Pregnancy Panic Is Real: Maddie Levine Gets Honest About First-Time Mom Anxiety

No one warned me about the number of decisions I would have to make before my first child arrives.

I am heading into my third trimester and getting more excited with each passing day, but with excitement comes anxiety, and with anxiety comes the daunting questions that demand my attention.

“Where am I going to deliver?”

“What color do I paint the nursery?”

“Do I really need a bottle warmer?”

“Why are strollers so expensive?”

Every choice I am faced with feels so monumental, but throughout this process, I am learning more about myself than I ever thought possible.

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The Truth About First-Time Pregnancies

“So, what’s your birthing plan?”

That’s a question that people love asking. I remember feeling embarrassed the first time someone asked that because I didn’t even know what that meant.

The world of birthing plans, pediatricians, and breastfeeding tips is so foreign to me, but every other woman seemingly has it under control. It’s an isolating feeling that makes me feel one step behind at times, and it makes decision making that much harder.

Stepping into this new chapter of life is met with a lot of self-doubt, and if you’re entering this stage alongside me with the same fears, I’ll be straight up with you; you are not alone, and it’s totally okay to be nervous.

READ MORE: Maddie Levine Thrilled to Share Her Pregnancy Announcement

How to Be Confident in Your Decisions for Your Future Baby

With three months to go, I have come to the conclusion that striving for perfection is like asking a newborn not to cry. It won’t happen.

Every mother’s journey is different. For me, I am simply grateful to be entering the third trimester. It’s the closest I have ever been to having the family I have always wanted, and I choose to keep my grateful heart at the forefront of every decision. I am learning that I am a direct reflection of the women in my life: resilient, warm, and passionate.

That’s the real combination that will shape the mother I become, not what diaper bag I chose.

While I aim to make every right decision for my future child, I have decided that perfection is not the goal. Being present is.

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If I can soak in every special moment, from painting the nursery to choosing a name, I am doing something right.

If you’re in the thick of it like me, I encourage you to be present and remind yourself that none of us know what we’re doing.

And yet, we’re all doing a pretty good job.