← Sunday Sports Club with Allison Kuch
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Allison Cooch
The following podcast is a Dear Media Production. What's up, guys? Welcome back. Or welcome to Sunday Sports Club podcast with Allison Cooch. And today is part two of our Scotty episode. So, in part one, I talked all about my experience with becoming a parent. Becoming a mom. Isaac was on the episode. And today I'm going to be giving some advice. Now, I have to say, take my advice with a grain of salt, okay? Because all of us are just trying to survive at the end of the day. And I genuinely do think that being a parent is such a unique experience. And, like, some things might work for you, some things might not work for you. You might want to swaddle. You might not want to swaddle. You might want to sleep train. You might not want to sleep train. So, like, you know, take my advice with a grain of salt. This is just from my experience. And I definitely. I act like I know it all when it comes to sports, but I definitely do not know it all when it comes to being a mom. And being a mom has been one of the most challenging and most, most rewarding. But also, most, like, I've learned so fucking much. Okay? So like I said, I only have one kid. Take my advice with a grain of salt. But I think I can give you advice from, like, a big sister, if that makes sense. And if you're not pregnant or you don't have a family, if you don't even plan to ever have kids, I promise you this will still be entertaining. Is hearing me and give advice? No, but I do think that, like, I'm a good friend and I can, you know, offer a listening ear. And when you guys are listening to this, Scotty's officially one, which is insane. I'm like, okay, like, round two. Let's go. But it's crazy that it's been a year. Like, so much has happened in a year, but also not that much at the same time. Let's go ahead and jump into the episode. Question number one. I'm pregnant and so anxious about the sleeping, and I can't afford an expensive monitor. Do you have any tips? Well, if you are referring to, like, naps or, like, during the day sleep, I would say there's cheap monitors at Target. I think there's like, $20 monitors. I've bought them before. They work great. Like, you don't need some fancy, dancy, expensive monitor, okay? You. You really don't need all the bells and whistles. I think that if you have a safe sleep environment, okay, you can look up safe sleep during the Daytime. Well, also at night. But if you have safe sleep, that should take away your worry it at the very least, right? Like, you can get a very cheap monitor and. And be okay with that. Two, I still sleep with Scotty in our bedroom. So when it comes to, like, night sleep, I don't really have the best advice because she's in her room. So I don't need to have a monitor overnight. Now, if. If you're in the place where you don't mind having your baby in your room overnight, some parents don't like it. Some parents, like me and Isaac are like, I don't really see an end to this because I kind of love it. Yeah, if you don't see or if you don't mind your baby in your bedroom, like, then you don't really need a monitor when it comes to overnight sleep because that defeats the purpose of a monitor. Like, you're the monitor. Question number two. That. That's what I'm just saying. When I. When I say that, I'm, like, iffy when I give advice. I'm, like, trying to be so inclusive because I know motherhood is. Oh, my gosh, there's so many opinions and hate and everybody has their two cents. I have my two cents. But, yeah. Question number two. Our baby girl is two months today. Biggest piece of advice, you wish you'd known before. When it comes to advice that I wish I would have known before, it's really before I gave birth and like, about breastfeeding and introducing a bottle, like, I have a lot of regrets around that, but I think if I were looking back, like, would I change anything? I think, honestly, this is probably. So many people say this, but I think, like, take as many photos, take as many videos. My husband and I, when we first got pregnant, we bought a camcorder, and we used that camcorder to document my entire pregnancy. And then we also used it to document our daughter's first year of life. And we never changed out the memory card. We bought, like, a memory card with a bunch of memory. We never changed out the memory card, so we could never lose it. You know, every so often I would upload it to my computer so I didn't lose the footage. But I love that, like, whenever she was doing something cute, I picked up that camera. Whenever she started walking, I picked up that, like, first time trying solids. I loved having, like, a designated camera. So if you have the means to do that, I highly recommend it. There's also, like, used camera stores. You can go and buy a used Camera at. But I. I truly do. I loved having that. So I don't really have any, like, advice like, oh, I wish I could go back and, like, change this. Maybe the not moving part, but you're probably not moving. Like, I would. If I've. If I have any piece of advice, I would say do not schedule to move across the country when you're freshly postpartum. But in addition to that, I would also say photos, videos, like, truly document because it goes by so fucking quick. And Isaac and I lay in bed every single night and we talk nonstop about how small she was. Oh, my God. Remember when she did this? Oh, like, what noise did she make? So if you have the means to get, like, a designated camera, it doesn't even need to be designated. It could be the family camera, who cares? But just always have it accessible. Like, have it in your living room, have it in your kitchen. I love, I love that. Question number three. My husband and I have two goldens, and I'm doing April. How is having two dogs plus a baby? So I'm not going to lie. Bringing a baby home when you have two dogs, like, let me bring you back my dogs. My entire world. Okay. When we moved to Vegas last year, I made sure that our rental had a pool. That sounds so bougie. But I was like, I need a pool because if it's 2, if it's 120 degrees outside and I can't walk them because I'm pregnant, I need them to still be able to get exercise. Like, I was overly. I was so hypersensitive when it came to, like, oh, my God, the dogs, the dogs, the dogs, the dogs, dogs. So then when I brought our baby home, I was a little nervous, but like, hey, me and Isaac, like, we can tackle, like, somebody can walk the dogs every single day. But then you quickly learn, like, oh, I'm exhausted. Oh, I don't have the same energy I once had. Oh, like, they went from, like, doing all this stuff, just us, and now there's like a full blown baby. So initially, postpartum, it was like, a lot of change with having dogs. So if I could give any advice, if you have the means to get a dog walker, like, find a high school student in your neighborhood and get a dog walker. It takes away so much stress. And then you're, like, able to fully enjoy, like, the fresh postpartum. But now that our daughter is older, we view, like, our family as a whole unit. So when it comes to, like, going out for the day, whenever we go for A walk. We take the dogs. Whenever we go to the beach, we take the dogs. And I think that makes me feel less guilty as a dog mom. And some people say, once your baby arrives, you're not going to give a shit about your dogs. I don't know who the fuck said that. I'm going to be very real. I do not feel that way. I love my dogs. Postpartum. Yeah. Was like, can you not bark right now? Like, can you, like, please, it's just a mailman. Like, you'll see him tomorrow. But aside from that, Yeah. I have not lost any love. In fact, I love them. Now that she's eating solids, I don't have to clean the floor because Gus. Gus is all about that. But I. I definitely say, like, don't worry. Bringing home a baby can be, like, intimidating. And obviously, you don't know how a dog's going to react because it's an animal. Like, that's me being, like, the safe. That's the safe answer. But I love watching Scotty with our dogs. They are her best friends. She's like, g, g, G. And I'm like, you're definitely saying Gus. I. I know she is. Question number four. I have always wanted kids, but lately I've been so independent that I'm scared. Am I about to lose my whole life to a baby? How do you know when you're ready? You are never ready. You are never ready for a baby. Because I would say me as a person, I'm very independent. I love my alone time. I love being in a dark room by myself, like, doing whatever I want to do. I like going and running errands by myself. I'm very. I love being alone. Which is probably why I actually loved Isaac playing football. Because I was like, oh, he's gone every other weekend. He's gone all the time. Like, this is great. I was a little worried, too, because I do love my alone time so much. It's. You don't. The first year is definitely hard on your independence because you're like, oh, okay. I. If I leave, I have to, like, make all these arrangements or, like, my husband's watching the baby maybe, or whatever. It. It definitely takes a toll on your independence. Right? Like, you're never going to be that independent ever again. But at the same time, I think it is different. It's different than hanging out with your husband. It's different than hanging out with friends. It's. It doesn't take away social battery, at least for me. I can only talk for myself. But When I'm alone, just me and Scotty, I feel like I'm alone right now. If Isaac's in the room, I'm like, never mind, I'm not alone anymore. But I, it's kind of, it's. Maybe it's just because I birthed her, like she's my child that I feel that way. But she doesn't take away from my social battery. In fact, I feel like she adds to it because I'm like, oh yes, like, I'm definitely taking her to the grocery store because I don't, I don't feel like talking to people. And like, she's just an easy, like, oh, she'll wave at random strangers and like, that starts the conversation naturally. Whereas in like, if I have to ask a question that it's, I don't know. But for independence, yeah, it can definitely be scary, I think. I mean, if you do, if you do want to have kids and you're scared of that, I think being, being very transparent with your partner about where you're feeling will definitely help a ton. But I understand it can hit. It is scary. It is scary losing your independence. Question number five. All my friends are having babies and I feel useless. What's actually helpful for new moms? Is there a small act I can do to make their lives easier? Absolutely, Absolutely. And I didn't know until I knew. But I've had friends that have had babies and I haven't really shown up or I didn't know how to show up and I didn't know what to do to make them feel like supported or appreciated. I think number one, texting them and saying like, hey, I would really love to like come by and, and talk to you. A normal adult conversation, like, see you. Obviously I want to meet the baby, but like, who cares? I think offering to do, I mean, I don't know how close you are with like the friends that you're having, the friends that are having babies, but if you're close enough with them where you can go into their house and like, okay, I'm going to do your dishes, you go sit on the couch or I'm going to do your laundry, you go take a shower or hey, I'm gonna sit here, let's just have a normal adult conversation. And also never arrive empty handed. Like bring some type of meal, whether it's a soup or a smoothie or coffee or literally anything. I think don't show up empty handed. Offer to do something every time you're over there visiting. And then if you're not that close with the person or if it. Or if the person's, like, super fresh. Postpartum, I would offer, you know, to. To drop off a meal or swing by and drop off coffee. We had some of our really good friends. We had plans with them to go up to dinner. I think I was three weeks postpartum, and I was. I was feeling good, okay. But then towards the end of the day, I was like, I do not feel like leaving the house. And I felt so guilty. And I was like, I just don't want to go. And my husband's like, hey, let me handle it. So he texted our friends and was like, hey, you know, Allie's not feeling it. Like, let's reschedule. And they're like, okay, no problem. An hour later, they texted us, hey, there's dinner at your door. And I was like, what? What? They had dropped off a few meals at our front door. They didn't stay. They didn't ring the doorbell. Thank God, because we all know Gus would be barking up a storm. But they didn't say anything because they didn't want to make us feel pressured to have to say hi or, like, show them the baby or anything. So they literally dropped off meals in Tupperware containers. She was like, you can throw those away. Like, I don't need them back. Like, do not do the dishes. And left instructions. And they were the easiest instructions. I was like, put this in the oven. Or like, hey, this is. This goes with this. And that was it. And I. That was the most kind gesture postpartum, and it was so appreciated because that was a meal we didn't have to worry about. But it also wasn't to go meals or, like. Like to go from a restaurant. So it was like she had actually cooked. Not. You don't have to. You don't have to cook, but if you can, I would highly. I. I just thought that that was so kind. So now when. Whenever my friends or whoever, my neighbor has a baby, I will do that, and I will make sure that I text them after I leave because I don't want them to feel, like, the pressure of, oh, they're outside. Or like, hey, I'm at your door. I have a meal. Like, no, don't show up unannounced. Just drop off the fucking meal. This episode is sponsored by Viator. You guys know I love Viator. If you follow me on any of my social media, you know how much I love using it. Whenever I'm traveling with Isaac and with Scotty, they have so many options. They have over 300,000 travel experiences in over 190 countries. Isaac and I recently went to London and I'm not a huge museum girl, but I am an art girl and Isaac loves going to art and museums and different things like that. So we went on Viator and we found a cool little experience and it was called this frameless art immersion experience. We went and we thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a coffee shop and we had so much fun doing something that wasn't such a traditional London thing. Obviously I love my traditional London things, but I also liked seeing London from a different perspective and that was truly made possible by Viator. So if you guys are ever interested in any travel experience, I highly recommend using Viator. They have so many reviews from real people, so you can actually see what people are saying about the tours and kind of get a sense of what it might be like before you go into it. They also have a 24, 7 support team and free cancellation up to 24 hours before, which I'm not going to lie, I have used because you know, being a mom, sometimes you just need to use things like that. So if you guys are interested in trying out Viator, you can use my code coach15 for 15% off your next travel experience. This holiday season. Whether you're hosting or want to skip the dishes, let's keep it stylish and sustainable. Ditch those boring paper plates and plastic cups and replace it with Repurpose. Repurpose offers plant based compostable tableware like their chic stainless cups that help you celebrate without the harmful waste or forever chemicals. They're better for you and better for the planet. We're actually currently planning Scotty's first birthday party and I was like, I do not want to have to do a bunch of dishes. So I ran to the store, picked up some repurposed paper plates and plastic cups and that is what we will be using. And I don't have to feel guilty. Another reason I love Repurpose is because they are woman founded and led. Repurpose was created to make eco friendly living easy, stylish and accessible by their founder, Lauren Groper, who's from Los Angeles. And I mean it's designed for hosting, but also for everyday moments. Whether it's friendsgiving, holiday dinner, Scotty's birthday or weekday lunches. They are practical, beautiful, plant based and eco friendly and I genuinely feel like everyone can enjoy these not only because you're not having wash the dishes, but also because you're not harming the planet. They are perfect for the holidays. They're perfect for any gathering and they're also perfect for every day. So celebrate sustainably this holiday season. Visit repurpose.com and use code SUNDAY25 at checkout for 25% off your entire order. That's R P U R p.com with code SUNDAY25. You can also find us at Ralph's, Kroger's, Whole Foods, and Albertson. This year, replace it with Repurpose and host with joy for you and for the planet. It's great when you can get someone a gift they wouldn't necessarily get for themselves. That little bit of luxury that they didn't know they were missing. For quality gifts at an affordable price. My go to is Quint. Quint I truly have fallen in love with. I actually discovered Quint about a year ago. I was listening to a podcast and I was like, hm, Quint. Like let me go and see. I love their bedding. They have cute sweaters. Quince lets you treat your loved ones and yourself to everyday luxury at an affordable price. Which don't we all love. Something everybody needs in her closet, in my opinion is the Quince's iconic Mongolian cashmere sweaters which start at like $50. Or for the ultimate year round gifts, you can check out their 14 karat gold jewelry, Italian leather handbags and European linen sheet sets. That is something that I have been truly loving. My quince sheets. Please, I. I don't even have to say anymore. Whatever you're looking for, all Quint's Items are priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands. And like, how do they do that? They partner directly with top factories, cutting off the cost of the middleman, which passes the savings onto you. And you know what? I think we all love some savings, especially during the holidays. Quint is on the nice list for sure. They only work with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible manufacturing practices. And they use premium fabrics and finish for that luxury feel in every piece. I think such an underrated gift is a sheet set and Quint has the cutest ones. One of my friends has their gingham printed sheets and I'm like, oh my God, those are so cute. I think it's such a good quality gift, somebody's actually going to use it. And I think when it comes to like a quality sheet set, you know, some people aren't going to spend the money on that. But Quint has it both. Okay, not a high price tag and it's still quality gift luxury this holiday season without the luxury price tag. Go to Quint quinz.com Sunday for 365 day returns plus free shipping on your order. That's Q.com Sunday to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com Sunday? Number six. How are you making sure to write down all the memories you want Scotty to know and what has been your favorite one so far? I have never thought about, I've never felt the pressure of sharing my daughter on social media. I don't care if people are curious what she looks like. I don't care about like them being curious and oh, like, are you ever gonna. Whatever. The one thing that I do get a little sad about not having her like on my social media is the fact that whenever I'm recording, I'm making sure that she's not in the background. And whenever I'm doing A Day in the Life, I'm making sure she's not in the background. And I think something really sad for me has been having all these memories talking about being a mom and then not having the actual memory to share, not share with like social media, but having the memory recorded for me and for her and just to look back on. Now. I obviously do have a fuck ton of videos of Scotty, but I can't, I can't not say that I'm sad. Does that make sense? It definitely does make me sad that I, I don't share her just because I selfishly want like the, the footage of her. Right. Like every single moment of her life I wish I could record. But when it comes to having all these memories, I think I've gotten, I've gotten better about it. But initially postpartum, I was like, oh, I have to take the every month photo in the every month video. And I have to do this and I have to do that. And I took Scotty's one month photo three weeks late. She's already two months at that point. Like, she looks like a different baby. So I think early on I was like, okay, that what actually matters to me and I was like, oh, I want to show. I want, I want photos of her in cute outfits and I want photos of me with her. And so every time we leave the house, I try and look my best. Not for other people, but in terms of confidence. Like if I have like a cute athleisure outfit on and I feel confident in it, then I love that because I'm, I'm more like, oh, Isaac, take a picture of me and Scotty. And I think that's been A huge game changer is like capturing all the random moments. But I, I talked about the camcorder thing earlier on in this episode. I could not recommend that enough. If you are a group of friends and one of your friends is having a baby, I think everybody should go in on a camcorder and gift that to your friend. Because having all those memories on one little camera and it's like kind of nostalgic, like it's got camcorder vibe. I don't know. But I highly, highly recommend that. Question number four. We're starting to think about traveling with our three month old. With the holidays coming up. What are some travel hacks you've learned? I talked about travel hacks a little bit in episode one, but less is more doon a car seat, an artie pop or any type of carrier. You don't need the artie pop, but any type of baby, baby wearing or carrier. Those are the three things I would say. Less is more baby, carrier and duna. And when I say less is more. Like if there's a pacifier at the bottom of your bag and your baby's crying, you are going to be stressed. Have the pacifiers and like one of those little clear bags that hang off the side that like snap on. You guys know what I'm talking about. Like make everything as is accessible as possible and do not over pack. Like your baby does not need a full pack of diapers for the airport. I mean maybe if you're going like a 20 hour flight, probably not though even then. So take, take my advice, okay? You don't need much, especially a baby that young. I feel like when it comes to like Scotty's age now I'm like, like I need to have snacks and all of the foods and drinks and all of that because she is go, go, go. Oh, also, last thing I'll say about traveling is a lot of people are like, oh, you can board first. Why the would you want to board first with a baby? No, you catch my ass walking around the airport until the very last second. I want to hear my name over the intercom. I'm boarding last, so fucking last second. Because why would you ever want to take a baby who is going to be confined in an area to begin with and confine them earlier than you have to? No, I am last aboard and running off the plane after. So that's another piece of advice. I know it might, I know it might be nice when you have a toddler to like get settled, but I'll. I'll get settled. I got. I got time. Like, we're gonna be on that plane for a second. Question number eight. I'm overwhelmed by how much studying and reading I have to do before my baby comes. How the do I stay on top of it all and make sure I'm not missing anything? Oh, you're gonna miss stuff, and you're gonna be fine. I think that is something. Isaac and I bought this pregnancy and newborn course, and we got through the pregnancy course, but we didn't really get through the newborn course until the newborn was there and we were two weeks in. And then we were like, oh, wait, we should watch that. We didn't swaddle Scotty for the first few weeks of her life because we were like, oh, I don't think she likes it. No, we were doing it wrong. We were fully doing it wrong. We had no idea what we were doing. And I took two courses. Caring for postpartum. It's Carrie Lockers. Postpartum course or newborn course. I highly recommend that. She's a nurse. She has a few kids. I loved her course. I need. I want to take her breastfeeding course before my next baby. But I loved her course. It didn't feel too, like, overwhelming. It was very informational. It was chill. There's a video. She has a baby. Like, she shows you things like how to do whatever. The other one I. The other course I took was taking care of babies. And I like how different the courses were. And I think it kind of covered a lot. The reading. I. You don't have time for reading. Okay, you need to be, like, relaxing and watching Netflix. But those two courses are videos. I wish they were a little bit cheaper. They make things so expensive these days. But yeah, I would recommend those two courses. But, yeah, you're gonna miss stuff. And it's crazy how much your instincts kick in when you have a baby, because like I said, like, I didn't think that she was swaddled, but there were other things that I just kind of, like, knew as a mom. And then I watched the courses and I was like, oh, wow, look, they're talking about the thing that, like, my instincts know. So don't. Don't be too stressed about that. And everybody has an opinion. There's a course for everything these days. So just take everything with a grain of salt. But don't be too stressed. I bought like, five baby books and I read zero. Okay, I read zero of them. But I did watch the course, cuz I was like, that's easy. My maternity Leave is ending, and I'm so nervous about juggling work with my baby. How have you figured out juggling work with having Scotty and the mom guilt that comes with it. Ah, the mom guilt. It. It truly sucks. And I just want to applaud all the women that have to physically leave their house and leave their baby so fresh postpartum and go into the office. Okay. Because the moms who work from home, yes, you're still working and having to juggle, but you, you're with your child. Right. So I just want to say, like, incredible. I wish that maternity leave here in America was different. I don't know who decided on the maternity leave. Men. But, yeah, I just. It's really. That's its own topic. But when it comes to juggling Scotty and my work life balance, it's been a roller coaster. And I need to say that again with a grain of salt, because at the end of the day, I'm working from home and like, I. There is a huge privilege with my job, and my job is not hard. But if I'm speaking transparently about, like, oh, I love what I do for a living. It makes me money. Like, I would consider this, like, quote, unquote work. Right. How do I maintain doing that? And, like, prioritizing work and organization and like, responding and companies and deadlines and all this, and then also being a mom, it is so hard. It is so hard because you do things and you feel guilty. I'm probably not making you feel better about you asking this question, but I think at the end of the day, you will get into a swing of things. There are going to be a lot of ups and downs, for sure. Okay. I'm still going through ups and downs. I. This past week, I got a kick in the ass, if you will. And it sucks because nobody really cares what you're going through. And I think that's the hardest part, is, like, this has been the most difficult year of my life. This has been the hardest mentally, a little bit physically, but when it comes to, like, I love working hard and doing things creatively and, like, doing all these things. But I also want to be a good mom and, like, spend as much time with my daughter as I possibly can. And, like, I have had to leave my daughter overnight earlier than I wanted to because I didn't want to pass up an opportunity. So I think it's going to be a learning, growing experience for you. And you're going to learn what you like. You're going to learn about yourself and what you do, like, when you come home from work, you're like, what you do differently. Okay, but it is hard. It is hard. And I think at the end of the day, you have to realize that you're a good mom. And you going in, going into work, hopefully you love your job because that would be even better. Like you going and doing something you love and then coming home and like, making a living for your child. Like, your child is loved and your child will grow up feeling that love. So try not to feel the mom guilt. Even though I feel the mom guilt, somebody's gonna tell me and not feel the mom guilt. I'm like, shut the up. What advice have you gotten for handling Scotty during year two? And what are you both looking forward to experiencing with her the most? We actually have gotten zero advice when it comes to a two year old. I don't even know anything about a two year old. I feel like during pregnancy you do all these things. Like all this research and the books. I never read the books, but the courses and everything. And you're so worried about the first year of their life and even about pregnancy. Like, what can I do? What, what can I not do? Like, oh, is this toothpaste safe? And then they turn a year old and you're like, oh, sweet. Okay, I have no idea what the is next. I actually have no idea. Scotty's walking, she's babbling. I'm sad that she's getting older, but at the same time, I'm loving watching her personality grow. Something I'm so excited for is for her to be more of a human right now. She is very dependent on me and Isaac. She'll always be dependent on me and Isaac. Like, literally, she'll be like 30 and be like a mom. Hey, I'm totally okay with that and I look forward to that. But I think I'm really looking forward to her being her own little independent human in a way. Not independent because I don't want her to be dependent, but independent because I'm really looking forward to seeing her, like, thought process and her make decisions and, oh, why are you making that decision? Or those kind of things. And like, even talking with her like, oh, do you like, do you like this pink dress or do you like this blue dress? And seeing her decisions when it comes to that, I feel like I'll view her more as a human and less as a. Less of a baby. But that also makes me sad because I want her to be a baby forever, but she's not gonna be a baby. Forever. So that was it for the questions that were wrote in on the Sunday Sports Club Instagram. Let me just go over to my personal Instagram and then we'll see if there's any more extras. I'm gonna try and do a little rapid fire and hopefully you guys can learn a little bit more. Get some more advice. Is there anything you regret? Yes, I regret moving at all during postpartum because I do think that moving sent me into chaotic chaos. And I think that it made some of my memories for freshly postpartum and even just being as a mom, I think it kind of like put a dark cloud over some of those memories. So I would. Yeah, I. I would. I regret moving. I regret moving. For sure. I didn't really have a choice, but I still regret it. Are you sleep training? No. I think sleep training is one of those things that if it works for you, it works for you. If you want to do it, do it. If you. You don't want to do it, don't do it. There are people go back and forth in the research and whatever. I'm not even going to get into that. And I think it's such a personal decision. Okay, we don't. Because I really haven't had to. So maybe I'm lucky. She definitely doesn't sleep through the night, but I think it's just to. To each their own. Okay. Sleep training is a scary conversation. Don't talk about it online because there's terrifying people with terrifying opinions. What would you want to relive the first six weeks postpartum? Absolutely. I wish I could relive those over and over and over. I wish I could relive my birth and bring home her from the hospital. I would relive that over a million times. And thankfully I recorded a lot because I don't know why. Maybe it's just the hormones, but that I like. It feels so blurry. Not the C section. I. I can smell the C section room. I remember that. But everything else, I wish I could just. I would relive that every single day. You know how these football players are showing up to these games and like fashionable outfits, they have something unique on usually because they want to feel confident heading into a football game. And for me, I'm most confident when it comes to a good skin day. I have my skin routine down pat and I've suffered with acne before and my skin is also very sensitive sometimes. So when I find something that I love, I have to talk about it. And I've talked about this product on here before and I'll talk about it again. The Drunk Elephant C Luma Hydrobrite Serum. It is a vitamin C serum. It reduces blemishes, fades hyperpigmentation, improves skin clarity. It's a 10 vitamin C and my skin loves it. Again, I have sensitive skin but it is so effective and still gentle for even the most sensitive skin types. Another thing I love about this product is the texture of it because the application is smooth, not sticky. I cannot stand a sticky product. So it goes on really smooth. 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I thought that that was like a huge turning point for me even in my mental health. And like, I just feel like that was a difference. Like she was a baby, she still wasn't mobile so I could set her down and she was there when I got back. But she wasn't too mobile. Whereas in like right now, oh yeah, I can't leave that girl alone. I would have to put that girl in a gate, like in a pen. I actually have a pen. I need to bring it back out because she is all over the place. But I think that's the six month mark is like, okay. And she was eating solids. So like it was just a, it was a, it was a very fun stage. And like I, I thoroughly like, well, all of them are fun stages. Don't take that out of context. You don't do that. Best piece of advice for a mom struggling with postpartum anxiety or postpartum depression, get help. Talk to your partner. If you need medication, get medication. I felt so guilty about being medicated and now I'm like, why the was I, like, people who aren't postpartum are on medication. I felt so guilty about it and I, I was like, oh, it's going to be hard to do that or people aren't going to understand. I went on an app. It sounds sponsored. It's not sponsored. I went onto an app called hers and I filled out a questionnaire about my mental health and it was, I talked with a physician. I got prescribed on the app so I didn't have to go in or anything or had like, my anxiety was like, I'm not going in and talking to somebody about my anxiety. I'm anxious. So if you guys are struggling, I think reaching out to friends, family, if you're not comfortable with that, maybe finding a therapist online. Like, I know they have like better help. And all of these online therapy programs, again, not sponsored and the app hers. Like, if you are looking into medication, if you're not looking into, if you don't care about any of those, I think getting out of the house once a day for a walk or like doing something for yourself once a day, even like, I don't know, something as small as like ordering your favorite food or going and getting a coffee, like doing one thing a day, that's gonna make you happy and two, leaving your house, if not every day, every other day, or at least just go outside like you have access Outside, you're not stuck inside. I mean, babies are scary, though. How did you deal with nighttime routines and sleep while traveling? Ah, this is where I go back to. What works for you, works for you. And what doesn't work for you, that's okay. Isaac and I have never followed a, like, heavy routine. We go by her wake windows. We go by, like, sleep cues and hunger cues. It was never like, oh, it's 4:00. It's time to feed Scotty. Now, obviously, now that she's a little bit older and she has meals, that's a little bit different. We're like, okay, when she wakes up, we give her breakfast. Like, okay, here's a snack. Okay, here's lunch. It's a little bit different now, but especially, like, the first few months, we did not go by a time schedule. We went by wake windows, and we just kind of, like, followed what we thought that she was trying to tell us. Like, with the sleep cues and the eyes and yawns and all of that. Even hunger cues like her, like, especially freshly postpartum. It was easier to read the cues then. But we have never been a schedule family, and it. And we never will be a schedule family. Isaac and I are not scheduled people. That works great for some people. It would send me into a frenzy. And I think that that's where I'm like, being a parent is such a unique experience because that works for me. I have friends who are like, oh, it's 801. The I have to go home and put my baby to bed. Whereas in it's 801 and Scotty's, like, a little sleepy. I'm like, okay, I'll put her in the baby carrier. She'll fall asleep on my chest. And then when I get home, I'll transfer her, whatever. So take. Take everything with a grain of salt. But I. Yeah, when it came to traveling, she was so used to it because we had done it early on. Like, literally the first trip we took was her six weeks old or eight weeks, I think. So, yeah, she was pretty used to it. She was used to, like, sleeping in the little playpens that the hotels offer. And then we started getting bringing our own, and she just became really used to it. Now there are things that, like, we ended up bringing to make her more comfortable and seem more into her routine. And we. We kept a routine like, oh, you give her a bath before she goes to bed. A bath or a shower. I'm not putting my baby in a bath in a hotel unless I wash that Shit down, but like a shower and then lotion. Like, you still can do a routine while you're traveling, but if you're not a strict, regimented family, do not push that on yourself, because you will be unhappy. What helps you feel confident in the decisions you make for your baby? I think maybe following my intuition, following my gut, I think a little bit doing research, and if I feel like my gut is telling me something different than what a lot of people are saying, I do research on, like, why I might be feeling that way or, like, what. You know, just, like, research into, like, the opposite opinion. But I think I've grown very confident throughout the past year. Like, it's been ups and downs of, like, oh, like, I should have put. Should have done this or I should have done that. But now I'm like, no, she's thriving, and I'm making decisions, and I'm not perfect. No mom is. No parent is. No. No buddy is perfect. Okay? And so I think just being confident in that you're doing what's best for your baby as much as you know how to. There are two questions, and I can kind of put them into the same question. When did you stop nursing? And what is one thing you wish you did differently? In hindsight, I had no knowledge of breastfeeding. I had no knowledge of pumping. I remember opening my breast pump at nine months pregnant, and I was like, what the is this? How do you do this? What are the settings? I did not do my research, and I wanted to breastfeed, and I wanted to have a successful. I mean, I think all moms who want to breastfeed want to have a successful breastfeeding journey. And if you're not choosing to breastfeed, that's totally fine. I wanted to have a very successful breastfeeding journey just because it was something that I. I just wanted. And I didn't do enough research of, like, when to introduce a bottle. I didn't know that bottle preference was a thing. I didn't know that, like, she could get more accustomed to a bottle, and I just really didn't have the knowledge. I also. The first few days were rough. I'm gonna get a little tmi. This is fun, because I actually don't give a. So the first. When I first had my daughter, they, like, obviously want a sense, a sort of comfort. So I did skin to skin, like, the entire time we're in the hospital, and I was just. She was always on. She was always nursing. Okay. My nipples were literally a raw. Literally raw. The lactation Consultant came in on day three of me recovering from my C section in the hospital right before we were about to leave, and she goes, sweetheart, your nipples are raw. You can't let that baby use your nipple as a pacifier. She literally held my tit in her hand and held the baby's head. And just. I was like, okay, so maybe see a lactation consultant if you're planning to breastfeed before the lactate part. And, yeah, maybe take a breastfeeding course if you are planning on breastfeeding. Just because I introduced a bottle at four days postpartum would not recommend that. My nipples were bleeding, so I. I don't know. I definitely could have just, like, chugged through the pain, but I was. My pediatrician. I don't know why she was giving me advice. Whatever. Don't. No hate her. I was three days postpartum in the pediatrician office. Okay. And my nipples were bleeding through my shirt. So she was like, you know what? Let me help this girl up. So she recommended to pump. And that's my. The first time I ever pumped, and I was like, oh, wow, look how much milk came out. This is great. I was giving her a bottle, and then that was the first time she ever was ever really milk drunk, because I gave her. I was just, here you go. You don't have to work for it. Just drink it. And she stopped nursing at three and a half months old. And I tried to get it back, but I was not in the mental state to try as hard as I could. So that's when I started exclusively pumping, but up. I mean, at that point, I had. I had pumped, like, basically the entire time she had been alive. So I knew pumping. But in the future, I just will have a game plan of, like, when to introduce a bottle, because I do want her to be able to take a bottle. I'm acting like my next baby is a girl. Holy. But, yeah, next baby, I'm gonna have everything planned out to the best of my ability. Oh, this is a good question. And this is a good question to end on tips on getting your pink back. So getting your pink back comes from a flamingo. When they have their offspring, they lose their pink, and then they gradually get their pink back. And so I've seen mothers use the term to describe it as, like, getting your pink back is like getting yourself back after having a baby and, like, doing everything for your baby and. And going through this process. My getting my pink back journey has been definitely up and down and left and right, and it's Been all over the place. But I genuinely feel like I'm really enjoying myself in life right now. And, like, I'm finally getting there. I'm finally having those moments where I'm like, oh, like, this is at. Like, this is ally. Right? And not that my daughter ever took myself away from myself, but it's just finding your identity outside of being a mom, right? And I think that something I've really loved doing and like, to get my pink back is trying new things, having girls nights. It's doing things away from your baby, which sounds weird. Some people are gonna be like, why the fuck do you hate your baby? Fuck you. I think it's doing things away from your baby that, like, make you realize, like, hey, I still am me. I don't have to just be a mom. Like you doing things for yourself is going to make you a better mom. I've loved having my girls nights. We do crafts. I had my friends over. We did like, little, like, dry clay pottery and my potter looked like. But it was so much fun just getting to talk to, like, friends and hang out and whatever. I think going and working out. I wake up before Isaac and the baby and I come downstairs, I make myself a little breakfast. I go for a run, I go and work out. I come home, they're still sleeping. And it is my favorite part of the day. It's my favorite part because it's. It. I just. I feel so. Like earlier on and I. I talked about this in the episode is I loved my independence. And so doing something like waking up before my baby and my husband, I feel independent, I feel alone. I get to think and it's quiet and I love it. I love it so much. And yeah, I think it's just finding what. What makes you. You like, what makes you happy. And it's gonna be a learning process, right? And like, maybe hanging out with your baby is the getting the pink back part. Maybe going on a date with your husband is the getting a pink pack part. I think for me it's trying new things like potter classes or sewing or whatever, like doing a hobby that you set aside time for it. It's not like a, oh, I've been meaning to do that. I'll get to it. No, set a time and do it. Hanging out with friends and making time for yourself. And that is where I will leave you guys. I could talk all day about postpartum, but I won't because some of you don't have children. But I hope you guys enjoyed this episode. Go over. I'm sure I posted a picture of our family for Scotty's birthday. So go over, say Happy Birthday to Scotty. And if you guys like these types of episodes, they're a little bit more personal. Feel free to let me know. I like recording these types of episodes. I feel like they're a little bit easier and I like talking about stuff like this. So I hope you guys enjoyed and tune in every Sunday wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. And with that being said, ooh, holidays are coming up. Next episode is going to be the Christmas episode, so get ready for it. I'll see you guys next Sunday. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode. Episode.