The Most Powerful Transformation

Matrescence Tales

Matrescence Tales

Written by IR

When was your baby born?

March 1, 2025

Where was your baby born?

BC Women’s Hospital, Vancouver

Can you share your birth story?

Everything started quietly, almost unexpectedly, around 2 am I woke up feeling like I had to go to the bathroom, and honestly, I thought it was just to 💩. I went back and forth to the bathroom four times. But then the pain kept coming… only this time, there was no urge to go to the bathroom anymore.

My husband woke up and asked, “What’s happening?” I told him, half-asleep, half-confused, “Maybe it’s just a reaction to the pizza (we got frozen pizza for dinner 😅)… maybe it’s my stomach.”

But the pain was coming in waves. And my husband, calmly but firmly, started timing the contractions. After a while, he looked at me and said: sweetheart, you are in labor!

We went to the hospital around 9am and I was only 3 cm dilated. They sent me back home with some medication to ease the discomfort. When we got home, I tried to rest. I actually managed to sleep for a while. Then, somehow, I felt a strange sense of peace. I knew the baby would come later that night, so I decided to do some things for myself and my husband as I prepared something for dinner (I’m not a huge fan of eating outside😅), I took a shower, shaved, and even put a some makeup on my face. I wanted to meet my baby feeling like myself.

When we returned to the hospital, I was already 6 cm dilated, and from there, everything went fast, almost too fast. In about 40 minutes, I went from 6 to 10 cm, and sadly I didn’t have time to ask for the epidural. It was happening, ready or not. Then I pushed for what felt like an eternity, an hour and a half or maybe two. The pain was intense, and honestly, I didn’t know how to push properly at first. Looking back, I think maybe with a better pushing technique it could have been faster. But in that moment, it was just me, the pain, the fear, and the hope of meeting my baby soon.

And then, at 7:45 pm, my baby was finally here. It was raw, painful, overwhelming and the most powerful moment of my life.

What do you wish you had known going into the birth? What are you proud of?

More familiar with pushing techniques.

What did the first few days/weeks look like? Emotionally/mentally/physically. Any tips you could share?

In this wild, messy season called motherhood, I’ve realized something: I am transforming too. I’m learning to trust myself, to ask for help, to slow down, and to marvel at the little person I’m raising and the new person I’m becoming.

To all the new moms out there feeling the waves of change, you’re not alone. This is hard and beautiful, exhausting and sacred, breaking you down and building you up, all at once.

How have you found the transition to motherhood? What has been the hardest part?

Taking care of someone else 24/7.

What is one thing you wish you had known going into postpartum? Any other tips/advice for our moms?

I wish I had known how emotional and overwhelming those first weeks can be. It’s not just tiredness, it’s a complete shift in your body, mind, and heart. But one of the best things you can do is pause, breathe, and look at your baby’s smile. Be gentle with yourself. Ask for help when you need it. Try not to overthink every little thing. And trust that little by little, you’ll feel more confident.

How do you feel like your identity has shifted? What strategies have helped re-connect with yourself?

Motherhood has made me feel like I’m living between two versions of myself: who I was before and who I’m becoming now. I’ve gained strength and patience, but I’ve also felt lost at times, especially being far from home and adjusting to life in a new country.

Small routines like taking a shower, cooking, and working out, help me feel like myself again, and also to loved ones back home

What are you proud of so far in your motherhood journey?

I am proud of the amazing job that I am doing, and that I didn’t know I could do.

❤️