The Couple to Couple League

  • Search/Register for Classes
  • Donate
  • Store
  • Login
  • Search/Register for Classes
  • Donate
  • Home
    • Living the Love Blog
    • Español
    • Site Map
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Login
  • Learn NFP from CCL
    • Main course descriptions
    • CycleProGoTM app
    • Family Foundations
    • Your Love Story
    • Store
  • What is natural family planning?
    • What is NFP?
    • Benefits of NFP
    • Real couples, Real stories
    • CCL Videos
  • Get involved
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • About CCL
    • Connect with us

Mom’s hilariously relatable pregnancy posts go viral

Posted on September 12, 2017

Pregnancy is an exciting time! But in the throes of morning sickness, insatiable hunger and feeling like a beluga whale, all of those “Yay! Pregnancy is so great!”  posts on social media can be more than a little annoying.

Meet Maya Vorderstrasse, Instagram celebrity, Brazilian mom of Irish twins and optimistic realist of all things motherhood.

We may or may not know what baby number 2 is, and may or may not be working on a gender announcement… 😏

A post shared by M A Y A 🍉 (@mayavorderstrasse) on Mar 18, 2017 at 9:42am PDT

After a series of gorgeous but otherwise typical pregnancy update photos while she was carrying her first daughter, Maya decided to do something a little more creative to record the progress of her second child.

Dat bump life 🤘🏼 #27weekspregnant

A post shared by M A Y A 🍉 (@mayavorderstrasse) on May 3, 2017 at 1:45pm PDT

#29weekspregnant and starving 🍟🍔

A post shared by M A Y A 🍉 (@mayavorderstrasse) on May 18, 2017 at 2:49pm PDT

In an interview with HuffingtonPost, Maya explained that she wanted to depict motherhood in a more relatable, realistic way since her first pregnancy wasn’t nearly the dreamlike fairytale social media normally depicts.

Hold that thought. Gotta pee. Again. #pregnancyproblems 🤰🏻

A post shared by M A Y A 🍉 (@mayavorderstrasse) on May 31, 2017 at 3:35pm PDT

Armed with only a camera, a letterboard and a good sense of humor, Maya put together a viral Instagram series so relatable that it’s garnered more than 51,449 likes — and that’s just counting the data on Instagram alone.

Dangerous territory, husband 🤰🏻👿 #33weekspregnant

A post shared by M A Y A 🍉 (@mayavorderstrasse) on Jun 14, 2017 at 3:53pm PDT

 

“[Finding humor in the struggles] is completely intentional,” she says. “I hate complaining, but being pregnant or having to deal with Irish twins is not easy at all!”

🍦#35weekspregnant

A post shared by M A Y A 🍉 (@mayavorderstrasse) on Jun 28, 2017 at 3:57pm PDT

Especially during the early days, it takes practice and self-control to focus on the joy amid the chaos. “I [push] myself to be happy most of the time and [be] thankful for my children, who are a blessing in my life!” Surely having a celebrity Instagram account with 68,000 followers encourages her to keep the level head and light heart that her audience loves.

Bears. Beets. Bump. #37weekspregnant

A post shared by M A Y A 🍉 (@mayavorderstrasse) on Jul 12, 2017 at 4:00pm PDT

Now that the pregnancy is over, Maya is taking the same humorous approach to parenting Irish twins. She continues to use the letterboard to document postpartum as a mom of two — a continuing series which starts here — and she offers new moms some advice to help them keep the same big-picture attitude during a trying time.

“Be patient, and try to find something — even one single thing in your day — to make you laugh,” she says. “Even though this is such a rough phase, looking at two screaming kids and smiling at the thought of them growing up together will calm your heart, I promise!”

Goodnight 😩😭…………………………………………………………………. *My sleep mask and scrunchies have pickles and ice cream on them, because obviously! @humbleconfetti 💛

A post shared by M A Y A 🍉 (@mayavorderstrasse) on Jul 19, 2017 at 4:00pm PDT

As a devout Christian and daughter-in-law of a preacher, she credits most of her patience and perseverance to her faith.

“If it wasn’t for Jesus, I wouldn’t have my family. When I look at them, I see God’s grace and love for me and my husband. I also run to Jesus every time I need relief. Even if all I say is the word ‘Jesus’ repeatedly for 10 min, that’s all I need to find strength and go back to what I have to do.”

That abiding joy allows Maya to enjoy such precious moments and two little hearts while they’re still around and eager for cuddles. “I sincerely laugh when [both girls are] crying at the same time. They both want me, need me and love me, how can I not smile at that?”

So I made him try being me for an hour. Didn’t last 15 min. #39weekspregnant #heymileywhatsgood #ilovemyhusband 💃🏻👊🏻🔥

A post shared by M A Y A 🍉 (@mayavorderstrasse) on Jul 26, 2017 at 4:00pm PDT

Maya’s husband, Tim, wasn’t available to chat so she spoke up on his behalf with some advice for dads with pregnant wives: “He would probably say: Be very patient, try to see things through your spouse’s perspective, keep her well fed and go to sleep when the kids go to sleep!” It looks like he may have learned that the hard way.

How can that fit through that??!? Asking for a friend… 😫#40weekspregnant

A post shared by M A Y A 🍉 (@mayavorderstrasse) on Aug 2, 2017 at 4:00pm PDT

Hello, everyone! 👶🏼. I’m slowly getting to the beautiful messages everyone has sent me, I can’t believe I have such thoughtful friends here, thank you so so so much!!

A post shared by M A Y A 🍉 (@mayavorderstrasse) on Aug 5, 2017 at 3:56pm PDT

Every mom has dealt with the not-so-glamorous parts of pregnancy, from the exhaustion to the swollen ankles, and know that real-life pregnancy doesn’t always feel as romantic as photoshoots make it out to be. I found Maya’s pregnancy series to be a wonderful illustration of what it looks like to respond honestly yet joyfully to the discomfort and challenges.

— Forest Hempen
Marketing and Communications Associate

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email
← Expecting and nervous? There’s an app for that
Board of directors gains varied expertise →

Filed Under: pregnancy Tagged With: @mayavonderstrasse, Brazilian, funny, German, hilarious mom, hormones, Instagram, Irish twins, letterboard, Maya Vonderstrasse, poor tim, postpartum, pregnancy, relatable, Tim Vonderstrasse, viral

↑ Blog home

Stay updated

Sign up to receive our blog posts in your inbox

Contact Information

The Couple to Couple League International, Inc.
4290 Delhi Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45238-5829

Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 Eastern M-F

Phone: (513) 471-2000
Toll free: (800) 745-8252
Fax: (513) 557-2449

Contact a Staff Member
Send us an email

Connect with us to stay updated

Go to our sign-up page to sign up for CCL blog posts, News, and Donor/Student Communications emails, and find links to our social media pages and RSS feeds.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Facebook Pinterest Twitter YouTube RSS Feed
© 2019 Couple to Couple League · Log in · Website by Black Hills Web Works

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.