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.
missyjg
member
Re: Those who had a RCS, lots of questions
1. Was the RCS easier then the inital CS? much!! no stressing or worrying. I just woke up in the morning and went to the hospital.
2. Did anyone deal with itching about 3 hours after cs? i don't remember this..
3. Did you find difficulty taking care of your older child after the RCS? Nope. It wasnt difficult. She just didn't like that I couldn't pick her up. My DD was 21 months old.
4. Did the RCS, is there any further scars or did the OB go right over the first one? My OB went right over the first one and she even cleaned it up a bit. My scar isn't bad at all!
I would have LOVED to VBAC, but it was never an option for me. That being said:
1. Was the RCS easier then the inital CS? I've had 4 c/s. My 4th was my EASIEST and FASTEST c/s. #2 and #3 were pretty similar to #1.
2. Did anyone deal with itching about 3 hours after cs? I was itchy this time around, but nothing terrible. Not on my scar though - just all over itchy from the spinal.
3. Did you find difficulty taking care of your older child after the RCS? No, not really. I felt like myself almost when I got home. i've run the gamut of ages at home - I've had an 18 month old, then the next time a 3YO AND a 19 month old and this time, a 6 yo, a 5yo and a 3yo.......just take care of your older child first and set them up while you tend to the baby.
4. Did the RCS, is there any further scars or did the OB go right over the first one? It's been the same incision every time. I don't have a lot of scar tissue or adhesions considering I've had 4 c/s's.
GL!
I think #2 was so much easier than the first. I didn't have any itching but I totally think it was due to the morphine. Morphine is known to do that to people.
I didn't have a harder time taking care of my older daughter. My husband was home the first 2 weeks and by the time he went back to work I was healing very well.
They went over the previous incesion. However the doc did have a harder time seeing my previous one as the scar on me is very light.
GL
2. Did anyone deal with itching about 3 hours after cs? Yup
3. Did you find difficulty taking care of your older child after the RCS? Dunno
4. Did the RCS, is there any further scars or did the OB go right over the first one? Went right over the old one
Yup I was ridiculously itchy for 3 DAYS pp. Ask for benadryl or an IV med that helps with that.
1. Was the RCS easier then the initial CS? Yes and No! I had a traumatic experience with my first c/s so I was very nervous prior to and during my repeat C-section. I had no issues with the first time around, this time around it was a little rougher. I had a toddler at home, did to much and was in a lot of pain. Overall though the experience was a lot better than my first.
2. Did anyone deal with itching about 3 hours after cs? I did not have it with my first c/s as I had general. But did have itching with my second. I was told it was due to the spinal. My nurse gave me Nubain (SP) for it but it ended up making me really sick so I just dealt with it until that night then they gave me some IV Benadryl it helped.
3. Did you find difficulty taking care of your older child after the RCS? No I did not have trouble taking care of my almost 2 year old, but I did over do it and ended up back in the ER for pain. In the end I just realized that the only thing I could do was take care of the kids and nothing more. Including doing the laundry and taking short walks.
4. Did the RCS, is there any further scars or did the OB go right over the first one? It was done right over my old scar. However it does look a lot worse this time then it did last time. I did not have any steri strips this time around and had light bandages on because I am allergic to the tape adhesive on most bandages and the steri strips which I was told helped keep the scar look nice.
1. Recovery is a bit easier, but actual surgery was a little tougher. I was scared and minded the pressure (LO was breech though).
2. I was crazy itchy. I didn't have that the first time. I have marks all over my body from me digging. They put meds in my IV to help with that.
3. This is my first day home, so not much help here. DH has already made arrangements that i won't be alone with DS for 6 weeks due to lifting.
4. Used same incision.
1. repeat CS are easier, you know what to expect.
2. itching is very common from morphine epidurals. They can use other meds though which might not cause that itching.
3. taking care of LO after is always a challenge, explain to them that mommy can't pick you up for awhile, but they can come sit on your lap gently and that you will be needing their help.
4. most docs go over same scar, some will even cut it out so it's less noticable but you will have to ask them for this.
1. Was the RCS easier then the inital CS?
I don't think so I think it was worse, but I think it was b/c I had a toddler to chase after. This time they are older and more self sufficiant so I think that will help
2. Did anyone deal with itching about 3 hours after cs?
I didn't have any itching with my first 2. I'm not sure how it will work with a spinal this time around, I will be asking the anest. for sure.
3. Did you find difficulty taking care of your older child after the RCS?
Yes, I had a running toddler, which is why I think it took longer for me to heal.
4. Did the RCS, is there any further scars or did the OB go right over the first one?
Right over the first one. You still can't see my scar and I've had 2 c/s.
I'm so glad you asked this, because I have a RCS scheduled for December 28th. However, I am all of a sudden itching after reading these posts
I am most nervous about the itching, that was the worst part last time. It was so bad, I rubbed the skin off the top of my feet from using one foot to scratch the other.
I do hope it is easier around this time since there is no previous laboring involved and just knowing what to expect has to make it easier, right?
GL to you!!
I have not had my rcs yet but would like to say I had a very bad reaction to my epidural the first time around with itching.
this time around they will not put the narcotics into my spinal. I can take them orally and not have that reaction. I rather be in a it more pain then deal with that itching. But my reaction was extreme.