Rewriting the Village

Postpartum Day 29…

Planning can be key in postpartum especially when juggling other children as well!!
It definitely won’t always go to plan or work but it can help to make things better that need to happen/non-negotiable.

We had a ENT appointment at the hospital for Cooper, when we got the date, I knew that we would have a newborn as well but absolutely needed to prioritise making this appointment work (especially with our systems)

Ways we achieved this
- luckily was on a day nana doesn’t work - so she came to the appointment with me, Cooper and Gus. We had planned that she would be with Gus but if he needed something we would switch out (which we knew Cooper would be fine with)
- Extended Mack’s day at preschool so Allan could drop him off and he had care while we attended the appointment.

It all went smoothly and was able to meet everyone’s needs were meet and we achieved what we needed to do!

Postpartum Day 24…

How good is a cloth bum!!!

We used cloth nappies with both the other boys.

I had decided that we would use disposables until I was ready to add the extra washing etc into our regime again!

Today I am ready to jump back into cloth nappy life.
For now we will use them at home - but use disposables overnight and out and about.

This is another good reminder that there are so many options in parenting and everyone has their own views and reasonings for this!
But you get the choice to make your own decisions on what is best and works for your family and how awesome is that!!!

Postpartum Day 23…

Today was such a boring, nothing day but was good for the soul!

We dropped the kids at preschool, went to the chiropractor, then had a wee nap, then spent most of the day on the couch.
The big kids got picked up by nana and poppa and went for a sleepover in the caravan.

Throughout the day I did think I could do … or … but I didn’t and it was just what I needed a day of resting and nothingness!

Give yourself the permission to have those days and all the other “stuff” can wait, listen to your body and don’t feel guilty for it!

Postpartum Day 19…

Today was the first day I was home with the kiddos with Allan back at work.

It was the first time in the longest time where I didn’t have any interaction with other adults until Allan got home and when he did I realised how much I was craving some conversation and interaction!

Being around others and while raising your children is a normal connection to want and crave and it reminded me how important it is for me to have others around and to make the plans while on my home days!

Postpartum Day 18…
(The real one - if this doesn’t sum up the postpartum haze I had skipped a day a few days back)

The realities of working through the dairy issues hit home today with having had a hard evening with the wee mate! He was so upset and uncomfortable. He has also still got the mucus snot nose happening and it really comes to play by the end of the day and over night often needing lots of contact and being upright as breathing is a bit harder so intensifying the sleep deprivation and the emotions came!
But after a wee cry over it all and then today looking back at Mack’s timeline we are feeling better about it all.
Even though this is the 3rd time and we know what it’s like and what to expect - with sleep deprivation, hormones and all other things postpartum it feels like it intensifies everything and those emotions come up at the forefront!

Postpartum Day 17…

Other aspect I wanted to prioritise has been my own well-being and health.

Today Gus and I both had our first appointment with our chiropractor. (I had also been seeing her through my pregnancy). Afterwards my body felt so much better right away!

During pregnancy I also prepared easy meals and snacks for myself that would be easy to grab and eat while having a newborn attached to me.

Also having a cup filler that can easily do each day when needing to take 10mins to focus on self care and support my mental health - at the moment mine is having an epsom salt bath. Sometimes it has been during the day when needed.

What are somethings that you did or wish you did for you during this time?

Postpartum Day 14…

We ended up with a bonus day with Dad at home today as work thought he wasn’t back till tomorrow.

So we dropped the kids off at preschool and went out for brunch to celebrate making it through the first 2 weeks with 3 children!!

We wanted to prioritise having him at home to be able to have some time to bond with Gus, but also to support my recovery from birth by being able to rest over this time when I needed. As with a lot of life decisions the financial factor was something we needed to consider we chose to use AL over this time to still have the income coming in.

He has been such a gem over this time - playing with the older kids, doing all the preschool drop offs and pick ups, cooking, cleaning, providing water and snacks while I’m resting or feeding, holding Gus so I can sleep, or spend time with the big kids or just have sometime to myself.

I’m feeling a little apprehensive for the first day he is back at work tomorrow but know we will find our new groove within time…

Postpartum Day 12…

The story of dinner time…

First the 4 year old had one look and did not like dinner.

The 2 year old then had a meltdown (full disclosure I have no recollection of what this was about now).
He was offered cuddles that were refused and then reassurance that when he was ready a cuddle was available.
He eventually got up and came over to sit on my knee asked for his plate and ate his whole dinner.

The 4 year old then saw a drink on the table that only had a little bit left in it and just absolutely lost it screaming and crying as he wanted more but there was no more.

This then was just too much for me, and my hormones and sleep deprivation and overstimulation and then I started to have a wee moment and some tears as well. With being the default parent that was handling and supporting both children’s meltdowns (not to lack of dad trying it was just not accepted in these moments tonight)

Eventually the other options that were offered were accepted and food was consumed making the 4 year old feel better.

And we were back to harmony in time for pēpi to wake and want a feed…

Postpartum Day 11…

One thing I was quite worried about with the move from 2-3 was how the other boys would cope with the new addition.

But they have both blown me away with how they are adjusting and just how much love they have for him! They are always doting on him showering him with kisses and cuddles and are constantly wanting to help!!!

They also have been super responsive and understanding to us meeting his needs and are finding ways to accommodate everyone.

It just fills the heart with some much more love and has definitely made the process so much easier at this stage!

Postpartum Day 8…

From my past 3 experiences and from all the lovely amazing birth conversations I have had over the years birth is such a different experience every time you do it.

It is such a huge experience to have both mentally and physically and for everyone they will be ready to process and reflect on the birthing experience at different times and stages and it is absolutely ok to do this in your own time and when you are ready!!!

Today I was ready to start processing this birth.

Rewriting playgroups to parents groups- this is a group aimed at the parents.
Babies and Toddlers groups coming up!
Come and connect, discuss the realities of parenting in a safe, non-judgmental space.
Snacks and refreshments provided
Make mates, tell mates.
Limited spaces, special first group pricing!
Link in bio to register for both groups!

Rewriting playgroups - this is a group aimed at the parents.
Come and connect, discuss the realities of parenting in a safe, non-judgmental space.
Snacks and refreshments provided
Make mates, tell mates.
Limited spaces, special first group pricing!
Link in bio (Parents group babies)