By Indu Dua, Integrative Counsellor >. Picture Joey Thompson

We’ve all seen it—the dreamy pregnancy posts. Glowing cheeks, hands gently resting on a growing bump, soft music in the background, maybe even a Pinterest-worthy nursery in progress. It’s beautiful, yes. But let’s be honest: that’s not the whole story.

Somewhere along the way, we were sold the idea that pregnancy should be the happiest time of our lives. And while that may be true for some, it’s not the reality for everyone. What if, instead of joy, you’re feeling fear? What if sadness creeps in more often than excitement? What if you feel completely disconnected from the experience that everyone says should feel magical?

Some people feel incredible during pregnancy, and that’s something to be celebrated. But many don’t. For many, pregnancy is messy, overwhelming, lonely, and confusing. And yet, that side of the story rarely gets told. So when you’re the one crying in the bathroom after yet another wave of nausea or lying awake at 3 a.m. wondering if you’ll ever feel ready for motherhood, it’s easy to think something’s wrong with you.

But nothing is wrong with you. You’re not broken. You’re not failing. You’re human. Behind the quiet smiles and excited baby kicks, there are experiences that often remain unspoken. You might be grieving a miscarriage while carrying a new life. You might feel like your body is changing so fast you barely recognize yourself anymore. You may be silently asking, “Will I be a good parent?” or even, “Am I ready for this at all?” And if you’ve heard one too many people telling you to “enjoy every moment,” you might just feel exhausted by the pressure to feel grateful all the time.

Here’s the truth: you don’t have to fake the glow. You don’t have to pretend this is the best time of your life. You can love your baby deeply and still find pregnancy incredibly hard. Those two truths can live side by side. Feeling uncertain, overwhelmed, or emotionally raw does not make you any less prepared to be a parent. It makes you real.

Let yourself be human. Let yourself feel what you feel without shame. Allow yourself to say, “This is hard,” and know that doesn’t make you weak—it makes you honest. It means you’re showing up in the most authentic way you can.

Pregnancy is a journey, and for some, it’s more storm than sunshine. That doesn’t make your experience any less valid. If anything, it makes it more powerful. Because it takes strength to be real in a world that expects perfection.

So here’s your permission slip—feel it all. Speak your truth. Share your story. Be unapologetically real. You don’t owe anyone a perfect pregnancy.