Tag: new mom

Finding out you’re having a second child

Finding out you’re having a second child

by justbloommomsblog ♥ 2 Comments

You’re feeling a little sick and running to the bathroom every few minutes what is going on? You grab a pregnancy test just for the heck of it and wow it reads your pregnant! Yep, that’s my story! I was not planning to have baby number two so soon and honestly wasn’t completely sure if I wanted more kids at all and then this amazing message reads across the screen saying I’m pregnant, and just like that with a toddler almost two years old running around another one is now baking in the oven. I was excited but after a few days it hit me like woah I am really going to be a mommy of two.

 My nerves started to go insane, and the over thinking started to set in. My beautiful toddler Marley has me chasing her all over the house, starting tantrums and ripping off her diaper and running every chance she gets. I would sit and think how I am going to do this I am already tired and exhausted sometimes just chasing her around. How am I going to make a routine that works, I am still trying to figure out this one with sleep regressions and molars coming in. I honestly felt nervous and just hopeful that I would do a good job in such a huge transition with our little family.

As weeks went on, I feel like something in me just clicked and said hey you got this! I think time is the only thing that really helps to settle your mind because the baby is coming no matter what. I went to my first appointment saw the sonogram and heard the heartbeat and that was the motivation I needed. This baby is going to need me to figure it out and things won’t have to be perfect because they are going to love me regardless. Once you realize that things become much easier, and you allow the process to just flow.

Don’t get me wrong there were some nights where I would stare at my baby girl and think things like was it to soon? Am I taking away my bonding time with her to early? Isn’t she going to miss it being just us? Will she like being a big sister? Will I be able to divide my time equally between her and her sibling? Will the new baby feel all the love and affection that my first baby got? And more questions that would just fill my head repeatedly. Though these were all valid questions I knew that I would have to acknowledge those feelings early and plan to make sure I do my best to help her and me with this transition.

Its okay to have those thoughts and its okay to worry but we must know that we have plenty of love to go around and somehow us moms can always make it happen. I have been telling Marley that there is a baby in my belly, and she has been super excited about it. She comes over and kisses or rubs my belly and if we ask her where her sibling is she will come over and hug my stomach. I think she will be a great big sister and I think just telling them ahead of time is helpful even if it feels like they don’t fully understand. I also bought her a baby doll to take care of herself so she can understand to be gentle with babies. I think as I take care of her sibling sometimes, I will encourage her to take care of her baby too, to give her something to do and to help her to not feel left out. It appears as a mom we will think of things that are going to work best for us, our schedule, and our family, that’s just what we do. Don’t be to hard on yourself about any of it our babies will feel the love and that’s all that matters.

So, if you’re just finding out your having baby number two embrace the news, embrace the journey of your pregnancy, don’t over think it and everything is going to work out just as it needs to. The same way you were probably terrified when you brought your first little one home from the hospital and you handled it, figured things out and got through it you’re going to do the same thing this time around and now your more experienced and more prepared than you think. Congratulations on baby number two you’re going to do great and seeing your two babies love each other is going to be such a reward for you.  

How to help a new mom during Covid-19 times

How to help a new mom during Covid-19 times

by justbloommomsblog ♥ 1 Comment

If you have a friend or relative that had a baby during the pandemic or is having a baby soon there is a huge chance, they need your love and support more than ever right now. There is also a huge chance that they are not telling you that they do. Most pandemic moms are currently dealing with a level of anxiety or worry they have never felt before and the pandemic is causing them to want to isolate themselves from people to make sure they are keeping themselves and their baby as safe as possible. This may cause your friend or family member to take on a bit more physically and mentally than they should. There are a few things that you can do to help your friend or relative while keeping your distance so that they can have less of a hard time with all of this.

Thankfully, we have so many ways to interact with each other using our phones and social media. You can send them a text message as often as you can to check on them and make sure they are okay and make sure they don’t need to vent about anything. You don’t always have to send long passages you can also send inspirational quotes, mantras, links to meditation videos, funny videos and anything that you think will uplift them or encourage them. Most of our phones also offer voice messages as well so you can send audio of you telling them you care or cheering them on. This way they can listen to it while they are busy with the baby. A lot of the apps we use have a video call feature and you can even schedule group chats with you and some of her favorite people, even if she cannot be on video at the moment, she will be able to see all of you giving her air hugs and showing support. Try not to be offended if she cannot do video because chances are, she is in her mom clothes or nursing very often. Scheduling facetime calls with her and the baby might be easier.

Most pandemic moms are leaving the house as minimal as possible, so to help you could offer to do her groceries for her and run any errands she might need sometimes. She can send you the cash through an app and you can grab stuff for her that way. You could find out what type of wipes and diapers she uses for the baby and when you are out on your own errands you could pick some up and leave them at her door before you head home. If you want to do something more heart warming you could leave her a care package at her door with things like candles, bath essentials, baby stuff, uplifting cards and her favorite snacks. You can also cook a meal for her and her small family that might last 2 days or so, so she has one less thing to worry about. If you are not into cooking, you can offer to deliver something from a food app as well.  

If she is open to visits or meeting up make sure your as open and understanding as you can be when she is expressing her concerns and what would make her feel comfortable. Reassure her that you understand her worries and that you will follow all necessary guidelines to make sure you all will be safe.

It is very important that she knows that she has you for support and that she has people around that understand her. Make sure to let her know any feelings she might be having are valid and that she is not alone. As someone who cares about her make sure you pay attention to her moods and the way that she speaks about things. If she seems like she needs help make sure to encourage her to get help from you, her partner, a therapist, friend or relative depending on what she is dealing with. Encourage her to join support groups on social media and to connect with other moms dealing with the same situation as her. Let her know the importance of selfcare and how she needs to make sure she is making some time for it and making time for sleep.

Celebrate milestones and accomplishments with her like reaching a goal with her breast-feeding journey or her baby learning a new thing. Make sure to tell her she is doing a great job at being a mom and that your proud of her. A little bit of love, encouragement, and support will go a long way and I am sure she will be very thankful for any of these gestures. Remember you do not have to do anything grand to just let someone know that you are thinking of them during these hard times. We never know what someone’s day to day is like or what they may be battling with. This is just a reminder to let any of your family know you care and to especially check in on the new mommies.