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.
GBucksHollysMOM
member
Re: Being put under?
They are giving me a spinal, but the cyst is so large they will be just below my rib cage area and they dont think I will be able to tolerate it with just the spinal.
I had some issues with an epi last time. My dr said spinal would be better for me. I am going to have the spinal and after the baby is born be put under in order to finish what they have to do.
My spinal failed to work for my 2nd c-section. So I had to be put under general. I was awake right after the surgury and the baby never left my side. I woke up to the nurses and doctor talking to me and when I opened my eyes I saw my husband holding the baby.
I will say I was in a lot of pain!! Since the spinal didn't work i wasn't numb and the mrphine had not kicked in yet. I was also shivering horribly due to one of the meds. So the shivering made the pain worse.
Luckly withing a short time I was feeling much better and finally felt okay enough to hold my son.
The rest of the recovery was simliar to my first. I was up and walking around in about 12 hrs. Good Luck!
I had an emergency C-section. The Spinal did not work, so they put me under general. I guess I saw my baby the first time at 1.5 hours. I remember waking up in recovery and not wanting the nurse to press down on my stomach. She bargained with me and I let her do it because she said I could see my family.
Anyways, I don't think it had any ill affects, except for being bed ridden for a day. My husband wishes it would have been different because he couldn't be in the room, but I was happy with the outcome - a happy, healthy baby!
My Ovulation Chart
I was put under mid c-section because my epi wore off. I had already been in labor for 30+ hours so I was tired and had spiked a high fever. I was awake long enough to kiss baby and say bye to my DH and I was knocked out. I woke up 4 hours later. the first 24 hours I was really out of it, and very groggy. I was up and walking around the next morning. It was hard because it wasn't how I had planned it, but I quickly got over the shock and I am just really glad I had a skilled group of people around for my surgery.
I think it would be much different and easier when everything is planned for you.
I was put under general for an emergency cs due to pre-e and HELLP syndrome. I was woken up about 2 hours after DD was born and was completely out of it the whole first day. But I'm not sure if it was because of the anesthesia or the magnesium I was on for pre-e or the combination of the 2.
But I was fine the next day.
I could have almost written this it is so similar to what happened to me. I didn't get to see C for 6+ due to her short stay in the NICU and my being in recovery. I was up and moving about 12 hours after surgery and had my morphine pump out about 5 hours after surgery and just took Advil because the morphine made me loopy.
I had general anesthesia with mine. I saw dd two hours later. Dh was not in the room but they brought her out to the waiting room right after for him to see.
I could not keep my eyes open afterwards,but I was also on a pain pump.
My recovery hasn't been horrible. I haven't taken more than Tylenol at home.
I had to be put under for my emergency c/s. My epi wasn't working anyways, and after a 2nd attempt in the OR it still wouldn't work. I hated being under. I remember waking up and could barely breathe. I think it was so dry in there and then from having the tube down my throat just made me panic when I woke up.
I felt super nauseous too. I think a nurse gave me something for that which helped a little. And I was super thirsty, my mouth was so dry! So the nurse gave me a wet towel to wipe my mouth out with. I was in pain as well. The nurse had to press on my stomach so she had me do quick breaths in and out while they did it.
I didn't get to see my baby until over 2 hrs after she was born. I was in recovery for an hour.
<a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="D
I initally had a spinal with the birth of DD. But there was a spot around my navel where I started to feel everything. They were ready to give me general but I didn't want general until DD was out. Immediately after the cord was cut I remember hearing her cry and then nothing until I woke up in my room.
Waking up I felt groggy. My hospital room was the recovery room as well so I was wheeled from the OR directly to my room. DH and DD were there. I don't remember the first time I met DD. I have pictures but I really don't recall until about an hour or so later. I BF DD when I was awake enough with the assistance of the fabulous nursing staff. I sat with DD on my chest for 3 hours or so before we let people in to visit. I felt very very itchy, but that was due to the spinal not the general. And I asked for the anti-nausea medication prior to the c-section b/c I've been under general before and was very sick. No fun throwing up with a newly closed incision.
This time I'm having a hernia repair after the c-section when this LO is born. I will again get the spinal for the CS but then be under general for the hernia repair. It was a tough decision but I just wanted to get everything repaired in one swoop instead of having to face another surgery next year.
TTC since 6/2003. m/c 9/14/03 8 weeks, 5 chemical pregnancies, mmc 6/04 12 weeks, Michael born sleeping 5/25/05 at 22weeks always our angel, fought ovarian cancer and won, m/c 4/06 5.2 weeks and 7/07 6.6 weeks,Our Miracle baby girl born 4/8/10,mc 12/18/11 at 5.3 weeks, BFP 10/26/12 dating u/s on 11/8/12 showing a strong heartbeat!EDD July 4,2013. RCS on 6/27. Baby boy in NICU for 8 long and scary days before he was able to come home. We are now a happy family of 4
.
