💕 To Every Expecting Mama: You’re Doing Better Than You Think

(Love, a mom of 5 who cried over a sandwich once… okay, twice)

Let me set the scene.
I was 27 weeks pregnant, in sweatpants that didn’t match my shirt (or the decade), holding a turkey melt that I’d been dreaming about all day.

And then… it fell apart.
Like, full-on structural collapse. Turkey on the floor. Cheese betrayal.

And I wept.

My husband found me sobbing in the kitchen like someone had canceled Christmas. I looked up at him and said, through full-on ugly crying:
“It was going to be perfect.”

He thought I meant the sandwich.
I meant everything.

Pregnancy is wild, isn’t it?

You think you’re prepping for a baby—but really, you’re preparing to become a whole new version of yourself. And no one gives you a map.

You’re supposed to “enjoy the glow,” but some days your skin is mad, your hips are louder than your toddler, and your brain is asking questions like:

Can I survive off toaster waffles?
Why am I crying over a diaper commercial?
What if I don’t feel instantly connected when I see the baby?

Let me just say this loud and clear, mama:
You’re not alone.
You don’t need to have it all figured out.
And you’re not “behind” if you haven’t memorized the fruit size comparison of your baby this week. (Avocado? Mango? Mutant kumquat? Who knows.)

I’ve had five babies. And here’s what I’ve learned:

✨ The magical moments aren’t always the posed ones.
Sometimes they’re a blurry ultrasound with a baby doing a dramatic stretch.
Sometimes they’re seeing a little nose for the first time and thinking, “Whoa… that’s MY baby.”

✨ You don’t have to feel like a goddess every day.
Some days, you’re lucky if you remember to eat lunch sitting down. You are still worthy. Still a good mama.

✨ That little doubt in your head?
The one that whispers “Am I doing this right?”
It only shows up because you care. That’s what good moms do.

The ultrasound room was one of my favorite places during pregnancy.

It wasn’t just about seeing the baby—it was about finally feeling like this was real.
Real heartbeats. Real tiny kicks. Real love growing inside a body that also just threw up breakfast.

That’s why I wrote this blog.
To remind you that you are enough, right now.
Whether you’re a first-time mama or you’ve got stretch marks older than your youngest niece (hi, same 🙋‍♀️), this journey is yours. And it’s beautiful—even in its messy, snack-fueled chaos.

So take a deep breath.
Cry over your pizza if you need to.
Text your best friend about the weird dream you had.
Take a nap. (Seriously, please take the nap.)

But most of all—remember this:

You’re doing better than you think.
Your baby doesn’t need a perfect mom.
They just need you.

With love,

Jina
Your fellow hot-mess-turned-softie,
A very tired, very grateful mom of 5

4D & Fearless