My biggest fear, long before we even started planning a pregnancy, was whether I would be able to get back in shape after giving birth. And by that I don’t mean losing the weight I gain during pregnancy. I have never doubted that this part would be manageable. What truly concerned me was the deeper quality of the body I had worked so hard to build: the muscle tone, the firmness, the strength, the endurance, the feeling of physical power and control.

Over the last few years, I’ve done a lot of work on self-love and confidence. I’ve learned how to treat my body gently while still keeping clear structure and discipline. I know I can be strict with myself, but it comes from a place of care, not punishment. That’s why I look at every kilogram and every centimeter I gain now as material for building a new version of my body, not evidence of losing the old one.

Somewhere along this journey I realized something that completely changed my perspective: my body will never be exactly the same as it was before pregnancy. And I am not supposed to force it back into that old version. This body is creating life. It is doing something extraordinary. The goal is not to restore what once was, but to shape the new body I will live in after birth — a body that has carried me through one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.

I’ve started to think about the postpartum period with a surprising sense of excitement. I know that after delivery and recovery I will face a long, slow rebuilding process, but it no longer scares me. It feels like a challenge I’m ready for. A project that will require patience, consistency, and a lot of tender care.

To all moms-to-be and to those who have just stepped into motherhood: take your time. Your body deserves more kindness than you probably give it. Do not rush yourself, and do not be disappointed if something takes longer or looks different than you expected. You are not going backwards. You are moving toward a new version of yourself — one that deserves to be treated with respect, softness, and love.