"The Double Shift: Growing a Baby and a Career"

 

                     

                    They say pregnancy is a beautiful journey, but no one warns us about the "double shift " —growing a tiny human while managing meetings, deadlines, and career aspirations. As a working mom-to-be, we are  expected to handle it all with a glowing face , but to be real—between morning sickness, maternity leave worries ,career break  and unsolicited advice, it’s anything but easy.

When I found out I was pregnant, I was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. To be honest, I was thrilled, yet at the same time, I was worried sick and downright afraid. It felt like an emotional traffic jam—could I really handle it all? Work, family, a baby... I wasn’t so sure. 

From being excited about announcing about pregnancy at work to the anxiety of stepping down from my role the journey has been filled with dilemmas and self doubts . How much should we slow down? Will our career take a backseat? And the biggest question of all—how do you navigate something completely new while still keeping up with deadlines? 

Being a working mom-to-be is no easy task—not that it’s any less challenging for someone who isn’t working. But as a working professional, it feels like an extra weight to carry, balancing both career and motherhood. 

When I first found out I was pregnant, it felt like something I could handle. Honestly, at the time, I didn’t think it would be that challenging. But as the days went on, I realized—this task is never easy, never was, and never will be. 

Speaking of this, there’s one incident I’d like to share that really left me with a lot of doubts and questions. It was during my 5th-month check-up when the doctor told me that the baby was healthy and doing well. But then she asked if I had started feeling any small movements in my belly. I replied that I hadn’t noticed anything yet. She mentioned that I should try to concentrate and pay attention to them moving forward. The concern in her voice made me feel uneasy, and I couldn’t help but feel bad that I hadn’t noticed those tiny movements. Was I so caught up in work that I missed it? A flood of questions raced through my mind—Am I going to be a good mom? Can I handle this? I felt like I was failing already, and suddenly my mind became a clutter of doubt, wondering if I could truly do it all.

I couldn’t understand why it felt like I was the only one running this race, even though I had my entire family—my husband, parents, in-laws—supporting me every step of the way. Maybe it was just the hormones making me overthink and worry so much? Not really sure.

Coming back to the double shift dilemma - There’s no perfect formula, and no matter how hard we try to balance everything, it's a constant juggling act. So chill that's okay 

• The Emotional Rollercoaster
  Pregnancy brings about a whirlwind of emotions, and for me, the doubts came flooding in. I was excited, of course, but there was a constant stream of worry running through my mind. Could I really handle both a career and a baby? Could I be the mom I wanted to be, while also being the professional I’ve always strived to be? It wasn’t just the physical changes; it was the emotional ones too. From mood swings to feeling anxious, it seemed like there was no escaping the emotional ups and downs.
• The Work Challenges & Maternity Dilemmas
  The hardest part was not knowing when to step back and how much time I could take off without feeling like I was falling behind. Every decision felt like it weighed heavily on my future, both as a mother and as a professional.
• The Fear of Falling Behind
  One of the toughest battles I’ve faced so far is the fear of falling behind in my career. Will I still have opportunities to grow? Will pregnancy impact my professional progress? But in those moments, I had to remind myself that it’s okay to pause and embrace the changes happening in my life. 
• The Superwoman Syndrome
  There’s also this pressure to be a superwoman—to handle everything effortlessly. The world expects us to be glowing, productive, and flawless in both our roles as mothers-to-be and professionals. But the reality is, it’s not that simple.

I have come to a point of accepting to myself that motherhood does not require us to be a perfectionist , it a continuous process of learning , we don't have to do it all and its perfectly fine .Navigating this journey isn’t about being flawless; it's about being real. Pregnancy, work, and motherhood all come with their own set of challenges, but it’s the strength we build through these experiences that make us resilient. The road may be rocky, but we’ll get through it—one step at a time.

As I eagerly await the arrival of my baby in just 3 months, I've experienced a whirlwind of emotions. But I’m ready to face it all, knowing that I have wonderful people around me—always ready to lend a hand, an ear, and a shoulder to lean on. What more could I ask for? Here we come, ready to embrace this beautiful journey ahead. Stick around, because there are so many more stories to come, and I can’t wait to share them with you!