The Sweetest Mother's Day Gift!

To the Pregnant Mama Carrying a Child Who’ll Be Born Different

4 Minute Read

By Stacey Tadlock

Pregnant woman — 10 FACE/Shutterstock.com

This is a letter I wrote hoping to help pregnant mamas who have just received the diagnosis of a birth defect, it is what I wish I could have told myself after the news of my daughter’s defects.

Dear pregnant mama,

I wish we could meet, I wish I could stand in your time and space, hold your hand, hug you and show you a picture of your life now. I wish I could look you in the eye and tell you how much you are going to love that baby in your belly. I wish I could bring your child to you and let you hold her and hear her giggle. I want to tell you there is no better sound in the world than that giggle.

RELATED: To the Mom Who Just Received Your Child’s Diagnosis

I want you to see how beautiful your child is. I want you to know you will see nothing but beauty in her face, you will truly find her to be the most beautiful girl in the world, and you will wonder how you could have ever doubted that you would think different.

I want you to see that her differences are usually not the first thing people see.

I want to tell you that her eyes are showstoppers, and she totally steals the show anytime she walks into a room. I want to tell you she will have amazing strawberry blonde hair with spring curls, and everywhere she goes, someone will comment on her beautiful locks.

I want to tell you that when you stand her in the mirror and ask her, “Who is a smart, sweet, and beautiful girl?” she will giggle with confidence and say, “Me, mommy,” and you will be able to see in her eyes that she knows in her heart how smart, sweet, and beautiful she truly is.

RELATED: Dear Daughter, You Are a Beautiful Reflection of God

I wish to tell you that your concerns of stares and whispers are false, but truth is that does happen. I want to tell you, though, that you will be surprised at how little you care. You will realize it’s not about her and who she is, but instead, those reactions are about them and who they are. The comments on how cute she is and how bubbly her personality is will far outweigh the questioning stares and eyes that dart away.

I want to tell you that your fears are all washed away now, all the what-ifs and worst-cases never happened, and it added nothing of value to your life by wondering if they would.

I want to tell you to stop wasting your heart on the sadness and cherish those kicks and rolls in your belly. I want to tell you to let go of the fear and ignore the people who think she is going to be less than. I want to tell you how normal she is, how smart she is, and how silly she is.

I want to tell you to forgive yourself for the thoughts you had when you found out about the birth defects. I want to tell you to remember this was not your fault, and blaming yourself does nothing but take away pieces of beauty that she is. I want to tell you to stop Googling, stop scouring the internet, and just breathe and wait for her.

RELATED: To the Mom Who Just Received Her Child’s Hard Medical Diagnosis

I want to tell you that when you see her, it will all make sense—God choose you to be her mother, He knew you had something in your heart that she needs to grow up in a world where she will always be different. God knew your heart would always see her as beautiful, and He knew you would instill in her the confidence she needs to walk through this life beautifully different.

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Stacey Tadlock

Stacey Tadlock is working wife, mother, photographer, writer, and cleft and infertility awareness advocate. She is married to her college sweetheart and they have two daughters. Stacey is the writer and creator behind Faithfully Failing where she provides encouragement through scripture and life lessons for those times in life you feel like you are failing in faith, marriage, or motherhood. She hopes through her words women are reminded that no matter your failures God’s grace covers it all. Every day is a new day to glorify Him and a new day to conquer yesterday’s failure with His unyielding grace

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To the Pregnant Mama Carrying a Child Who’ll Be Born Different

RELATED: To the Mom Who Just Received Your Child’s Diagnosis

I want you to see that her differences are usually not the first thing people see.

RELATED: Dear Daughter, You Are a Beautiful Reflection of God

I want to tell you that your fears are all washed away now, all the what-ifs and worst-cases never happened, and it added nothing of value to your life by wondering if they would.

RELATED: To the Mom Who Just Received Her Child’s Hard Medical Diagnosis

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A GRANDMA

Stacey Tadlock

To My Angel Babies

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What Comes after the NICU? Sometimes It’s the Struggle No One Sees.

Surprise! I’m 42 and Pregnant.

To the Moms of COVID Babies Turning Five

Dear Mama, There’s a Story In Your C-Section Scar

He Was Almost the Boy I Let Get away

Dear C-Section Mom, It’s Natural to Feel Whatever You Do

Get It Now

So God Made a Mother

To the Pregnant Mama Carrying a Child Who’ll Be Born Different

I want you to see that her differences are usually not the first thing people see.

I want to tell you that your fears are all washed away now, all the what-ifs and worst-cases never happened, and it added nothing of value to your life by wondering if they would.

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A GRANDMA

To My Angel Babies

Having a Holiday Baby Is Extra Special

I’d Given Up on Getting Pregnant‚ But Hope Had Other Plans

It’s a Good Day To Celebrate Your Rainbow Baby

What Comes after the NICU? Sometimes It’s the Struggle No One Sees.

Surprise! I’m 42 and Pregnant.

To the Moms of COVID Babies Turning Five

Dear Mama, There’s a Story In Your C-Section Scar

He Was Almost the Boy I Let Get away

Dear C-Section Mom, It’s Natural to Feel Whatever You Do

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