Tell us a bit about yourself?

I'm a 26 yr old FTM to my beautiful little 10 month old, Matilda.

What were you doing before babies?

So many different things. But in the last few years I had my little mobile caravan bar/Cafe (Nellie's Cafe and Bar) that I now sold to another beautiful Canberra Mum.

How did you come to be a mum?

My husband and I always both wanted kids young. Timing meant I was 5 months pregnant with our little boo for our wedding I love that I can tell her down the track that she walked down the aisle aisle me.

What has your feeding journey been like?

Ah where do I start! I feel like the list is never ending on things that went wrong with our feeding journey.

Feeding is hard! Matilda struggled to latch which we later found out she had a tongue, lip and cheek tie! I have PCOS and had retained placenta after birth which all didn't help with low milk supply. After I stopped feeding I discovered I had Dysphoric milk ejection reflex. This made me feel so much better knowing there were other mums in a similar boat to what I was feeling when I was feeding. Whenever I started feeding I would briefly get an intense feeling to start crying or just get really dull and sad. It was hard because no one would know. You'd be with your friends or family feeding and would just have to keep plotting along feeding bub (mainly because I didn't know what it was). It was hard but didn't last the whole feed.

We had the works when it came to our feeding journey but we gave it a red hot crack and lasted until 4 months. Super proud!

What has sleep been like in your house?

It's actually going ok right now (touch wood). I feel like she's starting figuring out her own little routine. She still wakes a few times over night and has a feed once or twice but it's more manageable than before. Up until about 7 months she woke every 1-2 hours.. we attended QEII to try and help. After alot of sleepless nights, we just accepted our little girl had FOMO and just doesn't want to miss out on anything. I started bringing her into the bed with me around 4 months which meant j could just quickly settle her with a cuddle. Saved me some sleep and I got cuddles hahaa.

The hardest bits…

Umm for me it would be realising you have a human to care for! You can't just have a little sleep in or get in the car and race to the shops. Or when you have a down day you can't just chuck a sickie and binge Netflix.. there's a little human who wants to play haha.

The best bits…

Showing her off! We are so smitten by our gorgeous girl and love showing her to everyone and anyone. She is so smiley, it kills me. Hearing her say Mumumum. Seeing her face light up when dad gets home from work. Seeing her and our little dog build a beautiful friendship. Seeing her accomplish new milestones. Everything! It makes the lack of sleep so sooo worth it.

How do you make time for you?

I struggled for the first 6 or so months, mum guilt sucks! But, as of the last few months I've been dropping her to both her nanny's houses for them to have her and she's also started daycare now, post lockdown. I miss her on those days but loveee my ME time, even if it is cleaning the house or doing groceries, it's just nice to be your own self and get on top of things.

What’s next for you and your family?

Just chill out and enjoy our little fam. It's been a big few years for us.

A piece of advice for our readers?

They days are so long but the years are short. Whenever anyone said that it would go straight over my head but now I understand. I feel like I've blinked and she's almost one. Do what you need to do to be a good mum (that is different for every single person and there is no right or wrong way!). Be kind to yourself and enjoy your little bubba!