Pregnancy & Motherhood

Motherhood is a transformative experience. Birthing a human life and navigating the challenging, joyous and scary journey that comes with it can be complex and life changing. We chatted to our favourite influencers about their experiences, what no one told them about the journey and how having children has transformed their lives.

Aisha Baker – Founder of Baked One and Millennial Mama

Q: What did no one tell you about or prepare you for with regards to pregnancy and motherhood?

A: I was a total pregnant nerd, I researched and interviewed almost every mother I knew to find out what to expect. What I didn’t expect on the negative side was how physically taxing pregnancy is, the exhaustion and aches and pains can’t be put into words. On the positive side, absolutely no one told me they loved giving birth. Giving birth was one of the greatest, most euphoric feelings I’ve ever felt. I passed out shortly after but I loved every minute of the birthing process.

Q: What has motherhood taught you about yourself or how has it transformed your life?

A: Motherhood has brought a lot of patience into my life. I am a very impatient person and before my son I was always on the go, socializing, working really hard and Khalid has slowed me down in a good way. I’m so patient, I love nature now, I never did before to be quite honest. He has taught me to see the beauty in the small things and I’m really much happier than I ever was in my life.

Lufuno Sathekge – Content Creator and Wardrobe Stylist

Q: What did no one tell you about or prepare you for with regards to pregnancy and motherhood?

A: There are a lot of warnings about all the negative things that could happen, no one really talks about the positives. How magical the kicks are, how beautiful the sound of your baby’s heartbeat is. How much you will love changing their diaper, and enjoy midnight feeds. How much you will love and be loved. How this love feels like no other love.

Q: What has motherhood taught you about yourself or how has it transformed your life?

A: Motherhood has taught me that I’m patient, that I’m strong and that I’m not afraid to try. It has reminded me how superior women are. We grow, birth and nurture whole human beings. That I can do it, all of it, feed, clothe, work, bathe, love without professional training. That I don’t need to be perfect, I just need to do and be.

Lerato Mannya – Founder of Motherland Connect

Q: What did no one tell you about or prepare you for with regards to pregnancy and motherhood?

A: I don’t think I expected to go through as many pains in my pregnancy as I did, or that the symptoms I experienced during pregnancy could last even post pregnancy. Outside of that, I think it’s just the mental, emotional and physical strain of recovery AND dealing with a new born. Babies are not only expensive; they’re also emotionally and physically draining.

Also, that it’s okay to discard the advice that everyone gives you and trust yourself as well. Sometimes you actually do know better with regards to your child. For instance, in the hospital I wish people had warned me about nurses giving my child formula without my consent. Absolutely refuse that if you’re intending to completely breastfeed because it really does affect the bonding period with your child.

Q: What has motherhood taught you about yourself or how has it transformed your life?

A: Being a mom has taught me how important it is to be patient and how to put everything secondary to your child. I was so used to prioritizing work that it’s been such a massive adjustment letting work take second place. I’ve also learnt that I won’t get it right ALL the time and that it’s okay to ask for help. But the best thing about motherhood has been learning that there’s another level of love that exists. That unveils itself with every moment your child looks at you or smiles at you and that you’ll find yourself finding every little thing as exciting and beautiful because your child did it.

Motherhood has also taught me the importance of planning your life and reinforced the importance of time management. Something as simple as taking your child to the clinic requires planning on how your morning will go. It’s also taught me that I really know nothing, because the more I get to know my child, the more I realize that I actually know nothing and there’s no perfect way to raise a child. All I can do is try. And that’s what I’m doing. Trying, which is okay too.

Sadie Torquato – Creative Director & Social Media Manager

Q: What did no one tell you about or prepare you for with regards to pregnancy and motherhood?

A: How many unnecessary things people try to sell you as a first-time parent. There are gifts I never touched for both my kids simply because I didn't need them. And every time I go to the shops, I see a new invention that literally no one asked for.

Q: What has motherhood taught you about yourself or how has it transformed your life?

A: Motherhood transformed me completely. I didn't expect it to fulfill me the way it has. It's exhausting and expensive yes, we talk about those things all the time. But motherhood is my destiny. It made me sharper, more effective, more present. It made me softer and stronger. It gave me super powers.

Tshepi Vundla – Fashion and Lifestyle Influencer

Q: What did no one tell you about or prepare you for with regards to pregnancy and motherhood?

A: No one told me just how patient I’ll have to be. Being an impatient person, being pregnant and being a mom do not mix. I was really humbled.

Q: What has motherhood taught you about yourself or how has it transformed your life?

A: I’m so patient now, I enjoy every moment with Siba, time with my family and friends. Being a mom has taught me to really slow down.

Nani Dubula – Content Creator and Professional

Q: What did no one tell you about or prepare you for with regards to pregnancy and motherhood?

A: The one thing I wasn't prepared for was never being able to see my body the same again. I had fairly easy pregnancies albeit long, I was healthy and didn't have any severe medical complications. But after forming and birthing human life for the second time, I now struggle to see my body beyond or as more than just that. Something I have had difficulty coming to terms with because on the exterior I have the "what babies?" body as many tweeps have exclaimed. Getting my sexy back has definitely taken longer this time, learning to see and love my body fully again hasn't been easy but we are getting there.

Q: What has motherhood taught you about yourself or how has it transformed your life?

A: It has given me more purpose than I could have ever imagined I would get from it. We usually gauge the measure our worth by worldly things like education, career titles, material possession etc. Although all those things still matter for me because of human nature, knowing that I am responsible for the wellbeing, nurturing, guiding and moulding of two entire humans gives me more purpose than anything else. It's also taught me that I have the patience of a hungry infant, but that's another topic all together.

Tanya Junghans – Food Blogger and Executive PA to The Nunukins

Q: What did no one tell you about or prepare you for with regards to pregnancy and motherhood?

A: No one told me these three things: a. pregnancy could shift my teeth so much that I now have a gap between my front teeth. b. morning sickness could be all-day sickness not for just the first trimester but for the whole pregnancy. c. the lack of sleep would start during pregnancy.

Q: What has motherhood taught you about yourself or how has it transformed your life?

A: Everything I do now is done relative to my daughter. My plans, whether long-term or short-term, have her in mind, how she is going to be affected by my actions (or lack thereof) and surprisingly being a mother has made me a very light-spirited and disciplined person.

Amanda Jingela – Brand Influencer and Chelino Baby Brand Ambassador

Q: What did no one tell you about or prepare you for with regards to pregnancy and motherhood?

A: What no one could prepare me for was the level of anxiety I had of having a little human fully depend on ME for survival. You think it’s easy because our parents have done such a great job with us but I was never ready. I was anxious and on edge for a good 8 months before I felt like I really knew what I was doing.

Q: What has motherhood taught you about yourself or how has it transformed your life?

A. Motherhood has taught me that just like an onion there are so many layers to me as a woman and as a mom, some layers are challenging because we forced to face the ugly parts of us so that we can become better versions of ourselves for our little humans. Most of the time though, I enjoy experiencing life through my daughter’s eyes.

Mmule Setati – CEO of Frutal Juice Co

Q: What did no one tell you about or prepare you for with regards to pregnancy and motherhood?

A: I don’t think any advice could’ve prepared me for both. The journey to motherhood for me was so scary, I had my son when I was 24 and to be honest, I did not know what to expect or what was about to unfold. At 24 you are at a prime age of finding your feet in the working world, trying to establish yourself in your respective career/job, having a baby for me destabilized all of that (I had no clue what I was doing). I wish someone would’ve prepared me for the sacrifices I needed to make at that young age.

Q: What has motherhood taught you about yourself or how has it transformed your life?

A: I know what unconditional love is. I cannot imagine a life without my boys. Every time they are away from me, I feel a part of me has left. I am more mindful of my actions and decisions because I know that they will have an impact on my kids.

How has pregnancy and motherhood transformed your life? Share your experience with us in the comments section below xx