Hello, let me introduce myself first..
For the first 30 years of my life, everything was smooth and worry-free. I was my parents’ most beloved child, found my true love in college, and happily married him after graduation.
At work, I was my boss’s most valued employee. Whenever I was in charge of a project, colleagues would inevitably say, “Oh, then I’m totally at ease.” I was constantly named “Employee of the Year,” with generous bonuses every year.
Later, I started my own business. Within just three months, I had broken into the market and started making money. By the fifth month, I was earning twice my previous salary. Growth was steady month after month. Right when the business needed more hands, I serendipitously met an amazing partner, and the company reached a whole new level.
Really, it seemed like at every step, whatever I needed, a pair of hands would always place it right in front of me, just in time.
My Two Girls: Ellie & Mia
Meet Ellie, My Firstborn
In 2020, my husband and I decided to have a child. After trying for over a year, we finally got the news in 2021 that a little one was on the way. In 2022, we welcomed our first child, Ellie. She made me a mother.
She is utterly adorable—big eyes, rosy skin, chubby little hands. Every time I look at her, I can’t help but give her a kiss. She is pure joy, and I love her more each day.
But as a first-time mom, I faced unprecedented difficulties. The postpartum tearing wouldn’t heal, and the pain was excruciating. Clogged milk ducts made my breasts hard as rocks. The severe sleep deprivation… And what was even more crushing was that, with zero parenting experience, I was clueless when faced with her unexplained wailing, night terrors, refusal to nurse, constipation, diarrhea, fevers… I desperately searched online, longing for one accurate, truly useful answer!
It was during this time that I thought, once I make it through this “dark” path, I must leave a light on for other new moms.
And Then Came Mia
Ellie had just turned one when I got pregnant again. In 2024, we welcomed our second daughter, Mia.
Completely different from Ellie, Mia is a great eater and sleeper. Although she had her fussy moments in the first two months, starting almost from month three, she became super easygoing. She feeds on schedule, gradually sleeps through the night, loves her solid foods, and adapted quickly when I had to stop breastfeeding due to mastitis.
This made me realize just how vastly different babies can be! It made me even more determined to write about my experiences.
Why I Had to Start This Blog
The Catalyst: A Life Pivoted
After Mia was born, my business also began to decline sharply. I had no choice but to close it and become a full-time mom. My work no longer involves Excel and Word, but instead revolves around changing diapers, washing bottles, making baby food, and managing household chores…
This has been a monumental challenge for me. All my past achievements seem irrelevant now. Managing two young children has brought me a sense of frustration I’ve never known before.
The Daily Reality
They are always fighting over things. When one is in my arms, the other immediately demands to be held too. When I try to cook, Ellie wants me to read her a book. When I attempt to load the washing machine, Mia has a diaper blowout, and I must drop everything to change her…
By the time I finish all that, I see the cup of hot coffee on the table has gone cold again. And it’s not until evening that I remember, “Oh my goodness, the clothes are still in the hamper, unwashed!”
Of course, being a mom is filled with happiness, but that doesn’t negate how hard it is.
My Promise to You
Because I’ve walked this path myself, I won’t just tell you how joyful motherhood is, like many websites do. I want to share my real, unfiltered experiences so every new mom can find a “companion” here.
I want to tell you: you are not alone. What you’re going through, I’ve been there too. Your breakdowns, your helplessness, your moments of losing control—I’ve had them all. You don’t need to feel guilty. This is just a small, necessary stretch of the journey for every mom.
My Hope for This Space
I really want to share my parenting experiences—not just the warm, glowing moments, but to honestly document the pitfalls I’ve stumbled into, the tears I’ve shed, and the “survival wisdom” I’ve scraped together in utter exhaustion.
The Goal: A Mom’s Toolkit
I hope this blog becomes a “mom’s toolkit,” filled not with vague theories, but with:
- Practical Tips: Like how to quickly figure out why a baby is crying, tried-and-true methods for dealing with clogged ducts, or how to efficiently manage the daily grind with twins (or two under two) solo.
- Pitfall Avoidance Guides: Sharing the baby products I regret buying the most, and those “game-changer” parenting hacks. Letting you know which parenting anxieties you can let go of, and which principles are worth holding onto.
- A Community for Moms: I hope my stories connect me with more moms like you. We can cheer each other on in the comments, share our own tricks, turning the storms we face alone into a journey we walk together.
The Bigger Vision
My previous career taught me to analyze data, solve problems, and optimize processes. Now, I’m applying all those skills to this new “position” of Mom. I want to prove that a mom’s value is absolutely not confined to the home. The mindset, resilience, and creativity we built in our careers can shine just as brightly—perhaps even brighter—in this more complex, long-term “project” of raising humans, and can even be transformed into a force that helps others.
My hope is simple: that every mom who opens this blog can let out a sigh of relief and say, “So it’s not just me.” Then, she can find a bit of practical info, a dose of comforting solidarity, and return to her sweet, chaotic mom-life with a little more confidence and a little less weight on her shoulders.
This road? Let’s walk it together.
Re: how many nights in the hospital?
SS:
With DD1, I was admitted on Monday, induced & c/s Tuesday, released late late late Saturday night (11 pm). So, I was there 5 nights, 4 were after the c/s. They wanted me to stay till Sunday to be released, but I BEGGED to be out. I think they had me stay that long because DD1 was in the NICU for 3 days and I was trying to BF-ing.
With DS and DD2, I was discharged after 2 nights. With these two, they were in the NICU longer (5 and 11 days), and I was strictly FF-ing, so I think that's why they didn't mind me leaving sooner.
SS - I labored overnight, had an unscheduled c-section the next morning, stayed two nights, and then found out we had to stay another week because DS had pneumonia and they had to give him a 7-day course of antibiotics.
So I guess if everything had gone as planned, it would have been two nights after I had the c-section.
My insurance paid for 3 nights with the option for a 4th.
The first time around, DS was born on a Sunday morning, I went home on Wednesday morning.
The second time around, DD was born on a Tuesday morning and I was trying to get discharged Thursday afternoon. I ended up staying until Friday night because of some complications and was really angry about it.
DH-34-MFI-motility+morphology.... Me-32-Hypothyrpid+LPD
7/8/11: Clomid100mg+Ovidrel+IUI#1=BFN
8/2/11: Clomid50mg+Ovidrel+IUI#2=BFFN
8/25/11: Follistim50iu+Ovidrel+IUI#3=BFP!!!!@14dpo
Beta#1 9/8 - 251 Beta#2 9/15 - 1622 Beta#3 9/22 - 12674
1st U/S; heard one beautiful HB of 129 - 9/29/11
OB visit; HB of 166 - 10/13/11
2nd US; HB of 163 - 10/18/11
A/S - 12/9/11 - It's a perfect healthy BOY!!!!
Our miracle baby boy - born 5/24/12
SS!
With DS1, the c/s was unplanned, and he was born around 11pm on a Monday. We didn't go home until Friday, but we were having some issues that probably kept us one night longer than the norm.
DS2 was born at a different hospital around 8am on a Monday. Since it was a RCS with no issues, so we only stayed 2 nights.
had ds at 1847 on a sunday, went home wed afternoon.
the norm here in german is five days. no WAY was I staying that long. they really weren't doing anything for me at all. I preferred to be in my own bed.
DS born via unplanned C-section at 40w6d
I was supposed to only stay two nights, but I had a bit of a fever, so they gave me more antibiotics and kept me an extra night until there was no sign of infection.
DS1 was hospitalized at the same time, but in the NICU and pediatrics unit, so I ended up staying at the hospital for 7+ days (I was a bit shell-shocked after the c/s and what he was going through! No one could get me to leave and go rest at home, which I really should have done. Live and learn, I guess. sigh).
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
My insurance would cover 3 nights post Csection per no other complications arose. My OB released me after two nights but said if I wanted to stay another day and night I could since my insurance would cover it. I felt fine so we went home.
I was admitted in the afternoon when my water broke, labored overnight, then had a c-section when I wasn't progressing and DS's heart rate started dropping. After the c-section, I stayed for four nights. My OB said that I could go home after 2 or 3 nights but she strongly encouraged me to stay for 4 nights. All of the nurses said that since my insurance covered it, I should stay. I think it was the right choice for me. Having healthy (and very tasty!) meals cooked for me and brought to my room, being able to send DS to the nursery so I could get some sleep, and being there when I had the "baby blues" (just for one day) were all great reasons for me to be there.
I also wanted to add that the hospital where I delivered does not have a "check-out time." So the nurses and my OB told me that since my insurance would pay for 4 nights, I could wait and check out at 11:59pm on my last day if I wanted to! We checked out in the early afternoon after everything was set to go, but we took advantage of ordering both breakfast and lunch at the hospital before we left (the food at the hospital where I delivered is really delicious.) So I was there for four nights after the c-section and almost 5 whole days.
I was out less than 48 hours after my son was born by ECS- he was a Wednesday night at 5:54 and I was packed up and gone by 3:30 on Friday.
But I also refused pain medication and insisted upon walking around the very next morning. That made them think I was ok, and I thought I was too, except when I got home I paid for my pride. I say if insurance covers it, take advantage and stay. As common as it seems, the operation IS a big deal.