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: INTRODUCTIONS/EDD
@donnamartingraduates Oh i'm so gossipy, what happened?
@TXbundle your name seems familiar! Did you ever hop over to the Sept15 group? I feel like I remember you :-)
BFP on 10/21, blood test with hcg in 70s on 10/24, and follow-up blood test with hcg in 400s on 10/27!!
EDD of July 4th! (insert fireworks)
First ultrasound at 7 weeks on 11/17, and we CAN'T WAIT. Congratulations, everyone!!
IUI #1 9/15/16
BFP 10/21/16 - NO IUI!
<a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Getting Pregnant"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1d4e6b" alt=" BabyFruit Ticker" border="0" /></a>
Married: 6/27/2008
DS: 3/14/2010 Planned, PG first try
M/C 6/2012
DD: 4/22/2013 Planned, UnDx Infertility, PG on our own
BFP: 10/28/2016 Unplanned, HUGE SURPRISE!
M/C 12/12/2016
BFP: 10/27/2017 Unplanned, HUGE SURPRISE
EDD: 7/2/2018
DH and I are both 33, with two boys (4 and 6). We tried for 14-15 months for this one, were diagnosed with unexplained secondary infertility, and got our BFP on 10/23 on our first medicated IUI cycle. We're incredibly thrilled - but also terrified. First tri is always hard but it seems especially so when it took so long to get here. I've had 2 betas -- on 10/24 (552 at 16 or 17dpo) and 10/26 (1353) with a doubling time of 35.5 hours, so hopefully that's a good sign. First ultrasound is on Wednesday 11/9. 5 more days!
My due date is either 6/30 or 7/1, so I'm gonna pick the later date and hang out here.
Ahh! Hi @baileyM321!
It is making my heart so happy to see so many TTGP girls on here!
BFP #1: 5/16
MMC at 8 weeks: 6/16
BFP #2: 10/16
Sweet baby boy arrived 7/7/17!
Hello Everyone....I'm so excited to join this board. This is my second pregnancy (1st ended as a chemical) and I am 36 years old from Vermont.
My estimated due date is July 3, 2017 based off the date of my IUI on 10/10/16. I first got my BFP on 10/21/16.
I got my BFP this morning, which was a HUGE shocker.
EDD would be around 7/6.
I'm 35, I have a 9yo son, and a 3yo daughter.
I got my BFP this morningat 11 DPO. There was a faint second line. I almost didn't believe it but I know the motto / saying / belief here is "a line is a line".
My EDD is July 17th according to FF. I am glad to see so many other ladies here who are continuing to POAS because I don't feel so crazy for wanting to take another one tomorrow and maybe the day after, etc.
I am still in that "not sure I believe it yet" mind frame / feeling and I'm praying & crossing my fingers that it doesn't end up being a chemical pregnancy.
Married: 06-2024
TTC #1: Since November 2015
Restarted TTC "count" Oct. 2016
due to previous issues.
***TW***
BFP: 11/4/2016
BFP: 07/17/2024
I am hoping it's not a chemical pregnancy and so I have not told many people at all. I've told a couple close friends who know we were TTC and the ladies on TB but I have not told my parents yet. I am waiting for a darker line or doctor confirmation before telling them.
Married: 06-2024
TTC #1: Since November 2015
Restarted TTC "count" Oct. 2016
due to previous issues.
***TW***
BFP: 11/4/2016
BFP: 07/17/2024
Married: Oct 2015
Baby G born June 2017
TTC#2: July 2018
BFP #2: 2/6/19 MC 3/14/19
BFP#3 from IUI #2: 6/30/20 EDD 3/9/21
Married August 2016
TTC #1 September 2016
BFP 10/31/16
EDD 7/16/17
Thanks! The test I used was the First Response test with the curved handle so I am not sure what level / threshold for hcg is but I am thinking maybe taking the other one tomorrow and seeing what it says and then maybe some dollar store ones or something after that for a week or so before the clear blue ones.
@Pepper16 - Maybe we'll have ours on the same day haha. If only a pregnancy could be that predicable
Married: 06-2024
TTC #1: Since November 2015
Restarted TTC "count" Oct. 2016
due to previous issues.
***TW***
BFP: 11/4/2016
BFP: 07/17/2024
Married August 2016
TTC #1 September 2016
BFP 10/31/16
EDD 7/16/17
Married: 06-2024
TTC #1: Since November 2015
Restarted TTC "count" Oct. 2016
due to previous issues.
***TW***
BFP: 11/4/2016
BFP: 07/17/2024
Highly monitored internet and no cell service in the office, so I'm postin' and ghostin' while I'm workin'
EDD 7/15...been brown spotting every day for a few hours since a positive test, so a bit guarded at this moment but hoping for the best. My OB said to give it a week and if it doesn't pick up to miscarriage then we'll do blood tests. Nothing to do but wait
I have a 17 mo old at home, excited for the possibility of another summer birthday.
Labor and delivery nurse as well...love my job.
Hoping for a healthy 9 months for everyone.
Happy to see you here @rklinge0
My SIL went to HS with Vicki's daughter. They were in cheer together, apparently the daughter is(was?) SUPER nice but Vicki was always a B!t*h.
I sometimes watch the show, but then get angry cause that's SO NOT what REAL housewives of OC are like!!!
my happy boy
I just got my BFP on Wednesday 11/2. I thought I was out for this month because I thought I had AF last week, but I guess it was implantation. I went to the doctor yesterday on 11/3 to have a beta done and they confirmed the pregnancy this morning. I'm cautiously optimistic because I've been spotty all day today. I'm going in for another beta on Monday to make sure my numbers look okay. Based on my LMP my EDD is 7.7.17.
I also have a 2-year-old daughter.
I'm excited to be here!
I have a daughter who's almost 5, and had a MMC a year before I got pregnant with her. With her, I had a fairly large SCH, so if anyone has the same experience in the future, please feel free to message me with questions, etc.
I had my first betas drawn yesterday - they were 626 - and my second draw is tomorrow. Honestly, I started out a little depressed about this but now my protective mom side is coming out and I'm hoping everything is OK
Anywho. Here I am! SO excited for all of us and pray we all have a happy and healthy 40 weeks
I was activate with my first son on the bump in the June 2015 group and I am excited to be expecting again! My EDD is July 7th.. I loved my summer baby! We had been TTC for about 5 months with irregular periods so this pregnancy is a blessing and I can't wait to start this adventure!
Super excited to be returning to the Bump forums. I got my BFP on the 29th of October. I'll be 5 weeks tomorrow, due July 9th (though I have a dating ultrasound scheduled for the 15th). I was a member of the September '15 board and have a beautiful 13 month old son. He was conceived after a very frustrating year, trying to get doctors to take me seriously that there was something wrong while also battling my husband's deployment/underway schedule (he's a Navy Submariner and is away from home very often, making getting pregnant difficult). I was diagnosed with PCOS, and once treated, conceived my son on Clomid and Metformin. We were shocked when I got pregnant on our second cycle of trying this time around.
So far, all I'm feeling is fatigued, but I don't tend to have a whole lot of pregnancy symptoms (women in my family generally have an easy time with pregnancy hormones - we're pretty lucky like that). Fingers crossed for a healthy, easy pregnancy, for all of us!
William Alexander born 18 September, 2015
Harper Grace born 9 June, 2017
Colton Miles born 9 June, 2017
Bowen James due 19 June, 2019
**TW** DH and I recently went through a lost at the end of August that I took pretty hard and waited 1 cycle to try again. We are ecstatic it happened so soon, but also a bit nervous. *TW end*
So happy to be in this group and can't wait to get to know all of you lovely ladies
[spoiler]
Me: 28 Him: 30
Married: 11/15/14
TTC: 02/2016
IF DX: MFI (low count & morphology) & mild PCOS
June 2016 BFP - MC @8w2d
August 2016 BFP - MC @6w1d
June 2017 - 50 mg Clomid + Ovidrel + IUI = BFP 7/6/17!!
Beta #1 = 422 (14dpo), Beta #2 = 810, prog - 12.3 (16dpo), Beta #3 = 5023, prog - 18.9 (20dpo)
[/spoiler]
MC @ 5w 03/16
ALEXANDER JAMES DUE JULY 15th!
Married: 06-2024
TTC #1: Since November 2015
Restarted TTC "count" Oct. 2016
due to previous issues.
***TW***
BFP: 11/4/2016
BFP: 07/17/2024
-m/c at 11w2d due to partial molar 2008 -m/c #2 2009
Beautiful daughter born February 2011
**Ultimate TTCALer 2009**
just got my bfp 11/4 and nervous but excited. I am 10 months PP with a little boy and this was not planned but a blessing. EDD is 7/16. This is my seventh pregnancy. WE have a 4 yr old as well. New city and need to find anew dr but excited to be on this journey again. Looking forward to getting to know everyone. I am a veteran bump user as well.
Congrats to eceryone!
Ceji
Dating: 3/2007
Married: 6/19/2009
Pregnancy #1 4/24/14
MC 6/2016
TTC#3 10/2016
BFP 11/5/16~ EDD 7/10/16