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Pregnancy is a remarkable time of profound transformation for both the mother and the fetus. During these nine months, the pregnant person undergoes significant physical changes, including complex shifts in hormones and metabolism, which are essential to support the developing fetus. Alongside these physical demands, emotional challenges can increase levels of perceived stress and, in some cases, lead to mental health issues.

There are countless approaches to try to explain why people think and behave in the ways that they do, and like many Inspire the Mind readers, I have always been interested in this question. As a teenager, I had heard about the ‘nature vs nurture’ debate, where scientists disagree over how much our traits and behaviours are determined by our genes, and how much they are shaped by the environment around us. Of course, the general answer tends to be: it’s a bit of both.

In 1989, the reign of Romania’s Communist leader came to a sudden, brutal end when Nicolae Ceauşescu was executed by firing squad on live television. In the revolution that followed, an intrigued Western world rushed into a nation long sealed off from view – only to discover nearly 170,000 abandoned children being raised in warehouse-like orphanages.

Surrounded by echoes of doctors, nurses, fluorescent lights beaming above, the clatter of medical equipment, a flurry of instructions, sensations, reassurance, overflowing emotions, she lays there as her body and mind are going through unimaginable things, an embodiment of strength, ready to give birth. She feels confused, senses judgement and thinks: “How will I be able to do this?” Motherhood is often seen as a time of significant personal change, filled with both joy and