The Magic of Motherhood

Who said there’s no such thing as magic . . .

The Magic of Being a New Mum: Love, Chaos, and Everything in Between

I used to think magic was something reserved for fairytales – a whimsical idea wrapped in glitter, wands, and impossible dreams. But then I became a mum, and suddenly, magic is everywhere.

Becoming a mother for the first time is a transformation unlike any other. It’s a love so vast it feels like your heart might burst.  A journey so intense it changes you at your core. The world as you know it suddenly shifts, making space for this tiny human who, in an instant, becomes your entire universe.

The magic of being a new mum isn’t just in the big, life-changing moments—it’s in the quiet, in-between ones, the ones that leave you breathless with wonder, exhausted with love, and forever changed.

You are their safe place, their home. And in that moment, you know with certainty, nothing will ever be the same again . . . And that’s OK.

The Magic of Growing a Human

I first met Estie when she was 7 weeks gestation - hardly more than a beating heart.

Over the weeks and months that followed I watched her grow, change and form into the baby girl she was to become. I was in awe at every scan – seeing how she was growing, and how my body was growing and changing to support her. Holding her in my arms after … weeks and … days, felt simply miraculous. I felt so proud - of my body, myself and of what I had nurtured, grown and delivered into this world.

The First Time You Hold Them

There are no words that can truly capture that first moment—when your baby is placed in your arms – relief, pride, joy, anxiety. Their tiny fingers wrap around yours, their soft skin warm against you, and suddenly, all the months of waiting, of imagining, of wondering who they’d be— become real.

Is birth not magic in and of itself? Vaginal birth or c-section, is it not magic that YOU – your body – birthed a whole new life?

 A vaginal birth requires (not science-y; bare with me) your cervix to open and thin some 10cm so your baby can navigate its way from your uterus through your pelvis and vagina to the outside world.  Assisted by hormones only produced at birth and your uterus, through contractions, transforming into a powerful muscle, you take control with that final burst of energy to bring your bubba into the world,

As miraculously, with a C-section your body endures enormous physical exposure and stress to involves cutting through several layers of tissue – literally having your insides exposed to safely deliver your baby into your waiting arms. 

If all this isn’t some divine act, some miracle, some sort of magic, I don’t know what is.

The Depth of Love You Never Knew Existed

Before motherhood, I thought I knew love. But nothing compares to this all-consuming, primal, overwhelming love that washes over you for this little person who has been gifted to you and this world. 

It’s the kind of love that makes you check them a hundred times while they sleep, just to hear their soft breathing. The kind of love that makes your chest ache with the sheer magnitude of bursting love. The kind of love that turns exhaustion into endurance, knowing that  no matter how little you sleep, you’ll still wake and find the energy to hold, nurture and love them.

The saying when you become a mum that “your heart now beats outside of your chest”.  I now know how true that is.  

The Unbreakable Bond 

There’s an unspoken language between a mother and her baby—one made up of instinct, scent, and the way their tiny body fits so perfectly into yours as if they were always meant to be there.

They recognise your voice from the womb, find comfort in the rhythm of your heartbeat, and calm at the sound of your singing (even if it’s out of tune). The fact that this connection is developing well before you even met your baby is sheer magic, made even more phenomenal by the fact that your heart and body temperatureregulates your baby, helping to keep them calm and comfortable. 

The bond is literal.

The Small Moments That Mean Everything

The magic isn’t just in the milestones; it’s in the everyday moments that often go unnoticed.

·      The way their tiny fingers curl around yours.

·      The sleepy sighs they make as they nuzzle into your chest.

·      The way their eyes light up when they see you after only a few moments apart.

·      The softness of their first smiles, the ones that feel like pure sunlight on your heart. No matter how many times my dear Estie gives me her wide, gummy smile, my heart melts.

No one tells you just how  ‘seen’ you’ll feel in those moments –  your messy hair, tired eyes, and milk-stained t-shirt don’t matter one bit.

The Strength You Didn’t Know You Had

As beautiful as motherhood is, there’s no denying it’s also exceptionally hard. There are moments of doubt and exhaustion so deep you wonder how you’ll keep going. But then you do. Because being a mum means discovering a strength you never knew existed.

It’s in the way you keep going on (if you’re lucky) two hours of sleep and unconsciously put their needs before your own - cold leftovers, half eaten meals,  delaying (until you almost burst) the run to the toilet, skipping the skin routine, forgetting to brush your teeth or  wearing milk stained clothes because getting them ready and dressed is now more important than any of your previous fashionista habits.  

I thought I was strong, but I have never known strength like this. I am invincible because I am someone’s mum – I have no choice – I have to keep going. And . . . although I get tired, the joy of motherhood pushes all that into the background.

I love her so fiercely, so selflessly, that even in the hardest moments, I wouldn’t trade this for anything.

The Magic of Becoming Someone New

Motherhood changes you – there’s no denying that. Before becoming a mum, I wondered if all that talk was really true. I can now confirm the hype -  it does change you.  In fact it changes you at your very core, and that’s a wonderful feeling.   

It expands your identity, stretches your heart, and softens your edges in ways you never expected. You are no longer just you—you are someone’s mum.

I used to label myself as many things: a clinical psychologist, a pilates-girlie, a partner, a daughter, a friend, but I am now a MUM – a huge label, a huge role and an even bigger privilege. So, of course I have changed.  I have had to.  

And while it can feel overwhelming, it’s also the most beautiful transformation. Because in giving so much of yourself, you discover the very best parts of who you are. I LOVE the mum version of me – she’s patient, she’s kind, she has boundaries, she’s protective, she’s funny, she’s easy going, she stands for her values, she pulls herself up on her own BS.

This is an even better version of myself - despite the many rough edges I’m still trying to shape, soften and smooth.   

Embracing the Magic

Motherhood is raw, real, and sometimes ridiculously hard. There are moments when you question everything, when the tears come fast, and the sleep is short. But even in those times — maybe especially in those times — magic happens - a cuddle, a smile, a laugh, a breath.

So, if you’re in this season of new motherhood, pause for a moment. Take a breath. Hold your baby close. Because one day, you’ll look back and realise these were the days when love was at its purest, when the magic was at its strongest, and when you became something extraordinary—someone’s mum.

Magic is real. I know because I’m living it — every day, in the ordinary, messy, beautiful moments of being a new mum.