Hey mama,
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this journey, it’s that having the right support person can change everything.
Pregnancy, birth, and the early days of motherhood are life-altering — physically, emotionally, and mentally. It’s overwhelming, even when you’re surrounded by help.
And in my case, I wasn’t. My family is back home in Brazil.
But I had him. My husband.
My best friend, my teammate, my steady rock through it all.
He watched every class with me. He came to every midwife appointment. He held my hand, reminded me to breathe, asked questions I forgot to ask, and held me when the fear crept in.
Without him, I honestly don’t know how I would’ve gotten through pregnancy — let alone postpartum.
One of the things we had planned (yes, we’re a planning couple!) was hydration during labour. I don’t drink warm or room-temperature water — only cold. So he had one job: keep my Baby Ollie “FlowMate” Insulated Water Jug filled and nearby, so I could stay hydrated.
Funny thing is — I didn’t end up needing it during labour.
But that water jug did become something special once we got home.
While I was learning how to take care of Ollie, my body was still healing, my hormones were all over the place, and I often forgot to eat or drink. So he took that little job — keeping the FlowMate full — and turned it into a daily act of love.
Every single day, he made sure it was topped up with ice-cold water.
He’d hand it to me while I fed Ollie or pumped or just sat down for the first time in hours. It may sound small, but it meant everything.
It said: I see you. I’ve got you. You’re not alone.
If you’re expecting — or supporting someone who is — please know this:
Showing up matters.
You don’t have to do grand gestures or say the perfect words.
Sometimes, showing love looks like cold water on the nightstand.
So here’s to the partners, the support people, the rocks.
And if you don’t have one right now, please hear this: you still deserve care.
You still deserve support. You don’t have to do this alone.
With love and gratitude,
Renata (Ollie’s mum) 💛