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.
tayzav
member
Re: STM's - Must haves for packing a hospital bag?
I brought makeup... Didn't use it.
Brought one pair of yoga pants and like 2 maxi dresses.
I wore flip flops home since it was early Oct. This time, I'll probably go our and buy crocs or some kind of cheap slip on shoe.
Buy super cheap underwear because you will bleed... A lot.
grip socks
A magazine or 5 and snacks. Hospital food is crap.
A phone charger is a must.
That's about all I can think of at the moment.
-Camera
-Phone charger
-Chapstick
-Snacks
-I brought my iPad to watch Netflix on and was glad I had that.
-Your own pillow, hospital pillows suck
-Boppy or other nursing pillow
-Comfy sweatpants
-Travel size shampoo, condition etc.
-I am on board with bringing your straightner, I didn't care what I looked like going home but I did use it for during my hospital stay when I had visitors and took pictures.
I found that both times I had babies I always packed too many clothes. You wear the hospital gown for awhile so keep that in mind.
I loved: boppy
I stayed in a gown and robe with the mesh undies til they kicked me out. There was no way I was putting on pants or anything until it was necessary.
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Hair brush and hair tie
Nursing bra and nursing pads
I wore the mesh undies home so no need for underwear
Loose pants
T-shirt
Light robe (nice to put on after having baby, mid length and cotton)
I wore spaghetti strap sun type dress at the hospital even in cold February
Electronic device and charger
Baby outfit
Shampoo and conditioner travel size is great!
Stool softener (hospital can give you this to)
Slip on shoes for walking around the hospital
Deodorant
I never did my makeup but I am more natural anyway, also no hairdryer a ponytail is just fine for me. I never used a nursing pillow at the hospital either, but if your concerned about nursing and you get to see a lactation nurse before you leave you might want to take one to make sure you get the right feel. I just used pillows.
I took everything home from the hospital that I could, big pads, disposable undies, peri bottle, diapers, other baby stuff, binkie, thermometer, baby powder, wipes....
Also remember to freeze some pads or diapers for when you get home
- slip on shoes
- nursing pillow
- baby nail clippers!!!
- yoga pants / loose shirts
I threw away some until I realized HELLO I can wash these!! I wore them until the heavy bleeding stopped and was glad I held onto them because my third was at a birthing center and they didn't have those!
One unecessary thing that I brought and appreciated having was a short string of Christmas lights, it was so much more relaxing than the overhead lighting.
-hair ties
-hair brush
- snacks!!!
-extra chargers
-camera
-take as many mesh undies as you can!! Save your panties they are awesome and comfy.
Word on the street in my area is that they don't give you any extra mesh underwear. Sounds like a big THUMBS DOWN!
I'm a FTM so I guess I'll go prepared with some cheapo undies.
My own blanket! (I am ALWAYS cold)
A super soft, light robe
Yoga pants
Loose, soft, comfy tees
Chapstick
Makeup (the bare necessities - bb cream, mascara, tinted Chapstick)
Toiletries(shampoo, conditioner, body and face wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion)
My own underwear!
My comfiest nursing bra
Nursing pads
Nipple cream (I prefer the Lansinoh brand)
Diaper bag
Warm baby blanket
Swaddle blanket
I don't bring the Boppy since I usually just use pillows when they're newborns and I only bring a going home outfit since I keep the baby in their newborn shirt thing for easy access for LOTS of skin to skin and quick and easy diaper changes.
I have a travel toiletry bag that is always ready to just throw in a suitcase and go for over night trips, so I usually pack that and a few clothes.
I truthfully never bothered showering at the hospital...I just wasn't comfortable with the idea of using a public shower, and always waited until I was home.
I don't often wear make-up, so I never bothered bringing it, but I do recommend lip balm of some kind, as my lips always got really dry in the hospital.
Some form of entertainment is a good idea. With DD2, I was stuck waiting in the hospital for a few hours after my water broke because contractions didn't start on their own, and nothing was happening. I brought one book, but got bored of reading it. I really wish I had thought to pack a deck of cards or something else to help pass the time!
Snacks is a good idea too, as not all hospitals have a snack lounge, and unless you have a scheduled C-section/induction, you can't guarantee the kitchen will still be open when you get hungry.
I would also suggest bottled water or juice. I remember being sooo thirsty after DS was born. DH had gone home for the night, the night nurse was pretty busy, and I wasn't ready to take a walk to the 24 hour coffee shop they had, so I had to wait until there was a lull in the nurse's schedule to ask for some water. Not a great situation when you're planning to nurse.
We also always packed a small amount of cash ($20-$40) in the hospital bag for whatever came up. Snacks, drinks, a souvenir from the gift shop, something unexpected or forgotten from the pharmacy, etc. You could probably use debit or credit cards for any of these things, but we liked to have some cash on hand as well just in case.
Also, wet wipes for baby! The hospital DS was born at only had dry wipes (basically a really large, thick and soft napkin) and they were horrible for wiping off the first few bowel movements. I was very glad I brought my own pack of wet wipes! It was so much easier to clean up dirty diapers that way!
-straightener and make up is optional.(bring chap stick and hair bands). I brought my straightener but never used it. I showered after delivery and let my hair air dry. I was too tired. My hospital had a hair dryer.
-comfy socks/flip flops or uggs
-your own pillow and a boppy to nurse - I wore the hospital gown the whole time out of convenience so I didn't need a nursing bra. The tank I wore to he hospital had a built in nursing bra so that saved room.
-some people like to wear their own pajama set after delivery. Motherhood carries pants nursing tank and robe sets. They are super soft and comfy. I would invest in one!
-my hospital had excellent food but I brought money for the cafes and gift shop snacks.
-one outfit for baby. Baby will be swaddled the whole time and they give them a kimono and hat to wear.
-cell and iPad charger. I brought my iPad but hardly used it to be honest. Bring a camera and make sure its charged if you aren't just using iPhone or cell camera.
-hospital supplied me with clean gowns, diapers, wipes, formula if used, mesh undies, tucks, dermoplast, etc..
They also give you these awesome ice water pitchers with a lid and straw that they constantly fill. They are super convenient.
There's other companies too, but I have Amazon prime so I usually order from there. Just search for postpartum underwear, tons of mommy companies have them.
going home outfit
blanket
carseat
baby book to get footprints stamped in
For mommy:
Robe and slippers
Lip balm and hard candy
Wear outfit in that you'll wear home
Own pillow and blanket for comfort
Phone charger
I took a tinted moisturizer and mascara
-change ($$) for DH if he only has vending machine option
-leave room in bag/bring an extra bag to carry any diapers/other stuff from hospital home
-change of clothes for DH