By Hayley Zemontas
You’re gonna feel so full
Full of wonder, full of love
The feeling that you can never get enough
Of gazing upon your newborn’s face
That first moment, time can never erase
You’re gloriously, joyously full
But as you shower and slough off the day
Wash the grime and fatigue of birth away
You’ll suddenly realise who you now are
Face to face with a raw caesarean scar
And rawer still, your stomach once round
Taut and shining; an orb profound
Now is tender, boggy and strange
And as euphoria starts to fade
You might feel empty, and that’s okay.
Once your babies are born,
you’ll feel a little empty
Flat and aching; a soulless nest
Both hollow and heavy within your chest
In this moment, you’re vulnerable and sore
Exhaustion seeps from every pore
And your womb is so suddenly bare
But as you mourn the loss of your pregnant self
A completely new person is birthed as well
As you watch those perfect hands unfurl
To wrap tight around your finger, curled
Your eyes will seep and your heart will sing
As you try on this beautiful, unfamiliar skin
You’re a Mother now, both soft and strong
The piece that’s been missing all along
Some days, the emptiness will hit you still
But ultimately, you’ll feel so fulfilled.
Hayley Zemontas is a first-time mum to twin girls. She loves writing poetry and finds it very therapeutic. You can find her on her Facebook page: Twinmumtruths.
