Empowered Beginnings: A Blog on Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond

Implantation bleeding is light spotting that can occur when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. It’s an early sign of pregnancy, though not everyone experiences it. It usually happens 6 to 12 days after ovulation, which means you might notice it a few days before your expected period. If you’re asking yourself, What does implantation bleeding look like? Or, when does implantation bleeding occur?, You’re not alone.

Let’s be honest: motherhood isn’t what you see on Instagram. It's not all sunshine and rainbow moments, smiling babies, and coffee-sipping peace while your toddler plays quietly. It’s dishes in the sink (again), the same toys on the floor, the same bedtime battles, and the bone-deep exhaustion that settles into your soul on some days. But here’s the truth that I’ve had to learn (and relearn): joy can still exist in those moments. Right in the middle of the hard.

By now, you’re probably realizing that early pregnancy symptoms all also sound like PMS symptoms. And you would be right, many of those symptoms can also show up right before your period. So how do you know what your body is actually trying to tell you?

So many first-time parents come to me carrying quiet fear. They’re reading all the books, taking the classes, even buying the hypnobirthing playlist, and still, there's a knot in their stomach when they imagine the big day. That knot doesn’t mean you’re unprepared. It means you care. And the truth is: fear in birth is normal, but it doesn’t have to stay in charge.

What if fear didn’t have to be the loudest voice in the room when you gave birth? Let’s get real for a second. A lot of people planning a hospital birth have a deep-rooted fear that interventions will spiral out of control. Maybe you’ve heard horror stories, or maybe your last birth left you feeling powerless. Maybe you’re pregnant for the first time and just trying to figure out what you’re “allowed” to say no to.