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.
ec1212
member
Re: Fit & Healthy 2021!
What healthy habit you’ve embraced today?
-I'm mostly trying to focus on hydrating. I could sit and not drink anything all day.
Share your healthy habit goals for the next few days
-I'm going to take this week easy so no real goals this week. I had some spotting after doing yard work on Sunday and even though it's likely unrelated, I just want to be super cautious. So for now I'm really just focusing on my water and not eating total junk. During the rest of this pregnancy, I'm planning on walking 5/7 days per week and working on strength.
If you’re a repeat mama, what did you love doing during prior pregnancies?
-Honestly I feel like pregnancy is kind of meh. Love the end result but didn't love or hate anything last time. Although I am looking forward to when I can feel movement.
-I really love Fitness Blender videos. They have a huge range of workouts and they're all free on their website/youtube.
Good luck guys!
*Rainbow 8/2015*
*Expected Rainbows 12/2018*
*Loss of Twin 5/2018*
@texas_t i love that cumulative goal...goals help me stay on track. I think im too nervous about everything right now to get too ambitious but will def want to make some goals once I feel more at ease! Right now just trying to stay calm and sane lol.
BFP #1 January 28, 2016
Felicity Joy, born September 2, 2016
My Chart
BFP #2 September 11, 2020
EDD May 23, 2021
Let's see...with my first I was part of a fitness in pregnancy study...so I had to hit a minimum of 10k steps a day and eat lots of dairy. I loved it and stayed pretty fit just from walking.
My second pregnancy I was 15lbs heavier due to weight I never lost from our 2 MMCs. I gained the same amount as with my first pregnancy and lost it all fairly quickly BUT I'm still carrying those extra 15 to 20 loss lbs.
I now have a 1 year old and a 6 year old. I bought a double chariot and make a point of going for at least one long walk with the girls every day. I'm hoping to not gain too much this time so I can lose some of the extra lbs I've been carrying after bub gets here safely. Basically I'm just trying to stay as active as possible.
- share your healthy habit goals for the next few days I'd like to start some light weight training from home
- if you’re a repeat mama, what did you love doing during prior pregnancies? During my last pregnancy (which unfortunately ended in a 2nd trimester loss), I did those workouts as well as prenatal yoga:
https://www.thebump.com/a/pregnancy-workouts-by-trimester
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a20702437/first-trimester-strength-workout/
Now because this pregnancy is high risk and we don't know why my water broke prematurely last time, I'm taking it ultra easy, and I probably exaggerate, but I feel more comfortable doing so. So I'll try to focus on eating right so I gain a reasonable amount of weight.
yoga, walking, and light resistance band training has been my jam since March.
I wasn’t good about working out with my other pregnancies. Once MS hit, I gave up. I want it to be different this time now that I have a more flexible schedule!!
I did really well for the August challenge, but my September has been off to a rocky start. (Now I know why.) Going to try and be better this week, hoping to stay in Momma for a little while longer before I move to Momma-To-Be
During my first pregnancy DH and I went to the gym almost every morning and I took a spin class 2 to 3 days a week until 35 weeks. I've been doing Beach Body recently and we bought a Peloton so hoping to be able to do some sort of workout most mornings. The first tri is tough tho being so tired!
All I could keep down during my first pregnancy was pizza hut pizza and anything carbs, so I'm hoping this time around I can eat a bit better.
My last couple rides I noticed it was much harder for me to go “up hill”. I think it’s the shortness of breath symptom. I really struggle!!
Also loving all these new recs of different fitness programs!! Gonna be so helpful as the weather gets colder to have so many to check out!
My mom is a personal trainer/ 4-time mom, and has offered to write up some targeted workouts that she thinks will be specifically beneficial during pregnancy. She’s definitely more hardcore than I am (the day she gave birth to my youngest sister, she went on a 6 mile run at 9 mo 🤯😳 I... don’t see that in the cards for me 😂), but I can happily share her ideas/pointers if it’s of interest to folks!
In all honesty, this pregnancy is my “weight loss plan” 🤣 I lost 20lb with my first (I think it just helped to regulate my hormones, no special effort on my part, I was a couch potato for most of it). Now that I’ve gained it all back, hoping that the second pregnancy does the same trick for me. However, I was very sore and just felt generally unfit, so I’m trying to move more this time around, get stronger, and hopefully ease some of the horrible back pain I had last time.
My story in signature spoiler. Children mentioned.
I don't produce FSH, so no natural menstrual cycle. DH has reduced morphology.
Summer 2014 IUI (with first husband): cancelled after almost a month of stims due to too many follicles
Time off to divorce, get back on my feet, find a new hubby and get married again 💑
March 2017 IVF#1: ~70 follicles, 13R, 10M, 7F, 3B = 2 PGS Normal (both XY) - no transfer due to ohss
Sept 2017 FET#1: BFP, Beta#1 (10dpt) - 253, Beta#2 (12dpt) - 528, DS born 05/31/2018 👨👩👦
Dec 2019 FET#2: BFN
Changed clinic, planning March 2020 IVF#2 - postponed due to the pandemic
April 2020 IVF #2: ~30 follicles, 24R, 12M, 8F, 4B = 2XY & 2XX, all normal
Sept 2020 FET#3: one XX embryo, BFP, Beta#1 (9dpt) - 161, Beta#2 (11dpt) - 519, Beta#3 (19dpt) - 7174, Due date 05/30/2021
DD born 05/23/2021 👨👩👧👦 - My family is now complete
I think if you love biking already and think you'll keep it up, maybe it's worth the investment? I haven't seen any "all out" workouts pop up for me as a recommendation...I've just been following the cadence and resistance ranges in each class and sticking to beginner level or short rides while I get my wheels back under me, since I had only done one spin class since COVID started.
Love that there is a thread for health and fitness tips and support.
what healthy habit you’ve embraced today?
- I plan on working out 3 times this week.
- I subscribe to Beahbody and they have great prenatal workouts! Like Barre Blend and Yoga.
- I have had bad nausea and been exhausted for over a week straight now, my goal is to keep reminding myself to drink lots of water and still eat what I can manage to keep down. Also taking my prenatal vitamin at bedtime has helped.
Love that there is a health and fitness thread on here, as keeping fit is part of my ordinary life and I want to maintain this throughout the pregnancy.
I can't remember who said what, but +1 for Fitness Blender and Team Body Project (TBP). I did the TBP Cardio Starter Four workout before work this morning - it was awesome! I love TBP because they have a lot of low impact workouts, but also because they are fun. They also have a really positive message about focussing on moving your body, consistent progress and just enjoying it. Progress not perfection. :) Loads of free videos on You Tube but you can get a paid program if you want to.
If you're looking for preg specific workouts, I like Lindsay from Nourish Move Love. I found her when not pg, but really enjoy her workouts.
Hope everyone is feeling well today. I'm trying to focus on eating small to avoid nausea. Blech.
- My goal for next week is to take 2 morning walks (20-30 min). and do 1-2 prenatal yoga classes (20-45 min.). On the days I plan yoga, if I wake up not wanting to do it, I'll do a walk instead.
- If that goes well, the week of 11/9 I'd like to add in 1-2 rides/workouts on the Peloton
Anyone else getting in some movement, or want to join me in some goals for next week?I'm hoping to do at least 5 workouts a week as we make it out of first tri, but we'll see how realistic that is. I was in a really good rhythm with it before I got pregnant, so I'm hoping to get back into the groove.