“Being a mom is amazing but damn is it hard” – Me

Here is where I’m at….tired. I think that’s the word that a lot of us moms would describe new momhood, right? I’ve been a mom for a minute now. I had my baby girl almost 4 months ago. Don’t get me wrong, I am beyond happy that I have my baby and love her so much, but the exhaustion is real. I’ve been on maternity leave since August, which has been amazing and exhausting. How have 4 months gone by already? It is crazy to think how much time has passed. I know there is so much more ahead, but this millennial first-time mama business is no joke. The emotions range from, in love, utter sadness, confusion, exhaustion, happy, mad and the list goes on. Sometimes I feel all those emotions at once. From everything I have learned so far, these feelings are a normal part of postpartum.

my Postpartum journey

My precious baby girl in the first few months was a fussy one. The below, I have found to be great ways to breathe and refresh. Breathing exercises and the gym have been ways to strengthen both my mind and body. They also give me time to focus on myself. Both of these specifically have helped me be my best self, and my best self is what my baby deserves.

When my newborn wasn’t eating or sleeping in those first couple months, she was crying. Her endless fussiness went on for the first two months. Loss of sleep, loss of myself and the feeling of not being a good parent were the top thoughts. It made me feel awful that I couldn’t soothe her. All the Google searches in the world could not help me. More on the frantic Google searches of a new mom to come in a future post, stay tuned!

My postpartum mental health is what I am working to improve. Things that have helped with my mental health thus far are:

• weekly Target runs with or without baby
• going to the gym a few times a week for an hour or so
• being open with my partner about my feelings – I have a great partner (more on him later)
• walks around the block
• seeing friends
• pre-baby hobbies – I am sewing a Christmas stocking
• deep breathing techniques (4-7-8 Breathing works great for me) 4-7-8 Breathing Method For Sleep and Relaxation

While we have turned the page on constant fussiness, we do still hit those days every now and again.

My Blog journey

As a new mom, I’m learning about babies, myself, and my family. I’m figuring out how to juggle this new life with what life was before. This blog is meant to be my outlet of the struggles, the successes and all the craziness that is motherhood and life in general. I will even share the resources that have helped me along the way. Are you about to become a mom, a veteran mom or just someone navigating life? If you are new to the journey, let’s embark on this together. I am by no means an expert, but just a modern girl figuring out life in the mommy trenches.

Would love to hear how you navigate motherhood challenges with an infant and how you cope with the emotions. What emotional struggles have you faced as a mom or someone dealing with big life changes? How did you deal with them? What resources helped you most?

Off to change a diaper, feed baby, rock baby, eat, fold laundry, then sleep.

Later,

Mom in Trenches

Blog Post Topics to come….

• The Exhausted, Frantic Google Searches of a Mom
• Newborn Adventures
• Maternity Leave
• Juggling Loss with Birth
• Finding Myself as a New Mom
• Returning to Work as a Mom