💌 Mama to Mama Monday

Hey Mama,

Mondays at The Bump and Beyond newsletter is dedicated to providing you words of fresh wisdom from new moms that have already had their babies and can tell you first hand what it’s really like.

I hope you enjoy these survey answers as much as I enjoy collecting them.

That moment hit her hard—and I think it hits all of us in some way.

There’s something so humbling about realizing that you can’t control the timeline, not in labor, not in parenting, and definitely not in pregnancy.

And yet, there’s also something wildly freeing about that realization.

You can’t plan your way out of the unknown.

But you can breathe through it.

You can ride the wave of each moment with as much grace (and sometimes as much swearing) as you need.

This wise new mama left us with three pieces of advice that I swear should be printed on every hospital wall:

1. Take each moment as it comes.

She shared a story from before she gave birth, sitting around with friends in their 30s. One friend’s husband was dying of skin cancer. And when asked about her five-year plan, she said:

That line changed her life—and it changed mine too, honestly.

Because when you’re deep in labor, or just deep in week 38 and wondering if this baby is ever going to come out, you want someone to give you the map, the plan, the ETA.

But what you actually need is to be in this contraction, this moment, this breath.

Not the next one.

Not the ten after that.

This is the real work of motherhood before the baby even arrives: presence.

2. Calm the f*ck down.

Yep.

It’s simple.

It’s blunt.

And it’s true.

She wrote, “Almost everything is just a moment, just some information, just a tiny piece of the puzzle. Take it in, get some perspective and know that 'everything is figure-out-able.'”

That Marie Forleo quote lives rent-free in my brain 🧠

And when everything feels like too much, I try to repeat this mantra like a prayer:

3. As soon as you have it figured out—it will change.

Oof, right?

This is the one that made me want to laugh-cry into my coffee.

Pregnancy? You finally find pants that fit and a sleep position that works—and boom, the baby moves or your hips betray you.

Labor? You master one technique and suddenly, it’s not enough because transition hits.

Parenting? You finally find a groove—and then teething, sleep regression, or a new food sensitivity flips everything upside down.

The only thing you can count on… is change.

This rhythm of impermanence is the beat of motherhood.

Mama, if you’re feeling a little lost, a little tired, a little like “Is this really how this works?”—you are not alone.

Your thoughts are normal.

Your fears are valid.

And your strength? Girl, it’s already showing.

Let’s hold these little mantras close this week:

Now I want to hear from you—what’s one thing that’s surprised you most about pregnancy so far? Reply/comment with your answer!

Or if you’ve had your baby, would you be willing to pass on some wisdom to the moms coming up behind you?

It’s only three quick questions, and your experience could be the encouragement another mama needs.

If you have a moment, you can take the survey here

All my best to you, mama.

Naomi