pregnancy

Mama's hands become shaky
Unboxing the pregnancy test
Awaiting the reveal
Her heart bursts in her chest

Two lines surface — omigoodness!
There is a little bean in there
And for the next nine months or so
Mom’s temple becomes one to share

Life changes at that moment
Whether it’s mom's first or it’s her last
A new human will arrive soon
Life won't be the same as in the past

She’s thrilled about her news
Sharing with folks on the inside
Others hear after week twelve
At first, the bean’s something to hide

Trimester one includes
Queasy spells and saltine crackers
Mom’s wiped out but barely rests
Without the belly she’d be a slacker

Next, the second trimester
Nothing like the last or first
Her belly pops, and sickness fades
Mom’s energy is reimbursed

There’s something about mama
Could be the strong nails and fab hair
She rocks a pregnancy glow
The second trimester comes with flare

Finally, trimester three
Safe zone (what mom’s been waiting for)
Pregnant waddle, loss of breath
And standing up becomes a chore

But mama is a Goddess
Whose body swells while baby grows
Slip-on shoes become a must
So not to cram those puffy toes

Every place that mama visits
Have people asking when she’s due
There’s not a door she opens
The world becomes her cheering crew

And then one day, it’s time
For babe to make their big debut 
Daddy paces, hoping that
He’s not bitten more than he can chew

Holding them for the first time
Both parents stare in disbelief
Grateful their angel arrived safely
And the pair breathe a sigh of relief

Driving home from hospital
Precious cargo in the back seat
Mama sits next to the bundle
As the trio head home to meet...

One excited family
Perhaps a big bro or big sis
Four-legged friends and grandparents
A home completely filled with bliss

The first few weeks (a giant blur)
When loved ones meet the Queen or King
A revolving door of goodwill and cheer
Outfits and food are what they bring

Mom is thankful for everything
Overwhelmed by warmth and love
Would not want to change a thing
And yet, she may be on the verge of...

A mini-mental breakdown
Because mom has barely slept
Chances are she’s still in pain
And thanks to hormones, she has wept

Trimester four begins when
The baby’s here, fresh to the world
But sometimes, we can forget that
Mama, too, has had a whirl

She adjusting to a newborn
Her body changed, and things have moved
For now, though, it’s tunnel vision
A damn good mom is what she’ll prove!

That’s great and all, and selfless
But mama needs to keep in mind
Her feelings are all valid
And to herself, she must be kind 

Whatever she is going through
Needs to be supported, needs to be heard
The baby may own the spotlight
But let’s ensure mum’s also the word