subside after the birth of our son, but I will never forget how turned around I felt. I thought it would be the happiest time of my life, and it ended up being the most difficult period I’ve gone through. But now that he is here, I can say it was worth every obstacle just to see him in my arms.
I am forever grateful that I have these maternity pictures of him still in my belly as a reminder of what I have overcome and how miraculous it is to be able to have him.
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