Motherhood
AMALIE & UMA
Who: Amalie Rose, 28 years, and Uma, 7 months
Where: Helsingør, Denmark
On a late summer day in August, we visit Amalie and her little ray of sunshine, baby Uma, in their home in Helsingør.
We are greeted by Amalie and her partner, Emil, at the door, and they welcome us inside with hushed voices, since Uma is still napping. It’s the kind of quiet that new parents quickly learn - the kind of quiet that you cling to because the days feel easier, less fussy, with a well-rested baby. We talk over coffee and snacks, and Amalie graciously shares her thoughts about motherhood so far.
“We’ve been together for six years, and because of the age difference (Emil is eight years older than Amalie, red.) we quickly talked about having kids. It never felt daunting to me, and I’m so glad we didn’t wait.”
“In many ways, my pregnancy with Uma was a return to myself. An invitation to trust what’s already living in me, even when it’s unfamiliar. I allowed myself to feel, to slow down, to listen more deeply than I ever had before — especially to my body.”
Before her pregnancy with Uma, Amalie had a miscarriage during the first trimester. The shock and sadness of this felt overwhelming, and Amalie needed to give her body and mind time to properly heal before trying again. Luckily, finally becoming pregnant again also became a part of the healing process:
“In many ways, my pregnancy with Uma was a return to myself. An invitation to trust what’s already living in me, even when it’s unfamiliar. I allowed myself to feel, to slow down, to listen more deeply than I ever had before — especially to my body.”
As a first-time parent, how did you prepare for parenthood?
“I didn’t follow any guidebooks or curated checklists — in fact, I deliberately stepped away from all of that. Something in me knew that no one else’s version of motherhood could show me the way into my own. I saw pregnancy as an invitation to become more anchored in myself. I didn’t know what would come, and I didn’t try to control it. I just practiced being present, curious, and open.”
What has been the biggest challenge?
“On one hand, becoming a parent is the most grounding and heart-opening thing I’ve ever experienced. On the other hand, there are moments — often in the quiet hours of the night — where I feel a grief for the version of me that existed before all of this. The freedom, the spontaneity, the sleep.
“There’s no guidebook for that duality — for loving your child with your whole being while also missing who you were before they arrived. Accepting this duality has been the biggest challenge - most difficult and most beautiful work.”
If you could look back and give yourself one piece of gentle advice for life as a new mom, what would it be?
“I would tell myself this: You are allowed to be and feel like a beginner.
You don’t have to intuit everything. You don’t have to love every moment. And you’re not a bad mother if some days feel heavy, if you long for a moment of quiet, or if you don’t feel like yourself. Be gentle with yourself. You are enough, even in the mess, even in the doubt, even when you’re learning love through exhaustion.”
“There have been many days where I’ve stayed inside because everything felt too raw, too heavy, too vulnerable. As a first-time mom, getting out the door can feel like a mountain. And that’s okay, too.”
Can you share some of the essentials you have been using for Uma?
“I didn’t have a long list of things ready before Uma arrived. Instead, I allowed myself to figure out what we needed as we went.
I believe deeply in keeping it simple. A newborn doesn’t need much — just a mother who’s nourished, well-rested (as much as possible), and loved.
That said, high-quality muslin cloths really made a huge difference. We use them for everything. They’re gentle, versatile, and somehow always within reach.”
