Laura

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m Laura, I’m 31, by day, I am a recruitment account manager (when I’m not on maternity leave) - also by day, I am a full-time chef, milk machine and entertainer for my 7 month old daughter, Elsie.

What were you doing before babies/children?

Before Elsie came along, I was an avid Pilates goer and Lake Burley Griffin walker. I loved an impromptu breakfast date, cocktails with the girls and binging Harry Potter.

How did you come to be a mum?

It all happened very quickly actually. My partner and I met just before Canberra went into hard Covid lockdown and you know, there wasn’t much else to do.

We were both at a point in our lives where having a family was very important and we made the decision to wait until I had my 30th birthday, which at that point was a few months away. About 3 weeks later, on New Year’s Day, I was very emotional (more than usual) and decided when we got home from our coastal trip, I’d take a pregnancy test. Much to our surprise, up popped the two lines!!

That feeling was indescribable!

My pregnancy was pretty text book. The first trimester was filled with nausea and McDonald’s cheeseburgers. Second trimester; the glow, the hair growth, the cute little bump. The third trimester; wonderful right up until 35 weeks when the swollen ankles and very restless nights began.

I was on maternity leave from 36 weeks and very ready for our little girl to arrive. I tried it all, the tea, exercise ball, spicy food, sex….

Then at 39+5, I went and had an hour-long foot reflexology massage. In the very early hours of the next morning the contractions started. Some say it was a coincidence, I think not. I laboured at home all day until 5pm when the contractions were so intense, I could hardly talk. That 15-minute drive to the Canberra Hospital felt like the 24 hour haul to Heathrow airport.

We made our way up to the Birthing Centre and my beautiful midwife had the bath running and oils in the diffuser. It was exactly as I’d written out in my birth plan. 6 hours of active labour (my waters had to be broken) and 90 minutes of pushing later, I had Elsie, in the bath, drug free just as I’d always imagined.

It was the wildest and most painful 21 hours of my life, but as soon as she was on my chest, the world stopped for a moment and I fell deeply in love with her little cone shaped head and would have happily done it all over again.

What has your feeding journey been like?

Breastfeeding happened quite naturally for Elsie and I.  Don’t get me wrong, there were tears (from me) as her latch wasn’t so great on one side. She fed a lot. I remember the first night of cluster feeding... she fed from 9pm until 4am every hour. I sat in bed with tears rolling down my face while my partner slept. I thought to myself, why do I have to do this? Why can’t it be him?

By about day 10, things got a bit easier. 7 months later and I am still breastfeeding but slowly weaning Elsie off before dayare starts in 2 weeks. I’m still not totally sure if I’m ready, so I still do it as much as I can.

What has sleep been like in your house?

Sleep for the most part has been pretty great. Elsie is a really good sleeper. The newborn stage/the overnight feeds and the 4 month regression were pretty tough, but she’s in such a great routine now she sleeps around 11 hours straight every night.

The hardest bits…

I think one of the hardest bits for me has been adjusting to the lifestyle change and at times feeling quite isolated. I went from not only socialising most nights and weekends but working with a group of my best gal pals, to not doing much / seeing anyone at all.

The best bits…

Watching Elsie’s funny little personality start to come through. She is such a happy and smiley baby.

I must admit, watching my partner become a dad has been pretty incredible too. He was made for this. I think his love for Elsie grows more each day.

How do you make time for yourself?

To be honest, I don’t make much of it as I spend 99% of my time with Elsie. A nice long hot shower and a hair wash if I’m lucky is about as much time as I get to myself these days, lol.

What’s next for you and your family?

We are just taking each day as it comes and really enjoying it. These moments don’t last for long, but I wouldn’t put it past me to start thinking about baby number 2 soon…

If you could talk to your pre baby/kid self, what advice would you give?

I would tell myself not to obsess over little insignificant or meaningless things. I think once you are responsible for another being's life, you realise what it important and what isn’t.