Real Women. Real Experiences. – Madison L
Q: Tell me about yourself. Where are you from? How many kids do you have?
A: My name is Madison - I am originally from Dekalb, IL (Go Huskies!) but have lived a little bit of everywhere: Orlando, Milwaukee, and currently San Diego, California. I have been married to my husband for almost 4 years and we have a spunky, fun, and strong willed three year old daughter named Vivienne. I recently graduated with my MBA and work for a resort wear designer managing all of our major accounts, it is truly my dream job as my undergraduate degree is in fashion merchandising. We love to spend time as a family exploring Southern California and all it has to offer!
Q: How was your pregnancy? The good? The bad?
A: My pregnancy was a surprise to both my husband and I, we have St Patrick's day in Chicago to thank for that (TMI?) But truly the best surprise we could have ever asked for. My pregnancy in pretty much every stage was so smooth and I am so beyond grateful for that. I did have a few food aversions early on, I had previously suffered from an eating disorder so gaining weight was really hard for me mentally and I think that was the hardest part overall. I am so grateful for the entire pregnancy though, because I know how many things could have gone wrong and we are just so fortunate that it went as well as it did.
Q: How was your labor and delivery? Did you birth at home? Hospital? C-section?
A: I birthed at the hospital, the Aurora Woman's Pavilion in Milwaukee. I was going to be induced the day after I went into labor actually because my husband was leaving to move out to San Diego a couple of months before we were able to with him due to his schooling/schedule with the Navy. At my appointment the day before I had my membranes swept, my mom had actually come up and we got a hotel close to the hospital since I was scheduled for induction the next day. We all went to dinner to celebrate my mom's birthday (my daughter's due date was my mom's birthday), and shortly after we got back from dinner I started having contractions. When they say "you know when you know" when you are in labor, I had never felt that so much in my life. We went to the hospital, I opted to have the epidural, I slept through most of the night after that, and then with only about 20-30 minutes of pushing my daughter early the next morning.
Q: Describe your postpartum experience. Did you experience postpartum depression? Postpartum anxiety? Postpartum rage? Were you aware of these things postpartum?
A: I think I had more anxiety before I had her, just because I knew that no matter how many books I read and how many classes I attended I would just have to live through it to understand how it felt. I was really down about my husband having to leave weeks after she was born, I was worried that
Q: Did you breastfeed? If so, how did that go for you? If it was challenging, what were your challenges?
A: I did breastfeed for 6 months and then switching to exclusively pumping until about 8 months. It went better than I had anticipated. My milk came in pretty well and Vivienne was able to latch pretty well. I did have to alter some of my diet as some things would not sit well with her if I were to eat it and have it my system (broccoli was a big no for us for a longgg time). Scheduling the time to pump while working was also something that I had to adjust to and not like anything I had ever had to do in a professional setting before.
Q: Did you have any pregnancy cravings?
A: I had bags of Flaming Hot Doritos at my desk at work on the regular.
Q: What's something you never knew about until you were pregnant?
A: I felt like I knew nothing until I was pregnant. The heart burn, the restless sleep, the nervousness at every appointment before finding out everything was okay with baby at each stage. I did not realize how many things can and do go wrong at any stage of pregnancy. On the other side, the bond you feel building as soon as you find out about the life growing inside of you and the feeling you get when you get to start to feel them moving around.
Q: What was something that surprised you about your postpartum journey?
A: I think how long it would take for me to feel like "me" again. It did take me almost 2 years to get back to feeling like myself in my body, I didn't expect it to take so long. I thought I would have my daughter, get released to be active again 6 weeks postpartum and I would feel the same as I did, mentally and physically, before having her. But also the confidence that came with having a child surprised me too, like I had my beautiful, amazing daughter and that means I can do ANYTHING. Something within me just switched, I had always struggled with being confident in myself and having her has totally changed that and made me a lot more brave in my daily life.
Q: If there was a gift to give a new mom, what would it be?
A: Presence is something I would gift a new mom. It sounds so cliche but it all goes by so fast, presence in the moment is what I would give any new mom to truly savor each and every second.
Q: If you could give a new mom some advice what would it be?
A: I think it is so important to give yourself so much grace as a new mom. You won't know everything or have it all together all the time and that is okay and I think part of the process into motherhood. I had read books and gone to classes, but nothing teaches you like actually doing it. You know what is best for you and your baby, mom tuition and instincts are so real. Also, don't lose yourself. Your child is obviously your world and most important, but in order to be the best for them you have to be the best for you too and you deserve it!