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: ***INTRO & EDD THREAD***
Hello ladies! My husband and I are both 28, we were married in September of 2015 and have been TTC ever since. We had a CP in Nov of 2015, then a MC at 8wks (baby measured 6) in March.
We are over the moon excited, but I am scared as well. I just want to get through these first few weeks!
I got a BFNS at 11 or 12 DPO (on sunday) and was devastated. My period was not due until today but I just.. idk felt pregnant... so I took another test after work yesterday and I'm pregnant! Yay! EDD is April 17th
Im 31(32 in a few months) and my husband is 37, we got married in 2012 and are the proud parents of a DD (14months) and a furry mutt (4years).
This will be baby #2 for us and if my math is correct it is somewhere between April 11 to April 17.
I apologize ahead of time if I am not as active as most, I use to be here for June 2015 but couldnt handle the drama and left.
I had my positive ptegnancy test on July 29th and have been in shock since... a happy shock! Nice to meet you all!
This is our first and I'm having a really hard time feeling excited when I'm just so nervous. My first appointment isn't until September 6th. Does anyone have any tips for relaxing between the period of time when you find out and your first appointment? I miss wine already.
I'm excited to get to know you all!
**Previous Loss Mentioned in Ticker Warning**
Hi ladies! For some reason I could not find this group on my phone. Glad I have some time now to post a quick intro.
BFP: 8/6/16
EDD: 4/16/17
Married: 5 years this December...who hoooo
This will be my second baby. I have a 14 month old son. For those first time momma's-to-be, enjoy the ride!! Motherhood is hard, but it will be the most rewarding thing you will go through in life (My opinion). I look foward to getting to know all of you!
BFP #1 12/23/13 MMC 01/24/14 @ 9w5days
I was hoping to be a May/ June 2017 Mom but had a nice surprise this week. I am 32, due April 14th, and have one child, DD who is 20 months.
It was great being part of the DEC 14 board but it pretty much ended with everyone leaving after some drama. The two lessons I learned from that are people hate stupid questions and snarky responses. However, It looks like The Bump has made some improvements to their boards, so I am excite to be part of this one.
***Lurking from March 2017***
@DoctorDonna@mrsstuessySo glad to see you ladies here!! Congratulations!
ETA: @clover28 @TheJerilu you guys are here too! What an awesome BMB! H&H 9 months to all!!
Me: 26 Hubs: 28
Married: 6/6/15
Baby Girl: 3/22/2017
Married: 12-04-06
Annabelle: 1-1-08
Patrick: 8-15-10
EDD: 4-20-17
DD: 6/20/11
DS: 2/23/13
EDD: 4/15/17
Hello all! I am 30 and found out last week that we are hopefully expecting our first baby on 4/15! We have been TTGP since Dec and have had 2 losses at 5 weeks and 10 weeks so I'm a bundle of nerves. Im looking forward to getting to know you ladies!
As I've seen someone else mention here too - I've lurked on previously Boards (especially when I was pregnant and in the newborn phase with my son, who is now 3.5 years old), but with the advent of this pregnancy, I'd like to become an active member of the conversation. I hope you'll bear with me as I learn the etiquette of the posting threads, abbreviations and appropriate use of gifs & tickers.
My intro basics:
*This is my second pregnancy - EDD 4/10/17 (based on LMP, but I'm quite confident that's as accurate as a due can be)
*BFP - 8/4 Thursday evening; 3 days after my period was due to start.
*I'm 31 years old.
*My husband and I have a 3.5 year old son, a dog (almost 9 years old), a cat (11 years old), a rabbit (maybe 5ish?), and 4 chickens (new! ~2weeks old)
We've been hoping and trying for this new little one for what feels like quite a while & are excited to add a new little human to our family. I'm a little nervous as well, but nothing like I was with my first. Having a generally idea of the journey ahead calms a lot of my anxiety (as long as I don't think too much about delivery or those newborn sleepless nights).
I wish you all happy & healthy pregnancies, smooth deliveries and adorable spring babies.
Married: December 14th, 2014
BFP: July 25th, 2016
EDD: March 30th, 2017 (FTM)
*****TW**** losses mentioned*****
I've had a pretty rough ttc journey. This is my 6th pregnancy and I only have 1 living child.
Ectopic rupture resulting in the loss of my left tube and ovary in August 2012.
Ds born July 2013.
Natural miscarriage at in May 2015.
Chemical pregnancy in July 2015.
Blighted ovum requiring a D&C in Dec 2015.
I had some testing done and found out I have MTHFR. Hopefully the baby aspirin and folate keep this pregnancy viable. Im also taking progesterone as a precaution.
Due Date is April 19th (my birthday is the 18th). What a great birthday present a baby would be!
**loss mentioned **
I have gotten pregnant twice in 2016 already in January and May with both ending in losses between the 6 and 7 week mark.
I got pregnant this time immediately following a Mc so dating is a bit challenging but my current estimate is 6+3 with EDD of April 4!
Although I'd like to go the midwife route, I had an appointment with my OB by chance this week. She sent me for Hcg testing and told me to get an ultrasound in two weeks unless i experienced bleeding. My Hcg only went up 63% but my tests were only 45 hours apart so I'm going to try really hard not to stress about it I have an ultrasound scheduled for Aug. 22.
I am cautiously optimistic and trying to stay calm and relaxed. I hope to get to stick around this time!!
Hi All! Got my BFP on 8/1 after getting my first ever positive ovulation test on 7/21 (I was so excited I ran downstairs and screamed "I'm ovulating!" to my husband- he was on a work call and his co-workers apparently heard me- we got a good laugh out of it). We have been TTC for about a year, but I have very irregular cycles and it was hard to pinpoint my ovulation date- looks like we finally got it right and here we are! EDD is 4/13/2017 and we couldn't be more excited! We are, also, foster parents and found out our current placement was going to be moving the day before the BFP! We live outside of Grand Rapids, MI. I am so excited to be on this journey with all of you!
Married: 06/14/14
Fur Babies: Samara (Lab) & Akiva (Pom)
Foster Parents
MC: 8/18/2016
BFP was 8/10 (16th high temp, 1-2 days after AF was due - CD 31/16 DPO). EDD based on LMP/O is 4/17/17 (which happens to be DH's 42nd birthday). I may have actually had a faint positive CD 28 /13 DPO but I generally need to be hit over the head with stuff like this.
I finally got my marriage certificate in the mail last Friday, so went to social security and changed my name on Monday, we opened escrow on a house (not in Santa Monica) on Monday too, and then this on Wednesday - maybe kind of a big week.
I know it's early yet, but I really hope I get to stay here! DH is working to manage his expectations/excitement, but I can't help but be optimistic. I didn't even have an ob and just made an appointment for 9/7 today, which kind of made it feel more real.
I look forward to getting to know you all!
Married 6/18/16 (Me 42, DH 44), TTC #2
***TW***
As of 12/2016: AMH 1.42, FSH 6.1, AFC ~10
Self-benched Nov-Dec 2016 for
IVF #1 Jan-Feb 2017 (OCP, testosterone primed antagonist w/HGH - ER 2/2/17 - 12R, 7M ICSI'd, 3F, 0B)
IVF #2 Mar-Apr 2017 (testosterone primed agonist/luteal lupron w/HGH - ER 4/8/17 - 10R, 8M, 8F, 5B, 1 PGS normal)
IVF #3 May-Jun 2017 (testosterone primed agonist/luteal lupron w/HGH - ER 6/4/17 - 14R, 5F, 3B, 0 normal)
**New RE**
IVF #4 Sept 2017 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 9/28/17 - 33R, 18F, 10B, 4 PGS normals!)
FET #1 (medicated) of one PGS normal 4AA XX 11/2/17 - Beta #1 11/11/17 (153), Beta #2 11/13/17 (324), mc at 5w1d on 11/19/17
IVF #5 Dec 2017 - Insemination of 9 frozen eggs from 2012 (8F, 1B, 0 normal)
Jan 2018 - Natural cycle ERA (normal/receptive) & stimming for
IVF #6 Jan-Feb 2018 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 2/3/18 - 17R, 6M, 4F, 0 blasts)
IVF #7 Feb 2018 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 2/26/18 - 19R, 9M, 9F, 4B, 2 PGS normals)
FET #2 Apr 2018 (natural cycle w/o trigger, w/P4 support) of one PGS normal 4AA- XX 4/5/18 - Beta #1 4/14/18 (67), Beta #2 4/16/18 (231)
Rainbow baby girl born 12/16/2018 (via c-section, induced at 39 weeks)
-----
TFAS!
FET #3 Dec 2019 (natural cycle w/o trigger, w/P4 support) of one PGS normal 3BB XY 12/16/19 - Beta #1 12/24/19 (139), Beta #2 12/27/19 (482)
I am a 35 year old woman living in London (UK). This will be my first baby!!! I am 4 weeks 2 days and the due date is 20 April. HE is also 35, we have been married for two years and we are sooo excited!!!
My DH: French guy, car fanatic, best husband ever.
Our baby boy: Due on 17 April, currently 37 weeks. I can't believe it - I made it to full term!!!!
Last measurement: 3150 gs at 37+1! This is going to be a big baby
Congratulations to everyone here! I'm Christina and my DH have been married for 5 years August 20th. We've never stopped pregnancy from happening but when something hadn't happened by 2014, we looked into health issues. Turned out due to irregularities, I had built up endometrial hyperplasia and had to go on DEPO for 6 months to remove it and an additional six months of birth control pills to avoid the spotting and potential buildup after. We then tried naturally in 2015 and nothing happened again. In January, I was tested and found out I had insulin resistant PCOS and I was put on Metformin. After a few months on that, they decided Clomid might be an option.
I started my first round of Clomid July 2nd, took an Ovidrel shot on July 11th after finding three follicles (two of which were mature enough to ovulate) and by the 14th, I had ovulated on my left ovary. I got my BFP on August first and my first OB appointment was August 3rd. All the blood work has been done, an appointment with an hematologist is scheduled on the 24th (elevated platelets and history of in prior of labs), hospital tours are scheduled after the first ultrasound on the 29th and morning sickness officially started this Thursday.
<a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Baby Names"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1d377b" alt=" Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker" border="0" /></a>
Pregnancy # 6
4 missed chances
2 loving children
1 on the way
Hello April 17! My girl Ariel is doing a pretty good job demonstrating how excited I am to be here! I'm 32, DH, is 39, and DD is 17 months. BFP for #2 was confirmed with a digital today and due date is 4/25! I participated briefly in my previous BMB before the Great Exodus so I am excited to see how our board grows over these next few months!
Baby #2 due April 2017
I found out a few days ago that we are expecting baby #4, it's exciting to see some others who are on 4+ as well!
I was on here before everything imploded (both on Feb12 and Aug14 as ChoicesMom) and I figured I'd give it a go again
Formerly ChoicesMom
"Squishy" 2007
"Lyric" EDD Nov/4/11 - c/p Feb/11
"Fishy" 2012
"Bean" 2014
"Lux" EDD Apr/21/17 - c/p Aug/16
"Kokonah" EDD May/24/17 - m/c Oct/16
1 surprise - 1 Noonie - 1 preemie - 3 gone but not forgotten - One more on the way!!
Grab bag of mental health disorders
Pancolitis