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.
LAE1982
member
Re: Using your placenta
We're one of the only species that doesn't routinely eat the placenta after birth. Many other countries it's routine. I encapsulate my own placenta. Our state allows us to bring it home...but I'm having a home birth so it isn't even remotely an issue.
I have a coffee grinder that I use that is dishwasher safe:)
Kate
Cloth-diapering, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, attachment-parenting momma.
Beachbody Coach, TurboKick and Hip Hop Hustle Instructor.
Blog | Pinterest
My question- is there any ACTUAL research on the benefits? I've read lists of what it's supposed to help with, but I haven't seen any scientific research
I think the "scientific" research is that "other mammals do it." LOL @ceh789's blender comment.
If there was some concrete research supporting it maybe I'd feel a little differently.
If it's something you want to do, I'd google 'placenta encapsulation' and your city. There are probably some doulas/midwives in the area who do it. GL.
Kate
Cloth-diapering, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, attachment-parenting momma.
Beachbody Coach, TurboKick and Hip Hop Hustle Instructor.
Blog | Pinterest
That said, I could care less what people do with their temporary organs. I'm certainly not going to tell you it's gross or judge.
https://placentabenefits.info/research.asp#pain
Kate
Cloth-diapering, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, attachment-parenting momma.
Beachbody Coach, TurboKick and Hip Hop Hustle Instructor.
Blog | Pinterest
I am not small- minded or closed-minded, I just like actual scientific data rather than anecdotal data. There are lots of things that people have done for thousands of years that actually provide no benefit and do cause harm. For instance, there are cultures where the norm is to rub dirt or other substances into the umbilical cord stump to stop bleeding. Unfortunately this long time practice also leads to the deaths of many infants from tetanus, a bacterium commonly found in soil. Here are a couple sources.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2563851
astonjournals.com/.../ASSJ-23_Vol2011....
https://www.gmfc.org/en/action-within-the-movement/africa/regional-news-in-africa/1117-uganda-announces-elimination-of-maternal-and-neonatal-tetanus
ETA another source
It is true that most animals consume their placenta, it is not only done to avoid predators (although it is a big reason). The gush of amniotic fluid would also attract predators and that cannot be consumed. The placenta is also consumed because it is nutrient rich and helps replace come of the energy the mother has just expended during labor. Some animals don't eat for awhile (days, weeks, months) after birth and the placenta consumption offers some benefit. But again just because "they" do it doesn't mean I need to. I plan to eat plenty after birth so a placenta snack post partum isn't really necessary.
& apparently in my case, my preference to not eat my placenta.
11/1- IUI#1,12/1- IUI#2, 1/2- IUI#3 all BFFN
IVF#1. Long Lupron.ER 3/8 10R,4M,5F. ET 3/3-one 1AB, 2 frosties 5dp5dt-BFP!! Beta 3/25-794 Beta 3/27- 1794
First u/s 4/8 saw hb. 4/22 missed mc 8w3d. d&c 4/26
FET #1- bcp start 6/9. ET 7/12. 2 perfect blasts.5dpt-BFP!!
Wait a minute here...I saw a lot of intelligent answers and you bit their heads off as being rude. I'm not one to take sides but this is ridiculous.
Kate
Cloth-diapering, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, attachment-parenting momma.
Beachbody Coach, TurboKick and Hip Hop Hustle Instructor.
Blog | Pinterest
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Kari~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I just saw an article reporting on a new meta-analysis on all the studies on mindfulness meditation, just as an example. There is plenty of grant money out there to fund studies on promising alternative therapies.
If you want to consume your placenta, consume your placenta, just don't come on an Internet forum and get your panties in a twist when every person on here doesn't extol the virtues of your decision.