Real Talk About the Transition into Motherhood
Choosing Gratitude
These days I find myself straddling the line and wavering between acceptance of the never-ending to do list and resistance to it. It feels like my husband and I could spend all day hacking away at the responsibilities and still not feel accomplished or done by the end of the day. And then, of course, there are the big kids who are home with us all the time and who want and need our engagement. And we truly want to be with them too, spending time doing the things that bring them and us joy.
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Newborn Sleep Resources – Changing the Game
If you are anything like me you obsessed about newborn sleep with your first baby. You read tons of articles and books and tried all different strategies to get your baby to sleep longer and on her own.
I read so many books and articles on newborn sleep the first time around. From gentle strategies to cry it out methods. I dabbled in them all, but nothing really changed the situation.
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A Tale of 3 Births
We hired a doula. We took natural childbirth preparation classes. We planned for an unmedicated birth. We switched care providers at 25 weeks in hopes of having more support for our birth vision. Baby was found to be breech at 36 weeks.
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7 Things I Did to Make my Postpartum Period Easier
My second daughter will be seven weeks old on Friday. She came into the world in a totally different way than her sister and this postpartum experience has been totally different for me as well. I spent many posts on this blog sharing my postpartum plans this time... read more
Accepting my Children for Who They Are
I am my 4-month-old’s favorite person. This is just as it should be and it’s so very sweet, but of course it’s also exhausting. He rarely wants to be held by anybody else, and if he does, he doesn’t last long before looking around for me and protesting until I return.
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What Jane the Virgin Gets Right and Wrong about Postpartum
All this down time has given me the opportunity to catch up on one of my favorite (slightly guilty) pleasures – Jane the Virgin. ***Spoiler Alert *** Season 2 starts with Jane’s transition into motherhood. Though her situation is as dramatic as the best daytime soap opera, there is still some realistic plot around the postpartum experience.
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Noticing the Good
Life with a small baby is hard. There are uncountable tough moments and so many days that feel entirely too challenging. Add to that two older children who are always home with me, and some of my days feel downright overwhelming. After a stretch of 3 incredibly... read more
Letter to My Postpartum Self
Congratulations you have just birthed your baby. I know that you’ve been hearing that a lot lately, and you may not feel like there’s anything to celebrate right now. You are wounded, tired, and overwhelmed. You are in shock about the reality of what having a new baby is like. It’s not what you thought it would be like. This baby needs you all the time. You knew that would be the case, but you didn’t KNOW.
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Postpartum Preparation: 6 Must-Haves for Baby
Much of what we write here is geared towards new mamas with babies already in their arms. But we also strive to reach expectant moms, those on the cusp of motherhood who might not yet know or understand what their needs will be after their baby is born. There’s... read more
Postpartum Planning 2.0 – Sharing Postpartum Plans
This past weekend I set about sharing my postpartum plans with my partner and parents. The conversations were great opportunities to discuss our expectations, reflect on what worked last time and problem-solve some sticky areas. As the time for postpartum planning winds down I find myself feeling nervous and excited about what the postpartum period will bring, and I am trying to settle into this waiting period with peace and anticipation.
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