Dear Mama,
If you’re reading this, you’re probably somewhere between excited, overwhelmed, and exhausted — or all three at once. Maybe you’re counting down the days until your baby arrives… or maybe you’re holding your little one right now, trying to figure out what comes next.
Wherever you are on this journey, this letter is for you.
From one Pretoria mom to another — from someone who has walked this beautiful, brutal, unforgettable road — here is what I want you to know.
You’re doing better than you think.
I wish someone had told me that more often.
You’ll doubt yourself — constantly.
You’ll wonder if you’re feeding enough, soothing enough, bonding enough, sleeping enough, coping enough.
But hear me clearly:
You are doing enough.
You are enough.
Not because everything is perfect,
but because you care so deeply.
And that is what makes you a good mom.
first time mom099
Pretoria can feel big… but you are not alone.
Across Waverley, Brooklyn, Moot, Centurion, Montana, Garsfontein — there are moms just like you:
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sitting on the couch cluster feeding,
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pacing the hallway with a fussy baby,
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googling “why is my newborn grunting?”,
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crying in the bathroom for two minutes of silence,
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loving their baby so fiercely it scares them.
You belong to that quiet, powerful sisterhood now.
If you ever want to feel supported by other moms, consider joining prenatal or newborn communities around Pretoria, or simply reach out — Pretoria motherhood is full of warm, kind souls.
You won’t feel this tired forever.
Those first weeks are heavy.
Your body is healing.
Your hormones are wild.
Your baby is learning how to be human.
There will be days when you feel like you’ve lost yourself —
and then out of nowhere, your baby will smile at you for the first time…
and your world will shift.
Slowly, gently, you will find your rhythm again.
It’s okay if you don’t “love every moment.”
You’re not supposed to.
There will be moments you adore —
and moments you simply survive.
Nothing is wrong with you.
Nothing makes you a bad mom.
Motherhood is a mix of sacred and messy.
Of joy and confusion.
Of heart-bursting love and bone-deep exhaustion.
You’re allowed to feel all of it.
You will miss things you don’t even realise are happening.
One day your baby fits perfectly in your arms…
and then suddenly their feet hang over your elbow.
The newborn curl.
The tiny hand gripping your pinky.
The warm weight sleeping on your chest.
The squeaks.
The milk-drunk smiles.
They fade faster than you think.
If you want to capture these fleeting moments, here’s something to keep in mind:
Do a Maternity Photoshoot
Book your Newborn Photoshoot
Not because you need perfect photos…
but because these moments don’t come back.
first time mom098
Ask for help. Please.
Pretoria moms are strong — too strong sometimes.
You don’t have to do this alone.
Let someone bring food.
Let someone hold the baby while you shower.
Let someone fold the laundry.
Let someone sit with you and listen.
Asking for help is not weakness —
it’s wisdom.
Trust your instincts.
Advice will come from everywhere:
Your mother.
Your mother-in-law.
Google.
Facebook moms’ groups.
Strangers.
Your own expectations.
But no one knows your baby like you do.
If something feels wrong — speak up.
If something feels right — trust it.
You are the expert of your child.
You always will be.
first time mom097
You are becoming someone new… and she is powerful.
Motherhood isn’t about going back to who you were.
It’s about discovering who you’re becoming.
Stronger.
Softer.
Wiser.
More patient.
More loving.
More capable than you ever imagined.
The woman you’re becoming is beautiful —
even on the days you can’t see her yet.
No matter what today looks like… you are loved.
By your baby.
By the people who see your effort.
By the version of yourself you’re still growing into.
You are doing the hardest and the most meaningful work in the world.
And if no one has told you this today:
You are enough.
You are brave.
You are a wonderful mother.
With all my heart,
A Pretoria mom who believes in you.
A Gentle Note Before You Go
If you ever want to capture your pregnancy glow, your newborn’s tiny details, or your baby’s first milestones, my warm Pretoria studio is here when you need it.
Not to make things perfect.
But to remind you of how beautiful this season truly is.
You’re always welcome here, mama.
Love Jenna
first time mom102
