First Reactions to Pregnancy: A Mix of Joy and Anxiety
“My pregnancy was a planned one, but that doesn’t mean it came without its fair share of emotions,” Celestina began, reflecting on the mix of excitement and apprehension she felt. As a specialist in internal communications, Celestine Dokpesi advises on employee experience, ideating and executing ideas that keep employee engaged, while working closely with employer brand team to facilitate talent acquisition through effective story telling and brand positioning.
Juggling this role with the experience of being ushered into motherhood is definitely an experience we are eager to learn from!
Celestine shared with us that she and her husband had agreed to wait a year before trying to conceive, setting a date to stop contraceptives exactly a year after their wedding. As the time drew nearer, however, they began discussing the decision more seriously, considering the goals they wanted to achieve first.
Despite their careful planning, Celestina couldn’t shake her anxieties, particularly about the potential impact on her career. “I was worried that once I started having children, my career would take a backseat,” she shared. The thought of maternity leave and the struggle to regain her professional footing afterward was daunting. “I remember crying to my husband, feeling like my life was about to be put on hold,” she admitted. When the time finally came to stop contraception, Celestina was hit with another wave of emotions, fearful of potential complications. But when she discovered she was pregnant, all those worries shifted to the well-being of her unborn child.
Breaking the News: Navigating Workplace Perceptions
Even after learning she was pregnant, Celestina wrestled with lingering fears about how her colleagues and managers would react. Working remotely, she didn’t anticipate her pregnancy would drastically impact her performance, but she still worried about perceptions. “I didn’t want to come across as someone who wasn’t serious about her career,” she explained. Concerned that her colleagues might think she was prioritizing her family over her professional ambitions, potentially jeopardizing her career progression, the act of maintaining her work identity while embracing her new role as a mother now became a constant struggle.
Managing New Emotions and Expectations
As Celestina shared with us, navigating the emotional landscape of pregnancy proved to be one of the most challenging aspects for her. She quickly realized that, at different points in life, different things take priority. “At that moment, my priority was the life growing inside me,” she noted. She faced complications during her pregnancy, including hospitalization, and often felt overwhelmed by the physical and emotional toll. “I remember being admitted to the hospital and crying to my close friends that I was tired,” she recounted.
Despite these challenges, she found strength in her support system, particularly her husband, who constantly reminded her of her value and contributions at work. She also communicated openly with her line manager about her health, ensuring she could adjust her workload and prioritize her well-being. By focusing on the times when she felt most energetic, Celestina was excited to share how she managed to maintain her productivity, even if it wasn’t at her usual pace.
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Unexpected Challenges: Pregnancy Brain and Overwhelming Fatigue
One of the biggest surprises for Celestina was experiencing what she termed “pregnancy brain.” Known for her sharp memory, she was shocked to find herself forgetting things or struggling to complete tasks that once came easily. “It was like my brain had abandoned me,” she said, describing moments where she would sit in front of her computer, unable to focus or recall basic information. This, coupled with a level of fatigue she had never experienced before, made even simple tasks feel monumental.
The Guilt of Not Being Optimal at Work
Throughout her pregnancy, Celestina often battled feelings of guilt, especially when she saw colleagues working at full capacity while she struggled to keep up. “I felt like I wasn’t contributing as much as I could,” she admitted. Although she learned to manage her energy more effectively, focusing on deep work during her most productive hours and saying no to unnecessary meetings, this feeling was obviously something pregnant mothers face. This approach helped her conserve her strength for the tasks that truly mattered, allowing her to maintain her sense of professional integrity.
Maternity Leave: A Rocky Start and Smooth Transition
As her due date approached, Celestina hesitated to start her maternity leave, convinced that working remotely meant she could continue until the last moment. “My baby arrived earlier than I had anticipated, which threw off my timeline,” she explained. Despite advice from other moms, she delayed her leave, believing she could power through.
When her baby finally arrived, the transition was smoother than she had expected, thanks in large part to her supportive team. “My team was incredibly supportive,” she said. Any guilt she felt was purely internal, driven by her own expectations rather than any external pressure. Even when she went into labor, she made sure to provide her colleagues with a handover note, demonstrating her commitment despite the circumstances.
Advice to Other Women: Embrace Support and Trust the Process
Reflecting on her journey, Celestina emphasized the importance of leaning on a support system. “If you have colleagues, friends, or a partner who tells you not to stress yourself, to let them help you—listen to them,” she advised. She underscored the need to be gentle with oneself, to prioritize mental health, and to understand that every season in life brings its own challenges and opportunities.
Celestina’s pregnancy story is definitely an inspiring one, encouraging resilience in working women who are balancing career aspirations with the demands of motherhood. We mostly loved how she didn’t hold back from highlighting the importance of support, self-compassion, and the courage to redefine what success looks like at different stages of life.
