My wish for a child: “all that time I didn't dare to believe it”

From former model to nutrition consultant, Michelle den Hollander flew around the world from shoot to show, but also experienced the struggles of having the ‘right’ measurements. This brought her to where she is now, and on Amayzine she shares tips.

The termination of the pregnancy was a heavy blow, but we did not give up hope. After the rest my body needed, we continued with the process. Months went by. The medication seemed to no longer work as it should, so we switched to injections. Something I actually didn't want, but I set that aside for our wish for a child. It was a big hurdle, but how happy we are now that we made that switch.

The first injection turned out to be effective right away. Wow! A few days before Christmas and three tests later, we saw a plus sign on the pregnancy test again. Of course, with many dinners and the necessary glasses of wine ahead. The menu consisted roughly of steak tartare, oysters, bavette, and wine. The news was quickly shared with the family, as we couldn't get away with anything else. The joy was even greater than the first time, especially because they knew about those two years.

Now, a few months later, I am 22 weeks pregnant. All that time I didn't dare to believe it, but I am slowly starting to feel our baby in my belly. And that belly is growing. Our dream is coming true. Who would have thought? I am due in September with our son. I now know everything about getting pregnant, but I am also absorbing everything about how to support a healthy pregnancy. Soon all attention will go to the little one. But how are we going to organize our lives with nutrition and make the best choices for our baby boy?

This is knowledge I want to share. Did you know that 1 in 5 women is diagnosed with PCOS and that in some cases it has a connection with being overweight? For those who (like me) are in this boat, I have tips.

1. If you have questions, visit a general practitioner or gynecologist. And above all: don't let yourself be sent away if your gut feeling says that something is not right.

2. Make sure you have loving people beside you who can help you with a process, your uncertainties, or just to share your feelings.

3. Maybe there are things you can work on (I’m happy to help you further), but never forget that you are not to blame for this.

If you have questions, want to share your story with me, and/or can I do something for you, I would love to hear it. Don't hesitate to send an email to: michelle@michellesgoodfood.com.

Every two weeks, Michelle shares tips on Amayzine about healthy living, know-how about healthy eating, and her own story. Already curious? Read up on Michelle’s Good Food.