new moms

The Lazy Mom’s Guide to Diaper Bag Essentials

May 19, 2019 By Ashley McKeown Leave a Comment

Part of becoming a mom is trading in your purse for a diaper bag.

I’m all about gorgeous purses, but I knew there was no way I’d be bringing one home from the hospital along with a diaper bag. Carrying a purse, diaper bag, a kid, and everything they demand to hold is pretty much impossible.

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What No One Told Me About Breastfeeding, Part 1

February 24, 2019 By Ashley McKeown Leave a Comment

Before becoming a mom, I didn’t really know much about breastfeeding.

When I got pregnant, I began learning about the science and the medical benefits for me and baby. I was amazed at the information; it was eye-opening. I looked forward to sharing the experience with my child, but I wanted to go into it with an open mind. Seeing so many moms struggle to breastfeed made me keep my expectations in check. [Read more…] about What No One Told Me About Breastfeeding, Part 1

What No One Told Me About C-Sections

November 1, 2018 By Ashley McKeown 4 Comments

A c-section can be a scary experience, and it's hard to know what to expect. Here's a list of things I wish I would have known about c-sections. I certainly wasn't prepared for the gas pains or vomiting! C-section recovery is no joke! #cesarean #postpartum #laboranddelivery #csections

Every mom that’s had a cesarean birth has probably had a slightly different experience.

I’ve met moms who loved their c-sections or even preferred them to their natural births. But there are also many moms who struggled with their surgeries.

C-sections can have complications, both during and after, and recovering from major surgery can make caring for a newborn immensely more difficult.

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7 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Find Out Your Baby’s Gender

November 1, 2018 By Ashley McKeown 32 Comments

You might be wondering, "Should I find out the gender of my baby?" I don't think so! If you want to experience the biggest and best surprise of your life, waiting until delivery to learn your baby's gender will be an incredible moment. Want some more great reasons not to find out your baby's gender? Read this post and then share if you agree or not! #pregnancy #newbaby #babysgender #surprise #keepitasurprise

We didn’t find out our baby’s gender when I was pregnant.

It took some work to convince my husband, but eventually, we got used to the idea of not knowing. It became a bright spot in my rough pregnancy.

If I have another kid, I plan to repeat the surprise ending, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone. Here’s why:

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The Worst Advice for New Moms

October 30, 2018 By Ashley McKeown 8 Comments

Whether you're a new or seasoned mom, you've probably heard a lot of parenting advice. Some of the tips for new moms can be helpful, but a lot are not, and there's one piece of advice that's the worst. This cliche offers no encouragement and can create mom guilt, especially if you're already feeling new mom anxiety. This is the worst advice for new moms #newmom #momtips #firstpregnancy #encouragementformoms #newmomadvice #motherhood #rawmotherhood

As soon as you say “I Do”, it never fails that someone you know will wonder when you’ll have a baby.

They might even ask if you’re “trying”, or offer advice about your ticking biological clock.

Then when you become pregnant, people feel the need to weigh in on everything. Being pregnant, giving birth, and having a kid means spending the rest of your life receiving unwanted, and often unhelpful advice.

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