Contraction pain can hurt like a you-know-what. There’s no denying that for most women, there’s pain in childbirth. My experiences chatting about pain management with women of all ages have led me to understand that most people think of labors being in 2 camps: unmedicated vs. epidural. We are so lucky today to live in a time where we have so many medicinal options for pain management in labor, and only one of those is the epidural. ? This ... Read the Post...
Finding Your Identity Outside of Motherhood
I take a lot of pride in being a mother. Motherhood is the work I always dreamed of. The love I feel for my son is insurmountable. It astonishes me how much I happily give up of autonomy to be his mom. I give up privacy, sleep, hot meals, and general comfort for being swept up in all the “momdom”. When you’re the primary caretaker for other humans, it’s easy to wrap up your identity in that. If you haven't heard it, let me be the first to tell ... Read the Post...
Early Labor Cheat Sheet: How to Cope & When it’s Something More
This post is for informational purposes only. Please refer to your medical provider for questions or concerns. For many moms, feeling your first contractions sends a rush of adrenaline to your brain. It’s easy to become excited, and anticipatory. It’s no fault, it’s just how it happens! Contractions are the means to which your baby starts their journey earth-side! All photos in this post by my birth photographer Lori ... Read the Post...
Mama Tried: When it Feels Like Every Other Mom has it Together
Through my prenatal yoga class, I was lucky enough to find a great group of women all due around the same time. We kept up with one another through our 3rd trimesters, and have met regularly since the birth of our babies. 11 days is the difference between the eldest and the youngest in this group, and my son falls right in the middle. When the babies were very young, this group was a place for us to air our grievances as new moms. We ... Read the Post...
Breastfeeding Gadgets That Will Make Your Life Easier
As so many of us know, breastfeeding doesn't always come easily and naturally. It didn't for me in the beginning. Many times, support is really all you need, but there are times where "gadgets" are helpful. In our time breastfeeding, I've discovered some truly phenomenal products that make lactating life much easier. This list goes beyond the "gimme" items like a great breast pump. These are items that many new breastfeeding moms ... Read the Post...
A Day in the Life with a Newborn
Oh boy. They say motherhood irrevocably changes you, and I can attest to that. Being a mom is both the hardest and best thing I've ever done. I'm not one to sugar coat things, or beat around the bush, now that I'm a mom. Is it because I know that at any minute the ticking time bomb that is my life may go off? Maybe. I don't know if I have time to sugar coat life anymore. I thought I'd take the opportunity to share with you what life is ... Read the Post...
When Breastfeeding Doesn’t Come Naturally | Our Breastfeeding Story
When my son was born and they placed his body on mine, I was pleased to see him rooting. After soaking in his newness and crying tears of relief and joy, I decided to try to get him to latch. I was only a little disappointed when he failed to really latch in the delivery room. “Some babies need more time,” I thought. I knew once we were settled into our Mother & Baby Room we’d get the hang of it. My baby just needed a little more ... Read the Post...
My Labor and Delivery Birth Story
Oh boy, did I dream of a different birth story. Nonetheless, we get the births we get. I truly believe that. Sometimes, there's no rhyme or reason. Sometimes, even when everything is done "right", you're thrown for a loop with an off-the-wall complication. My experience with labor and delivery was a series of randomized, unfortunate events, though it ended with laughter and a beautiful baby boy. All photos in this post were taken ... Read the Post...
Before & After: Low Cost Master Bedroom Transformation
When you move into a new house, you want to put your own stamp on it. Some spaces require more work than others to make that happen. In the case of our master bedroom, we made a few minor changes that really overhauled the entire feel of the room. We spent very little money to make it happen, but the impact was huge. Before: After: Master Bedroom Design Our bedroom was painted three different colors when we moved ... Read the Post...
Nature Inspired Nursery Tour | Plus Why We Are Rooming In
When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I didn't want to go overly "baby" with the nursery. I wanted it to be a space that I felt comfortable and that I liked. I also knew I didn't want anything overly gender-specific with lots of blue or pink. When I brainstormed what kind of a room I'd be happy in, three things came to mind: bright, nature, and comfort. Bright Nursery Inspiration This came rather easily as we found that the ... Read the Post...