Mother,
You are as new to the world as the little one you nurture.
Your body has been remade as you have created.
In a sense,
You were born in tandem into this fresh life.
Take a moment to honor the body that has housed you both.
It has performed a miracle.
Breathe in gratitude to your beautiful body.
You have watched yourself swell,
Face,
Ankles,
Feet,
Hands,
Belly.
Silvery lines have hugged the curve of your breasts and your hips and your middle.
As you were made larger than yourself,
Faster than your skin could stretch to hold you.
Breathe in love for the capacity your body made physically and the stretch your heart made to accommodate a new existence for you both.
You have endured nausea and the burn of acid so badly you could not lay down to sleep.
You have sacrificed sleep,
Kept awake by the bump of little feet and elbows.
You have risen to exultant highs and the depths of fear and worry that you would not be able to do it.
The first evidence that you were always meant to succeed is the person who you bore.
Breathe in love for the woman who had the strength you didn't know was in her.
Breathe in the memory of the first breath.
The moment when inside was outside and you first laid eyes on your baby.
Breathe in love for that meeting and the two people who worked so hard to be together.
Now that you have created and escorted life into the world,
You are miraculously nourishing it.
There has been pain here too and tears from both of you.
Waiting for milk to come in,
Working with baby to learn how to suckle,
Hoping your broken nipples will withstand the learning.
Breathe in love for both of you as you learn how to feed.
See the little face,
The plump cheek nestled against you,
The flicker of eyelashes,
The eager suck,
However strong or weak,
The sound of tiny swallows and sighs,
The rush of milk down into your breasts and into your baby.
Breathe in love for the warmth of their little body against you and for the efforts you both have made to make this happen.
Breathe in peace.
Mother,
I know that you are tired.
I know that you have given more than you knew you had and then some.
Breathe in peace.
Take this precious time you have mindfully set apart to be renewed.
Feel your eyebrows relax,
Your cheeks,
Your jaw,
Let your lips part.
Allow your shoulders to release their burden.
I know they are tired and sore from bending to a mouth or a pump.
Let your arms hang loosely,
Your hands open and upturned.
Fill your new body with breath and release it.
Let your back release.
Feel the warm relief flow from the top of your head down to your toes.
Breathe in love for your body,
All of it.
It continues to be pushed and to rise to the needs of others so selflessly,
So steadfastly.
Whatever your body has to offer is enough.
No matter how your baby will ultimately eat and what proportions and when,
You will be sure they are fed and they have what they need and that is everything.
You are enough.
Your body is beautifully changed.
You have emerged someone new and she needs grace.
So forgive her if she sometimes feels lost.
Forgive her if she forgets things.
Forgive her if she needs help.
Forgive her if she needs more love than she feels she can ask for.
Ask for it and forgive her.
You are so much more than you can see with only your own eyes.
Breathe in love for your goodness,
For your frailty and your courage,
For the woman you didn't know you were capable of being and here you are.
Rest here.
Rest here.
Rest.
Rest.
