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.
Re: Post Partum Thread
All that being said, they tend to get a bit more gassy as they start consuming more. It doesn't sound like an allergy, but talk to your pedi (or the nurse phone line) if you are concerned. For us with DS we switched to the Similac Sensitive (the orange container) and he did better with that. He also had reflux issues though, so that was a huge part of our concern. So far DD is just generally gassy, which is to be expected. If you do go with Similac you can sign up on their website for coupons/samples etc. It does take a while for them to send it, but you'll get $5 checks that you can use toward purchase. If you really want to save you can use these with coupons/Cartwheel (as they are technically considered a form of payment) and giftcard with purchase at Target to help offset the cost of brand name vs generic.
When did you deliver? Monday, May 16th. I was due Sunday the 15th. At 5 am on Monday morning, I was having irregular contractions. I went to my 8:30 apt and I was dilated to a 5 and contracting still. Based on my positive GBS and certain allergies to antibiotics she sent me over to labor and delivery. I started the antibiotics, was contracting between 1-5 minutes, and my water broke around 12. Nothing was really changing and a low dose of devil juice started at 12:30. They built up pitocin until I was squatting in misery thinking I was dying every two minutes. She checked me around 3 when the epidural God doctor showed up, and I was still a 5. That was a mind f for me as baby was still a -2 position. I struggled to get through the epidural, and had a contraction with pain in my back, then the next one I told them I felt pain in my bottom. They checked and I was dilated to a 10, 100 % effaced, and baby was crowning. The baby's heart rate decelerated and they put me on oxygen and shifted me to my left side. 23 minutes after my doctor checked me, I started to push. I was in complete shock and pushed through a few contractions and out she was in all of her glory. At one point during the pushing, my doctor looked at me and told me that there more than likely was a cord issue, and she was not concerned, she knew I would get the baby out, and it needed to be sooner than later. My husband and I describe the attitude in the room as urgent, but not threatening. I really cannot express how much I appreciate how she acted in the moment. Apparently the cord was extremely short, and my baby had it wrapped around in her hands. I have a massive hemorrhoid and the same 2nd degree tear as with my first daughter. She told me it was the same scar tissue, and wouldn't be as a bad as a recovery.
How did you deliver (vaginal, c-section, etc)? Vaginal
How are you feeling about your delivery? Great, lucky, overwhelmed, elated that is over, sad that's it over. Such a life changing experience.
How is your recovery going? Eh?? I though great, but 48 hours passed and I'm reevaluating great.
Any post partum issues or questions for the group?
uterine contractions - can I feel them in my lower back? My lower back is killing me - and my hips. Could be from delivery too I guess.
Ready to participate more, - just wanted to get my story out!
Saturday, May 14th
How did you deliver (vaginal, c-section, etc)?
Vaginal delivery after induction
How are you feeling about your delivery?
I feel really good about it. I'm quite proud of myself. Didn't have an unmedicated birth as I'd hoped, but I also didn't plan on being induced and I blame much of my struggle on pitocin.
How is your recovery going?
Most of it is going well. But dude hemorrhoids suck. Mine are pretty painful. I'm able to poop, I'm taking my colace and drinking water but still the hemorrhoids are painful. That and my tailbone.
Today I squeezed myself into my Bellefit. Felt and looked good.
Any post partum issues or questions for the group?
Anyone have suggestions for getting these hemorrhoids to heal?
DD: 05/14/16
DD: 05/14/16
Did the hospital give you stuff to help? I got witch hazel pads, hydrocortisone, some numbing spray, and a sitz bath.
Also, ask for a prescription! And take lots of colace. I'm 7 days postpartum and today was the first day that wasn't excruciating
I'm only on day two of recovery (baby was only born about 28 hours ago) and I'm guessing the morphine from my CSection drip has completely worn off now. I am given a Norco pill for pain every three hours and I can tell that it makes everything a lot more bearable. However, there is a place internally near my right hip that feels like it is being stabbed and lit on fire every time I put any pressure whatsoever on that foot when walking. It hurts *terribly* while everything else is sore but not unmanageable. This area is not near my incision, either. Has anyone experienced this?
One thing I did notice for me is that my swelling stuck around a little bit and yesterday it finally pretty much went away. I could get my rings back on and wear certain shoes again. This is also when my pressures started dropping into more normal ranges so idk if this is affecting it for me too or just a side effect.
It's been 10 days since my c-section and I've gone only twice and it actually felt like I was pooping bricks. I've been taking the colace, trying to back off taking Norco, and drinking a lot of water but it hasn't been helping. I talked to my OB about it and he just said to keep on the colace and it was the Norco causing it. My problem is I haven't got to the point where I can go completely without the Norco and just manage my pain with Motrin based on my required activity level with managing 3 kids.
My bum and I thank you for any advice you have
Could what you're wearing make a difference? I felt more covered up when I'd pull a nursing tank down and a shirt up compared to just pulling a neckline down.
Eta : I don't cover the baby. DS used to fall asleep if he was covered and DS2 just plain old hates to be covered.
ETA: here is the cover I use https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BUBNZC8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_xDcqxb1SBRY9N
DD: 05/14/16
Im not BF so at least I'm not concerned about it affecting baby but I know I need to eat for my own sake.
Have you tried to contact LLL? Have you contacted a Lactation Consultant?