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in Episodes on September 15, 2015 by The Mom Hour

Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About (As New Moms): Episode 19



Once upon a time, Meagan and Sarah were new moms. And we worried – a lot. Years later, we look back at some of the things we could have lightened up about just a tad. (Or a lot.) Episode 19 is for new moms – and anyone who can remember being one. We talk about agonizing over ounces pumped and hours slept (or not slept), and offer a little perspective from where we are now.

 

LINKS MENTIONED:

  • La Leche League’s breast milk storage guidelines (Kelly Mom also has good ones)
  • Rookie Moms, an online resource for new moms that we both love
  • Motherhood Around the World series (Joanna Goddard, A Cup of Jo)
  • Babies (2010 documentary from Focus Features)
  • Some posts we’ve written about new motherhood:
    • On labels & limits: why I no longer calls myself an ‘attachment parent’ (Meagan)
    • A letter to my friend, about to be a mom (Sarah)

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

  • Visit our website
  • Check out deals from our partners
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  • Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletter

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Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: babies, new mom, pregnancy, Things We Shouldn't Have Freaked Out About

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« Let’s Discuss “Sports Parenting”: Episode 18
Routines For A Happy Mom-Life: Episode 20 »

Comments

  1. Carol says

    September 16, 2015 at 1:30 pm

    Great episode! I stressed over so many things with my babies, especially breastfeeding and sleep. Ugh! Even 7 years ago, I felt like I didn’t fall into a certain style of baby-parent, but wow, was that the only topic of conversation: breast vs. bottle, co-sleep vs. crib, etc. And god forbid you bottle-fed and used disposable diapers! Things I stressed over after that point included choosing a pre-school, clothes (organic, no characters, fancy brand names, hand me downs), and potty training. I’d love to hear more real talk about how very different our kids are and (for example) not every kid is going to be potty trained at 18 months. As I’m dealing with an almost 4-year-old boy who just can’t make the jump to 100% underwear. I love that you talk about each kid being their own person and what works is so dependent on their personalities.

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      September 16, 2015 at 7:56 pm

      Carol, potty training was totally on my list and we just ran out of time! We are definitely considering doing a follow up with more toddler-aged themes. Thank you so much for your support and for listening!

      Reply
  2. Kamie says

    September 16, 2015 at 4:26 pm

    I loved this episode! I have a 7 month baby who receives his nutrition through a G-tube so I’ve breast pumped from day one and I stress about it all the time, if I’m pumping enough. Then just two weeks ago we started introducing solids foods orally and like Sarah said I’m doing the one food every 3 days. I also worry about if he’s getting enough sleep, so this episode was perfect and lifted a little weight off me. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      September 16, 2015 at 7:55 pm

      Kamie, I’m so glad this was helpful to you! We are so glad you’re listening and send our best to you and your little guy!

      Reply
  3. Amber says

    September 17, 2015 at 1:56 am

    I have a 5 year old and 20 month old.
    I stress about kids sleep, because like you guys said, I need that 2 hours to work at home. Also, I just need a break. Terribly. If my kids aren’t at home at bedtime of 7:00, they are like little gremlins. They need early bedtimes, or it gets ugly fast. Both of them were up two or more times a night until their first birthday, and I stressed over that just because I was so tired and ready to sleep. I think I still have ptsd over that.
    I didn’t stress about pumping and amounts. I’m a nurse and felt comfortable trusting that if they acted satisfied, we were good and that pumping totals don’t equal nursing amounts. It didn’t bother me.
    You asked for reader concerns….. Here’s a question.
    I’d like to hear how you guys handle dinner time. My kids are ravenous in the late afternoon and a toddler doesn’t take well to “it’s almost dinner time, just wait.” It gets chaotic even though I do lots of morning/early afternoon prep. And they have eaten snacks so they aren’t as hungry even at 5:00. Bath is at 6:00, so I can’t push dinner later. I’m just so over the whole thing, but unfortunately we still need to eat.

    Reply
  4. Krista says

    September 22, 2015 at 9:33 pm

    Sleep and breast feeding were my main worries. Wish I would have relaxed and wasn’t so afraid to supplement with my first. I was more relaxed and able to breast feed my second longer when I supplimented. Oh, and Vitamin D suppliments, that’s what my doctors worried about while I breast fed. Each generation has it’s own. Great show!

    Reply

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As busy moms and business owners we're often on the go - and, cliché as it is, almost always with a beverage in hand! In part two of our conversation about kitchen gadgets and gear, Meagan and Sarah go deep into all of the beverage products that keep our drinks hot, cold, room-temp, fizzy, cute, and spill-proof. We also get into kitchen-adjacent gear that helps us clean and organize the space where we feed our families. Enjoy!

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#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
On the podcast this week (and next!) Meagan and Sa On the podcast this week (and next!) Meagan and Sarah share some of our favorite kitchen gadgets, cooking tools, food prep solutions, cleaning solutions, and countertop appliances. Because every home cook has a different set of needs and priorities, we opened up the question to our contributor team to find out what gear makes their lives easier in the kitchen. Tap the link in our bio to get gear tips from @stacybronec @jaymesherrod @emilyeroark @sarahelimberg and @joannerevising!

(Looking for Meagan’s and Sarah’s kitchen favorites, as mentioned on the podcast? Head to the show notes for Episode 431, which you can find in your podcast player or by tapping through Tuesday's Insta post.)
Kids are back in school and we're back in our kitc Kids are back in school and we're back in our kitchens with a bit more pep in our steps - so let's chat about gadets and gear! Join Meagan and Sarah today to hear about the Porch Microwave, the Mercedes-Benz of Coffee Grinders, how our partners' personalities lead us to unwanted kitchen appliances, and more. We share our current favorite kitchen tools for food prep and cooking - with more to come next week, too.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts (we had a delay but all is well now!) or tap this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
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Tap the link in our bio to shop, or head to theessentialcalendar.com/themomhour. Happy planning!
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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

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This week on the blog we're revisiting a post Meagan and Sarah co-authored back in 2018 - when our kids spanned preschool to high schoool! - with six ideas for supporting school learning at home. Tap the link in our bio to read the post!
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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
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New episode! As busy moms and business owners we' New episode!

As busy moms and business owners we're often on the go - and, cliché as it is, almost always with a beverage in hand! In part two of our conversation about kitchen gadgets and gear, Meagan and Sarah go deep into all of the beverage products that keep our drinks hot, cold, room-temp, fizzy, cute, and spill-proof. We also get into kitchen-adjacent gear that helps us clean and organize the space where we feed our families. Enjoy!

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
On the podcast this week (and next!) Meagan and Sa On the podcast this week (and next!) Meagan and Sarah share some of our favorite kitchen gadgets, cooking tools, food prep solutions, cleaning solutions, and countertop appliances. Because every home cook has a different set of needs and priorities, we opened up the question to our contributor team to find out what gear makes their lives easier in the kitchen. Tap the link in our bio to get gear tips from @stacybronec @jaymesherrod @emilyeroark @sarahelimberg and @joannerevising!

(Looking for Meagan’s and Sarah’s kitchen favorites, as mentioned on the podcast? Head to the show notes for Episode 431, which you can find in your podcast player or by tapping through Tuesday's Insta post.)
Kids are back in school and we're back in our kitc Kids are back in school and we're back in our kitchens with a bit more pep in our steps - so let's chat about gadets and gear! Join Meagan and Sarah today to hear about the Porch Microwave, the Mercedes-Benz of Coffee Grinders, how our partners' personalities lead us to unwanted kitchen appliances, and more. We share our current favorite kitchen tools for food prep and cooking - with more to come next week, too.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts (we had a delay but all is well now!) or tap this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Big transitions in family structure are never easy Big transitions in family structure are never easy. When it comes to blending families, introducing a new romantic partner as a single parent, or stepping into step-parenting, there's so much to think about. Today Meagan gets candid about her current blended family situation, following her wedding this summer and the integration of their families into a shared home. Sarah has lots of questions as Meagan shares what's going well, a few tension points, what she would do differently, and how it's going overall.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Use code THEMOMHOUR to save 10% on @theessentialca Use code THEMOMHOUR to save 10% on @theessentialcalendar this fall!

I (Sarah) had the coziest evening with my Monday-start “Busiest Time Ever” calendar last night. If the next few months already feel like they’re filling up and you can’t quite picture it all, this is a great solution!

Tap the link in our bio to shop, or head to theessentialcalendar.com/themomhour. Happy planning!
New episode! Are you a "Today's The Day!" type, o New episode!

Are you a "Today's The Day!" type, or do you prefer to ease gently into a new adventure, challenge, or season? Whether you get excited to dive into a slew of new initiatives with the turning over of that shiny, crisp edge of a calendar page (like Sarah!), or really prefer to transition on your own internal timeline (like Meagan!), this episode is for you. Join us as we explore the many upsides to a soft start (in motherhood, business, health, and more) in an effort to take the pressure off moms this fall.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Happy September! What are you looking forward to t Happy September! What are you looking forward to this month? Drop a comment and let us know! 👇
Raise your hand if you practiced some sight words Raise your hand if you practiced some sight words this week - or proctored a spelling pre-test - or ran through some multiplication tables? Sometimes supporting your kids' classroom learning at home looks like facts and flash cards, but we're here to remind you that there are LOTS of ways to nurture curiosity and promote learning, and many of them can fit seamlessly into family life.

This week on the blog we're revisiting a post Meagan and Sarah co-authored back in 2018 - when our kids spanned preschool to high schoool! - with six ideas for supporting school learning at home. Tap the link in our bio to read the post!
New episode! Meagan and Sarah had fun-filled trav New episode!

Meagan and Sarah had fun-filled travel in August before saying goodbye to summer. The Powers family traveled to the East Coast for a week of multigenerational state-hopping served with a side of bug bites and butt bruises! And Meagan officially opened a bookstore in Manistique, MI, right after surviving a 20-mile hike with her siblings and their spouses. Now we're back, shifting from summer-mom to school-year-mom, and sharing our "laundry basket of hopes and aspirations for Fall 2023" with all of you.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Been thinking about trying one of our sponsors? He Been thinking about trying one of our sponsors? Here's your sign! 🌈 Once a month, we like to thank our partners and remind you of their great discounts. For our special promo codes and links, just tap our saved "Sponsors" highlight OR tap on this image at the link in our bio to check out the Deals & Offers page on our website.

We appreciate when you check out our partners who support our show and use our links + codes!

The Mom Hour is sponsored by . . . 

💚 @betterhelp (10% off your 1st month!)
💧 @liquidiv (20% off sugar-free hydration amplifier!)
💅 @oliveandjune (20% off your 1st system!)
🎨 @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
📚 @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
🧘‍♀️ @fabletics (2 workout bottoms for $24!)
☑️ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
🗓️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
🍃 @drinkag1 (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
👡 @vionicshoes (15% off your order!)
💊 @ritual (30% off your 1st month!)

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