Motherhood
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6 Tips for Healing Postpartum Foot Pain: Flat Feet and Tendonitis
Let’s talk about postpartum, specifically postpartum foot pain. Pregnancy impacts your body in so many ways. In postpartum you can experience bigger feet, flat feet, and even tendonitis in some more extreme cases. All of my life I’ve had flat feet with the occasional aches and pains but no specific injuries or issues. In the third trimester of my pregnancy my feet were regularly swelling (hello summer pregnancy!). Because of this I was very limited to what shoes I could wear. I had some very stretchy Sanuk yoga sandals (highly recommend them if you don’t fit into any shoes). I could also barely wear my tennis shoes as long as…
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The Ultimate Mother’s Day Gift Guide
This year is my first official Mother’s day – yay! Even though we’re in quarantine, you best believe I will be celebrating this accomplishment 🙂 I was raised by a strong, independent mama, and naturally I love thinking of Mother’s Day gift ideas and ways to celebrate. Now that I am also a mom, I truly am beginning to see all the sacrifices that mothers make for their children and family. It’s a blessing to have the title, and that is a gift in itself. (If you know a new mama, check out my post on 10 Gift Ideas for New Moms.) The type of Mother’s Day gift you may be…
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10 Gift Ideas for New Moms
Welcoming a new baby into the world is so exciting and the ultimate gift a parent could get! Often we, as family members and friends, get wrapped up in seeing those cute squishy baby faces, little fingers and toes. Sometimes we forget to check in with the mom (and dad!) who just worked so hard to bring that little bundle of joy into this world. Even if they had an “easier” labor and delivery, there were still many months of a commitment before that baby joined the world. Of course, new parents love to show off their little baby, but sometimes they’re also desperately needing their basic needs met. If…
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Postpartum Exercise & Mobility After a C-Section
After an emergency c-section in July 2019, I wasn’t sure where to start with my postpartum exercise and recovery and how long it would take me to get back into a fitness routine. Obviously going for a run immediately after giving birth wasn’t my first priority or even feasible, but I’m the type of person that likes to know what to expect in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Throughout my pregnancy, I worked out and moved my body as often as I could. Towards the end I mostly went on walks (because hello short Minnesota summers). While I was pregnant, I especially missed having fitness goals to challenge myself,…
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10 Healthy Meal Hacks for Busy Parents
As a busy parent, I still want to make sure I’m making healthy meals for me and my family with fewer ingredients. Does that always happen? No. When I haven’t prepped my meals and I don’t have an easy meal to quickly prepare, I tend to order takeout or go with a less healthy convenience option. I’m okay with that sometimes in the name of balance (and sanity!). To limit those moments, I’ve used these hacks to help me on days when I’m less prepared. Not only are these food options a healthier alternative to takeout, but many are also simple and budget friendly. For meals you can prep and…
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10 Healthy & Easy Freezer Meals to Prep Before Baby
One of the many things on my to-do list before having Q was to prep easy, ready-to-go freezer meals. I knew my life would be a lot busier with a newborn, and taking the thought out of what to make for meals would allow me to have more quality time with Q. The first few weeks can be filled with visitors offering to make or buy a meal, but eventually the visitors dwindle and that’s when the freezer stock pile comes in handy. Whether Paleo, Keto, or Whole30, it was important to me to choose healthier, nutrient-dense options since I was planning to breastfeed (see my post on Breastfeeding &…
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10 Tips to Immediately Help Improve Mastitis
In the beginning of my breastfeeding journey with Q I got mastitis…three times back-to-back. Let me tell you, it was extremely painful! The pain instantly made me second guess my decision to breastfeed, and simultaneously made me appreciate just how strong women are. The first occurrence started a week after she was born. As soon as I had a fever and started showing other symptoms, I called my doctor and made an appointment. I was prescribed antibiotics and was told nursing often would be the best remedy. I likely continued to get mastitis for the first few weeks because I was prescribed a different type of medicine than they would…
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Nursery Remodel, Decor & Organization
Quinnlyn’s nursery was a room I was so excited to decorate and organize! Before I was pregnant, this room was used for guests, storage, an office, and a place for the dogs to hang out. It was a room that we desperately wanted to redo because of the gross carpet squares and trim that didn’t match the rest of the house. We’re so thankful to my parents for helping us with all the DIY projects. It was definitely a labor of love. We wanted to keep a bed in her room with the goal of switching off sleeping in there in the first 6 months. Our house only has two…
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Breastfeeding and Pumping: 10 Tips for Beginners
AI’ll start out by saying breastfeeding can have many challenges. This post is meant to address some of those challenges by providing 10 helpful tips for breastfeeding and pumping for beginners. In my experience, breastfeeding was hard. Before I gave birth to Q, I was fairly open to how the journey could go. I think it’s important to keep an open mind and to regularly evaluate your mental health. I’ll preface this entire blog post by saying I made it just shy of 6 months breastfeeding and pumping while also supplementing formula. I’m not opposed to either breastfeeding or formula. It’s important to do what’s best for you and your…
