Tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Olivia and I’m 32. I have been with my wonderful husband Steve for nearly 10 years (married for nearly 3) and we have a beautiful 1 year old boy together called Billy. We also have 2 fur babies, Alfie the dog and Finch the cat. I love doing things outdoors like walking and swimming. Currently, I work 3 days a week teaching year 6 and spend the other 4 days doing things with Billy like Gymbaroo, swimming lessons, play dates and park visits.

What were you doing before babies?

Before having Billy I was working full time as a teacher and spending a lot of time at F45!

How did you come to be a mum?

I was so lucky and becoming a mum was easy for me. My husband and I thought we were nearly ready for a baby so we decided to just stop preventing and see what happened. 5 months later I was pregnant! I am so grateful for how easy it was for us.

What has your feeding journey been like?

My feeding journey is still going! Billy is 16 months and I’m still a breastfeeding mama! I was so lucky as Billy latched right away on the night he was born. I’m also super lucky to have a very good supply. When Billy was a newborn I had to cover us both in towels for every feed because there would be milk everywhere! I have always had a good supply but that did lead to a fair bit of engorgement at the start which could be quite painful. Having an exclusively breast fed newborn was an exhausting experience. I didn’t express as Billy wouldn’t take a bottle. It was tough at times feeling like I was just a milk machine! I’m so happy that I have been able to and can still breastfeed to this day but the cracked nipples, cluster feeding and constant hunger have definitely been trying at times! Nowadays Billy only breastfeeds before bed at night and will take a bottle so I can express if I need a little break and my supply has evened itself out so it’s very rare for me to become engorged now. He also drinks cows milk now so the need to express is even lower. It’s a sad and freeing feeling.

What has sleep been like in your house?

Sleep times have been up and down in our house. Billy slept in our room in his bassinet and then his cot until he was about 10.5 months old before we moved him into his own room. He always gets rocked or fed to sleep which can get hard if he decides he doesn’t want it to be sleep time. Once we figured out his awake windows it got easier! He has also always slept better in bed with us which I was very against before becoming a mum. We learned to prioritise (safe) sleep for all 3 of us instead of fighting him or having Billy be upset for too long and often just end up bringing him into our room during the night. We just want him to feel safe, secure and loved and if that means being in our bed that’s ok with us. He has recently slept through the whole night a couple of times in his own cot so we know it won’t be forever. I’m sure I’ll miss his snuggles when he’s older.

The hardest bits…

Lockdown for 2 months while on maternity leave with a 6 month old. That was so tough. Steve was still working (12 hour days!) so it was just Billy and I at home all day, every day. It was so hard not seeing other adults and not being able to get any help from my support system.

The best bits…

Seeing Billy grow and develop is just the best. Seeing the joy and wonder in his eyes as he explores the world is incredible. I could just sit and watch him all day. I love watching him make friends with all the old ladies when we’re out and about as well! He sure knows how to turn on the charm.

How do you make time for yourself?

The gym! I go after Billy is in bed and the gym is nice and quiet. Also, every few weeks I make time to go by myself to get my nails redone. That’s my time alone! We have also set up a good night time where Steve will bath Billy and get him ready for bed so that I have a bit of time to myself for a shower and a cup of tea before feeding Billy to sleep.

What’s next for you and your family?

Hopefully a sibling for Billy at some point! But there’s no rush there. We are so happy just enjoying Billy and watching him grow. Hopefully now we can do some more travel with him and take some cool family trips together.

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

Absolutely do not compare yourself or your baby to others that you see on social media. Everyone is showing their highlight reel and all babies are different.

Also, it’s ok to tell people that you don’t want their unsolicited advice! Others have no right to tell you what the ‘right’ was to raise your child is. You are the expert when it come to your baby and you are allowed to make your own choices without having to feel judged.