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.
Ellis31
member
Re: How was your recovery?
I had two c--sections. The recovery from both was fairly easy. I had complications from edema after the first one, but that had nothing to do with the c-section itself.
The second one was a little harder. But, that's because I was over doing it and pickin up my older daughter when I shouldn't have.
I had a Frank Breech baby as well and was stressed about the recovery. It was NBD. Make sure to get up and walking ASAP (I did within 6 hours of the surgery). I will say I needed lots of help around the house for the first week (I felt better after that). Make sure you aren't home alone during that first week (hopefully your DH or mom or MIL can help!). Take it easy (VERY easy for the first week). Also, take your pain meds (I was scared to take mine which was dumb). By 7 days out I felt good, by 2 weeks out I felt nearly 100% (although still was careful about lifting to be safe!).
well I get complications because I have a condition called myasthenia gravis so my experiences aren't the norm, but I do have some advice
Get up and walk as soon as they let you even if you are sore. The more you move the better your recovery (obviously don't over do it but walking, etc.)
Take the pain meds and make sure they give them to you on time. In the beginning you need to walk like I said, but you can't do it without some pain meds and if you are in pain you are not going to want to walk.
Typically you feel better after week one, more yourself week 2 and back to normal week six.
Don't push it, but it isn't that bad so don't sike yourself out about it either.
I've had 4 fantastic recoveries. My last one was my easiest. My first 2 kids were breech (head up, feet down).
GL to you!
I am a FTM, but had a C-Section after 30 hours of labor.
That being said, I really feel my recovery was easy-peasy. The big thing was that I forced myself to get up and move around as much as I could safely.
I went off of the narcotic pain relievers and was just on tylenol/ibuprofen every 2 hours at day 2. It still hurt to get in and out of bed, but wasn't unbearable. By the time we got home at day 4 (because of the extra day laboring), I was slow moving, but fine.
I compare that to hearing about women's vaginal births with tearing/stitches, and I don't really feel mine was that much more dramatic.
The only surprise for me was that I bled for weeks afterwards. It is totally normal, you bleed just like women that had a vaginal birth, but I didn't expect it as I didn't look much into C-Sections when I went in for my induction.
You have even more going for you that yours would be scheduled, so you wouldn't be quite as worn down as I was, but mine was still pretty easy compared to what I would have pictured before I had it.
I had a csection at 36 weeks due to having hip dysplasia and a kidney blockage. Best thing ever! Yes I was nervous considering it is major abdominal surgery but I knew I was in good hands. Pain was hard to manage the first day but once under control it was a breeze for me. I still had vaginal bleeding for about 10 days post op.
Married October 16th, 2010
TTC #1 since October 2010
1st BFP 1-12-11
MC'd 1-22-11
2nd BFP 2-15-11
Our Wee One....**KENNEDY JO** born 10/3/11@ 36weeks via Csection
My BFP Chart
Labor Buddy to **MRS.ATCH** Welcome Quinn 11-5-11**
Thank you to everyone else for your support and answers, I really love that I can gain so much comfort from your experiences
I obviously have nothing to compare to, but I thought my recovery was pretty easy all things considered. Day 2 after the c section was very rough, but I think that was mostly because I tried to be a hero and didn't keep up with meds. As long as I stayed on meds (for the first 7-8 days), I was pretty comfortable. I had no issues with stairs or our very high bed by the time I was home. At 8 days, I felt well enough to walk a mile, slowly, but still, and by 2 weeks I felt mostly pretty close to to normal.
I did have complications from extreme edema which lasted for 2 months, but that had nothing to do with a c section... and I don't love my how my scar looks, though that's purely cosmetic... it healed well and for all intents and purposes I thought it was a pretty easy way to give birth.
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
I had an unplanned c section in July. Now, I don't have a vaginal birth to compare it too...but the recovery wasn't awful. Not easy, but not terrible.
The most unexpected for me was how much it hurt to laugh...so keep your funny friends away for a few weeks.
Seriusly though, as long as you don't try to be a hero and do too much...and you take your pain meds...you'll be fine. But try and walk as much as you can as soon as they let you...it seems counter-intuitive, but it helps.
Oh! And one more thing! You will have tons of gas and be totally swollen at first. I think I looked MORE pregnant after my c-section, but that goes away. So don't panic!
My situation is a little different than everyone else's--I had an emergency c-section, and my doctor wanted me to get out of the hospital as fast as I could, so I could travel an hour away to see my baby in the NICU. I had my c-section at 2:30 am, and was up and walking around noon. It's obviously going to be a little painful, because you just had major surgery. But I was up and walking around and that afternoon. I was released the next day. Even without the proper recovery time in the hospital, my recovery was excellent. But everyone is different. I was able to sleep on my side and my stomach by about 5 1/2 weeks. My sister-in-law wasn't able to sleep on her side until a few months after, and her stomach not until about 7 months after. Just remember to take it easy--let your body rest. Have people pick up your baby and bring the baby to you. Always have sometime help you stand up, if you feel the least bit worried about hurting yourself. I was so paranoid that I would rip my incision open, so my husband helped me stand up for the first little bit. By about 6 weeks, I felt 95% better. And now, 2 1/2 months later, I feel absolutely normal.
Hope it goes well for you! Enjoy every moment!