We asked 43 women what they'd say, anonymously, to anyone pregnant right now.

Mamamia's Confessions series asks women to share what they'd say to the people closest to them, if they could do so anonymously. What would you tell your parents? Your manager? Your ex? It could be a secret you've been holding onto for years, or something that's on your mind right now. Nothing is off-limits.

This week, we asked 43 women the one thing they'd say to pregnant women anonymously. Here's what they told us.

From morning sickness to unsolicited advice (ugh), all sorts of things come with being pregnant that you might not expect. Bladder leakage is another one of those very common but not commonly talked-about things that go hand in hand with pregnancy and childbirth, with two in three women who have had a baby experiencing it.

Bladder leakage might not be everyone's favourite topic of conversation, but it came up when we spoke to a group of mums in the Mamamia community about the advice they'd give other pregnant women. Having something like Poise Regular Liners on hand during pregnancy is a simple way to help reduce stress around bladder leakage. Poise Regular Liners are four times drier than leading period liners and the ABSORBLOC core quickly absorbs and locks wetness away, so mums-to-be and new mums can cross that particular worry off their list.

But here's the thing about pregnancy: you can get all the advice, buy all the books and listen to all the opinions in the world. But it's the kind of thing you can never really know unless you've experienced it. So we asked women for the anonymous advice they'd give pregnant women — and they did not disappoint.

Pregnancy. 

"Take time for yourself now. Do something just for you!"

"Bladder leakage is a thing. Everybody experiences it, but nobody talks about it. Remember, it is completely normal and you're not alone in this."

"Your body is beautiful."

"It is okay and normal to be so grateful and happy, yet hate almost every second. Don't feel guilty if you aren't enjoying yourself — pregnancy is hard. Two things can be true at once."

"You don’t have to enjoy pregnancy to love your baby. Also, as soon as the baby is out, all the symptoms literally go away! It's all worth it in the end."

"We often feel we have to be everything to everyone, but at a time when some of us so completely lose ourselves, expectant mums must first be kind to themselves."

"It is a rollercoaster of wild hormones, of expectations both joyfully and painfully dashed — a journey like no other."

"It's okay not to enjoy being pregnant. I love my baby to bits, but I hated the pregnancy part."

"Enjoy your 'me time' because once you have children, it'll never be the same."

"Hear all advice, but only take notice of what you want to use."

"Whilst buying the cute clothes and decorating their room is so special, don’t forget to prioritise conversations with your partner about the mental load and be on the same page about support systems, 'I need a moment to myself' words, sharing of responsibilities you have, visitor rules etc. They're not mind readers, and things can get tense quickly when everyone is sleep deprived, so have those conversations before the baby arrives to help s**t not hit the fan."

Birth. 

"Get an early epidural."

"Get informed about the pelvic floor and postpartum prolapse — what it is, risk factors and see a women's health physio before and after birth."

"Make a list of visitor rules and send them to everyone. Don't do anything unless you are comfortable (for you or your baby)."

"It's okay not to bond immediately with your baby. It's something everyone experiences differently. No doubt you love your baby, but bonding takes time and can be a slow process."

Motherhood. 

"Your world is about to flip upside down, in the best kind of way. You are stronger than you can even imagine."

"Raising children is hard, and you need all the support you can get, so try not to alienate people by expecting perfection — from your partner, parents, siblings, and friends. You need these people to get through it, so try your best to keep the village around you, even if they say or do things that are not quite right."

"So many people tell you about the hard things — but they are matched by the most amazing moments that intersperse the fatigue, depletion and relentlessness."

"The hormones, big life changes, sleep deprivation and social pressures are all so much to take on. Get yourself good psychological/counseling support if you can, pre or post baby, to talk things out (find one where you can take your baby with you)."

"When the baby naps, do not feel guilty for sitting, watching Netflix, sleeping, exercising, cleaning, eating... basically, whatever you want to do in your downtime. Don't let anyone make you feel you should be doing anything you don't want to."

"You got this!"

"Nothing lasts forever. The bad bits and the good bits."

"You're doing an amazing job. Always advocate for yourself and your baby. If it feels wrong, it probably is."

"The act of parenting is really hard. It's so tough to put your needs last at nearly all times. Be prepared for the work you will need to do. But the love, oh the love. You'll love your child more than you ever thought possible, which is amazing. I wasn't prepared for the never-ending amount of work I'd need to do."

"Relax and sleep as much as possible."

"Go with the flow."

"You will survive this."

"Know that it's okay to feel all the emotions, even if they’re not shiny and beautiful. Know that having a cry as night begins to close in is pretty common — it can feel scary — particularly when you're running on empty. But know that the women who have gone before you in your village are here for you, and that collectively there's little they haven’t felt — reach out to them."

"Four years in, I can't imagine it any other way and would never dream of doing so. There's so much love. But the start? Oh the start… so be kind."

"No matter how easy someone else is making it look, know that you're not doing it wrong."

"Enjoy your sleep, and what will be will be! Baby will come how they choose despite any plan you have."

Practicalities.

"Do the birth class. I did 'Calm Birth', but honestly do any. Information will take away fear and it helped me enjoy the moment so much more."

"Invest in baby sleep education."

"Buy a bassinet or side sleeper that rocks. So good for getting the baby back to sleep in the night!"

"You don't NEED all the baby things. I spent so much money being 'prepared' and it was ridiculous. All you need is support when your baby is born. Support and love. Buy the things as you need them."

"Do your own research about how to have a positive birth experience and create birth preferences. Going in blind for a hospital birth will likely result in a cascade of interventions."

"Remember to add the baby to your insurance in the first few days after they are born so they don't need to do waiting periods. Also, don’t forget ambulance insurance."

"Upgrade your private health insurance now to include sleep studies and/or digestive issues. If the sleep month regressions hit you as badly as it hit me and a couple of my friends, you’ll be very grateful for sleep school, which is covered by health insurance!"

"Treat your firstborn the way other parents treat their second/subsequent children. They survive just as well, and it's soooo much less stressful! For example, sometimes they will cry because you're busy doing something else — that's okay. When they're on solids, they'll eat whatever you have available — that's okay. They can wear store-bought or second-hand clothes without being washed first — they will be fine!"

Feeding and sleeping.

"Formula is okay, and you don't need a 'valid' reason to use it. You're a better mum when you're not miserable!"

"Do not stress about infant sleep (sleep training) and let it affect your mental health. Sleep is developmental."

"If you send your child to daycare, remember that they will most likely be given a full meal at lunch, so if they come home and you are exhausted and give them a sandwich or two-minute noodles for dinner, don't feel guilty as they had dinner at lunchtime."

"It doesn't matter how they come out or how they are fed. What matters is your love and care once they are here."

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Feature Image: Getty.