Pregnancy is one of those experiences we imagine long before it actually happens. We build a picture in our minds, full of soft colors and perfect moments, and we expect the whole journey to feel magical and calm. But the truth is that real pregnancy often looks very different from what we dream about. It is still beautiful and meaningful, but in its own, sometimes unpredictable way. Looking back, I can clearly see how many of my expectations had nothing to do with reality, and it still makes me smile.

One of the first things I imagined was having a slightly bigger chest. It seemed like a small pleasant bonus that would come naturally with pregnancy. In reality, nobody warned me about how painful this change can be in the first months. And when the size kept increasing, I quickly realized it was not as convenient as I expected. Clothes stopped fitting, bras became a challenge, and at some point I genuinely missed my previous size.

Another expectation was that I would stay extremely active. I thought pregnancy would give me even more motivation to move, train, and follow my routine. Instead, during the first trimester I could barely find the energy to walk. I constantly felt tired, heavy and uncomfortable, and the round ligament pain appeared out of nowhere. Working out every day suddenly turned into trying to make it through the day with at least some energy left.

I also believed I would be calm and emotionally stable, convinced that pregnancy hormones were just an exaggeration. The reality proved me wrong in the most unexpected ways. I once cried for an hour because I accidentally broke a jar of pickles, and somehow managed to blame my husband even though he was not even in the room. That moment showed me clearly that hormones are definitely not a myth.

And of course, I imagined how beautifully my bump would grow, and how I would create cute outfits with it. The truth was much less glamorous. My usual clothes stopped fitting, I had to size up again and again, and the clothing options became surprisingly limited. Instead of stylish looks, I was focused on simply finding something comfortable that I could actually zip or button.

These moments taught me that pregnancy does not always follow our expectations. It is unpredictable, sometimes frustrating, but also incredibly transformative. Every woman goes through her own version of this journey, with its mix of surprises, challenges and joy. And that contrast between expectations and reality is often what makes the experience so genuine and memorable.

What about you? What expectations did you have before pregnancy, and how did the reality compare?