Meaghan O'Connell

This memoir about the author’s pregnancy, birthing story, and first year postpartum is brutally honest. It’s hard to read while pregnant, but also refreshing to read something so real. With my first pregnancy I didn’t experience everything the author did, but I could certainly relate to much of what she felt. It’s such an overwhelming thing to carry, birth, and care for a new life. There’s so much pressure and women are made to feel bad there is something wrong with them if they show more struggle with any part of it.

“This pregnancy makes me feel trapped sometimes, but other times I think, you’ll never be this free again.” show less

5 stars seems pretty generous for what is essentially an expanded longform internet essay, but man, I loved the shit out of this. Maybe that's mostly because I'm firmly in the crux of the DO I WANT TO DO THIS TERRIBLE THING dilemma, but I appreciated her anti-sugarcoated take on pregnancy and motherhood. I wouldn't be surprised if I had a very similar experience of it.

Also, labor is terrifying.

I loved this honest and real memoir and appreciate the contrast between the images of pregnancy, birth and motherhood, and the lived experience of the author.

Wow. This book! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I loved it and could not put it down! ❤️
Meaghan writes all her raw feelings, struggles and thoughts about pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood. I was so completely into this book and appreciated her honest story. I learned so much from her experiences!
It does, however, make me dread childbirth when the day comes when my husband and I start our family 😱
I think it is a must read for moms/moms to be!