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.
JustAnotherUsername16
member
Re: Introductions!
I'm due September 4th! I surprised my husband on Christmas morning with the positive test in his stocking.
We live just outside Toronto, Canada.
This will be baby #3, we have DS1 age 4 and DS2 age 2. We also have a very large dog Hank! He is a Great Dane. I had 2 early losses before I conceived my second so I'm a bit nervous and trying not to get my hopes too high just yet!
Overall feeling OK. Definitely nauseous, but I was quite sick with my first 2 babies as well. I'm also extremely anxious but trying not to let it take over!! I suffer from bad anxiety so just trying to keep it in check as best I can! Haven't made my first appointment yet, plan to call next week.
I'm 32, I work in advertising, love to read, watch way too much Netflix, have been with DH since high school! Excited to meet you all!!
If this pregnancy pans out I’m due sept 8.
This would be my 3rd. I’ve got two boys who are about to turn 4 and 2.
like @nasalot188 I was hoping to gift a bfp on Christmas but at 9dpo I was negative and sure I was out. Lo and behold, 10dpo I was shocked to see lines. That was just yesterday so we’re both still in shock.
We live in the northeast and have been pretty much on our own since the pandemic hit as we have no local family in this region.
Im nervous and excited and then nervous again.
Zero symptoms yet. With my first, I had sore boobs for at least a week before finding out, but nothing now.
Had an ectopic pregnancy and emergency surgery in August so I'm anxious to get to my first appointment and make sure everything is ok.
I'm 31, an attorney, and my husband is currently a stay at home dad to our 16 month old, but he's eager to get back to work. We are trying to move from Chicago to Indiana (near family) but struggling to sell our condo right now!
I'm due Sept 3. This will be our rainbow baby(s). Currently have a DD who is almost 5. I had a chemical pregnancy 2 years ago. After 7 rounds of IUI we tried IVF in early December and did a fresh transfer with 2 embryos. Got my first positive hpt 1 week ago. Going in for our first ultrasound next Tuesday the 5th!
I've had some spotting, but they tell me it's normal, though that doesn't really make you feel any better. So minor nausea. Just mainly tired.
I am 34, almost 35, live in central MN. I work from home as a medical coder and my husband delivers propane.
I'm due Sept 3 with my rainbow baby. I had a chemical pregnancy back on November 1st, the day after I got engaged to my fiancé. We were able to try again in December and to my surprise I got pregnant again right away! I got my first BFP on December 19th. It will be our first child together. I have a four year old son and he doesn't have any children.
I'm feeling okay. Pretty sleepy and mild cramping. I feel like I've done a million crunches I'm so sore lol I'm 28 years old and I live in Central MN. My fiancé works at UPS and I have an office job
Just found out this morning, due date Sept 9, so hoping for the best!
I'm 39, live in NY and have a 3.5 yo son. It took much longer TTC him, so I'm in a bit of shock! lol
I have long covid, since April, which I always said felt like being pregnant - so definitely not feeling much different yet! I have had acid come up my throat the last couple of days, so I think my love affair with coffee is about to be squashed....
My biggest concern ATM is getting off all of my meds for safety!
p.s. I can't figure out my account from my son, so I might come back under a different name if I can sort that out.
edited because I guess I'm wrong and still on my new account. I give up
Its not nearly as bad as in April anymore obviously, but the shortness of breath, chest pressure and fatigue still come and go 😪 Hoping to make it through pregnancy without getting too much worse! Besides at the end 🤣
How did you find out? POAS at 11dpiui and got the strongest positive I’ve ever gotten that early
Due 9/3.
I found out because I had some cramping a couple days after Christmas that reminded me of my first pregnancy, and then I remembered being weirdly nauseated by the smell of this new tea I got, and then I did math and realized I was a little late.. and then did more math and realized when we had sex this month was likely during ovulation. So I took some tests and here we are!
I live near Philly right now but we'll be moving to the NOVA/DC area this summer for a new job I took a few months ago. My husband and I both work for non-profits. We have one son who is 3.5 (I saw a few other older sibs around a similar age!). As for things I like to do, I'll say the things I'm missing most because of COVID- live music and traveling!
Feeling a little more excited every day, but still a little overwhelmed. As I mentioned, I only started this job at the end of Oct, and I'm nervous about taking mat leave within my first year, and many other things about this timing. Also a little nervous because my son was born at 33 weeks and it was generally a crazy experience (hence why we were fine with a few years in between!). My first appt isn't until Feb 8th because my provider is only taking appts at 10.5 weeks due to COVID. So long to wait!
Congrats all! So fun to see a couple of you here from TTGP!
Due date? September 4th
How did you find out? We have been trying for just over 2 years. We started progesterone on my positive OPK until my period in august. I always test 1-2 days before my period is due and that morning I had an instant positive!
Tell us about yourself (Other children/pets?Job? Things you like to do? Spouse/partner?) I have a 7.5 year old boy and 6 year old girl from a previous marriage. Josh has been around for just over 4 years now. He jumped in quick with our chaos and helped me raise my babies while i was finishing nursing school. I graduated RN in May 2019, BSN last month, and got my IBCLC last month as well. The same day as my due date, actually, my daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and the month after I made a huge job change to be closer to home with her. I became a birth center nurse in october and am still learning the ropes, but super excited for all things 2021! Josh and I are also getting married February 6th, so here's hoping I fit in my dress!!!
How are you feeling? (First appointment? Any symptoms? Emotionally?) I dont feel horrible, surprisingly. Maybe because I am just so excited this is finally happening after years of trying. I'm tired, but what's new there after my last 8 years. I went from chronic constipation to daily diarrhea and my nose stays stuffy all the time now. That's really it. Our first appointment is 2 days before our wedding on February 4th and honestly I'm so antsy to get there... but our wedding and 3 twelve hour shifts a week and 2 kids have me pretty booked up so I cant squeeze in any sooner!
I'm pretty excited to be here and I look forward to following this journey with all of you!
I love this sticky wishes thing. ❤️ The best.
Due date: September 2nd I think. Haven't seen the midwife yet for confirmation. So 5 weeks and 5 days along.
I missed my period which was due Christmas day. And honestly just sort of let it slide even though I'm always like clockwork. Started feeling so tired three days later so took a test. Was weird because it looked negative but the line was on the wrong side. So I took a dollar store test at my husband's insistence. Here we are. Lol good call Daddy.
I'm 37 and I run a home daycare in Kitchener Ontario. Currently closed due to covid. Have a three year old daughter and just got our second kitty lol
Feeling ridiculously bloated!!! Good thing it's quarantine because I'm hiding nothing.
Sticky wishes to you all!
I’m 36 so feeling very old to be starting over but I’m excited about the whole thing.
This is a yours mine and ours baby. We both have two from previous marriages but our last babies were born about 8 years ago so this feels brand new all over again.
Based on LMP I am due August 22, but I had a crazy long cycle and believe I ovulated a week later than normal. I got my bfp a week after I would have started AF and I was testing like a crazy person. I had a vvvvvfl 12/22 and confirmed with digital BFP 12/24.
Long story short I am convinced when I see the doc they will date this pregnancy for September so here I am.
im super excited to be here! Our BMB for DS is still going strong on another platform and it’s amazing. I’m hoping it’ll be the same here!
Due date? 9/17
How did you find out? We’ve been trying since late October. This was my third cycle since having my IUD removed after 7ish years. The last two cycles I had brown spotting starting around 8DPO and that didn’t happen this time, so I took one of my cheapies yesterday at 10 DPO and saw a squinter. Confirmed with a much darker line on a FRER today!
Tell us about yourself (Other children/pets?Job? Things you like to do? Spouse/partner?) I was a member of the March12 boards back in the day under a different username, but don’t have access to that email anymore so this is me now 🙂 I have an 8yo boy, and have been married to dh for 5 years next week. Dh is an awesome stepdad to our ds. We live in MA with our 2 doggos (10yr old Australian Cattle Dog and 5yr old Rhodesian Ridgeback). Little man plays hockey, so we usually spend our time at the rink during most of the year, or on the pond in the winter. I’m team manager, so I spend a lot of my nights crafting misc. shirts/gifts/water bottles for the kids on the team with my Cricut, or baking them all snacks and treats. I’m an avid runner and triathlete (I’m slow, but I always finish!), though I have really only been running and cycling over this past year since I’m not feeling the shared pool at the gym for training. Dh works outside the house for a uniform delivery company. I’m a team lead for a bunch of fellow tech nerds and I currently WFH (and also kind of teach since little man is fully remote for school).
How are you feeling? (First appointment? Any symptoms? Emotionally?) No appointment scheduled yet, haven’t even told dh yet. I’ll call later this week after I tell him. I have a plan to setup the GoPro to film his reaction. I’m going to have him open a package containing a swim trophy that I crafted a custom label for (swim is his absolute worst event in triathlon, he’s more of a “sinker” than a swimmer lol).
As far as symptoms go I haven’t had many. I’ve had sore breasts but that’s normal for me with PMS too. Today I started feeling a steady dull/burning type cramp across my lower abdomen.
Emotionally, I am incredibly excited! My last pregnancy was completely unplanned, and I was abandoned the minute the other person found out so I was a complete wreck and couldn’t enjoy it. Now I have an incredibly supportive husband and a little dude who has been dying for a sibling, so I am really excited to just enjoy as much of this pregnancy as I can
So excited to be here and go through this journey with you all! Sticky baby wishes to everyone!! ❤️
I am very close with my June 18 BMB so you guys have some big virtual shoes to fill lol! They were right there with every angry discovery and emotional break down with MH alcoholism and recovery, we have helped other moms in the group through domestic violence, a house that got crashed into by a drunk driver, babies needing surgeries and all the everyday ups and downs in between. They were basically my only social interaction for all of 2020. I hope this group ends up being just as supportive and close because motherhood is tough.
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
Due date?
September 4
How did you find out?
Wasn't drinking all of December (trying to hit some fitness goals!) and Boyfriend asked if I'd have a glass of wine with him on Dec 26th. I kind of jokingly said, well I'm waiting for my period to have a drink so let me take this test real quick. And LO AND BEHOLD, it was positive. We hadn't been trying on purpose, but we knew it was a possibility. I was beyond shocked.
Tell us about yourself (Other children/pets?Job? Things you like to do? Spouse/partner?)
Welllllll part of the reason I was beyond shocked is I got that positive test 5 days before my 40th birthday! Eek! I don't have any children, this will be my first. I am teacher (teaching virtually) and we have 2 dogs. I have been with my partner for 2 years and we will probably marry soon.
How are you feeling? (First appointment? Any symptoms? Emotionally?)
At first I was totally in shock and could barely process the news.
Now, I feel bloated and gassy and tired and HUNGRY. I'm having a hard time getting to sleep, which is weird for me. I miss my regular coffee too.