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.
Sarita768
member
Re: Mirena IUD
I had my Mirena placed about 8 weeks pp. It was no big deal, just a pinch and then it was done. I was a little sore for about an hour or so afterwards and then I was fine. No spotting even.
I loved mine and would do it again in a heartbeat. I had it in for 4 years and did not have a period the entire time!
I was more anxious about having it removed but I didn't even feel it. My OB was doing my annual pap at the same time and I was shocked when he said he was all done. Easy-Peasy.
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TTC Baby Rob #1 05/07, BFP 06/07, EDD 02/22/08, Baby Jackaroo born via c-section after 22 hours of labor on 02/27/08
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TTC Baby Rob #2 06/11 BFP 11/06/11 EDD 07/16/12 Natural M/C 11/25/11 @ 6w3d
Baby Rob #2 (Sloane), in our hearts always.
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Here comes Baby Rob #3
BFP on Cycle 17 09/27/12. EDD 06/04/12! Please Stick Baby! A/S 01/22/13 Baby looking great. Officially TEAM BLUE! Jack is getting a Baby Brother! RCS scheduled for 05/29/13. William Daryll born at 9:59am on 05/29/13. Left ovary and tube removed due to peach sized tumor found during RCS. Pathology came back benign!
I had mine put in at 12 weeks pp.
I have a retroverted cervix, so it was a little more challenging getting it in, but not terrible. I do suggest 800mg of Ibuprophen before your appt.
I had spotting/cramping and evening nausea for about 4 weeks. I have not had a period with it, but I am also still BF. I do get random cramping, but nothing terrible.
I think it's a good option, it is nice to not have to think about taking a pill, etc.
DS born via unplanned C-section at 40w6d
i loved mine the entire time i had it in - no periods. however after having it removed it took us four years and multiple fertility treatments in order to get pregnant again. research this product thoroughly (as with anything) before you make your decision. my insurance company will no longer even cover this product and when a friend asked the reason they stated countless complaints as well as numerous class action lawsuits against the manufacturer.
I had mine placed at 6 weeks pp with DD. I truthfully don't remember it hurting all that bad (it didn't feel great either though). It was just uncomfortable.
I just had mine removed Nov. 21 so we can TTC #2. I would recommend making sure they don't trim the strings to short. I had 3 attempts to remove it and an ultrasound to make sure it was still there. On the 3rd attempt after the ultrasound it came right out.
I got mine at my 6 week checkup after my second c/s. My experience has been pretty good so far.
I bled every day from the day it was placed for about 2 months. Then my periods went back to normal and are now about 1-2 days long with a very light flow.
I like not having to remember to take a pill every day. It has been great. It definitely didn't do anything to help my pms symptoms (I eat everything in the house and want to cry over everything for 2 days before my periods start), but I have always been like that, regardless of birth control choice.
I'm good until 2016, and if we decide to have another baby before then, I can have it removed at any time.
ETA: For me, insertion wasn't any more uncomfortable than my annual exam. I didn't get crampy afterward and there was no pain accompanying my 2-month bleeding.
I had a Mirena IUD placed about 6 weeks pp. It didn't hurt to get put in, I experienced period like cramping for that day and the next day I was fine.
Having it removed was another story. The doctor could not find my strings and I had to have an internal ultrasound done while he used a long grabber to get it out. I recently discussed this with my OB nurse and she said the doctor I have tends to cut them too short because his girlfriend has one and he thinks he can feel it. It made me LOL and a little bit mad!
I would just make sure they don't cut the strings too short (for removal purposes). I would definitely get another Mirena, it is nice to only get pg if you want to!
I had mine put in about 8w PP (did it this early because I was trying to stay in same calendar year for deductible). I had only dilated about 4cm before my CS, and going in was a slight cramp for me (maybe a little worse than a pap), and coming out was a snap (ob did it at same time as pap, and I didn't even realize it was out).
I had finally stopped spotting shortly before it was put in, and had a few weeks of light spotting after it went in, and then nothing. I loved it! I think I had about 3-4 very light (i.e. spotting only) periods the entire time I was on it.
After removal, my periods have been every 25 days like clockwork (and before they were super-wonky). I know everyone has a different experience, but I absolutely loved Mirena. I especially liked not needing to remember something every day (there's no way I could have remembered BCPs every day with a new born), and it's not permanent like having tubes tied.
I had Mirena, and had it removed because it just didn't work for me. I generally have a light 3 day period with no cramps, sometimes I can get away with just a pantyliner. After I got Mirena, I would bleed heavily for up to 11 days. And the cramps were just horrible. After an episode of crying on the bathroom floor I called my gyn and had it removed. I had it in place for almost 90 days.