#mumdiary

[lovelottiex]

Winging it, Won’t you join me?

So I have read blogs about writing blogs here’s what I found out. I should introduce myself and what my blog is about, it should have a clear topic and be well written. On top of that it should be coherent with no grammatical or spelling errors. In conclusion I hope I can manage coherent, but my spelling and grammar isn't up to par and a topic well does life count? So, this isn't a blog this is an open diary if you will. This is thoughts, feelings and discussions about my life and topics close to my heart. I’m not here to offend but I am hoping that someone may realize there not on their own.

So who am I firstly? I am 29-year-old Lottie Smith but I also go by the names of mum, mrs and boss. I am currently spending my maternity leave with my 2-month-old and 3-year-old in lockdown. Music and patience is what's getting me through at the minute and guys this is my first admission some days I am flying some I am barely surviving and I'm fairly sure I'm not the only one. Work well by the time I go back I maybe redundant and if not do I wanna go back anyway and what about childcare. The reality - I’m winging it all and hoping to take you guys along for the ride.

[ameerachakra-blog]

Love how he is enjoying his lunch - so calm an serene my darling ❤️- - - - #sons #lunching #ukparentbloggers #photography #photographer #photooftheday #mummyblogger #mumdiaries #kidsactivities (at Windsor, Berkshire)

[mohammed-taabish]

CST night view #mumdiaries #mumbaistories #shotoniphone #lights #incredible_india #picoftheday #history #infrastructure #victoria #nightlife #mobilephotography #faded (at Mumbai C.S.T) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0sX5Yxld4e/?igshid=pnw6s2yr7l11

[londondamsel]

We took granny for a walk today because the weather was just perfect and it's the only way to get Lizzie off my poor sore boobs. I guess it's a growth spurt because that's the explanation for everything baby related that drives you up the wall. But this time, I'm not having fun. Lizzie wants to cluster feed all the time and she stays on my boobs for three hours - of course I alternate, but 90 minutes total per boob makes them sting and makes feeding really uncomfortable. Then when she finally sleeps, I get to recuperate really quickly and then we're back in the middle of the night for the same routine, 3am - 6am. If this continues, this momma will pass out. And oh, sleeping during the day is out of question as she doesn't want to be out of my hands, so sleep when baby sleeps is a bit impossible at the moment 😴 #mumdiaries #whatmamawore #asseenonme #casualoutfits #casualstyle #ootdinspo #chattycaptioncommunity #channelmum #londonliving #londonlook #mumsthatslay #mumstyle #mummybloggeruk #simplestyle #simplelifestyle #icandymoment #icandyfamily #reallifeandstyle #over30fashion #30plusblogs https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp7f1YSgsG8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3p3whi95axe6

[naijahousewife]

So I instruct my Lil girl (THE LAST FRUIT.. just in case y'all missed the #memo 🙄)...so i instruct her to write a #timetable of her #activities for the day and she comes up with this 👆🏼 . . And I'm like, why would you: 1. Want to #sleep 😴 for 2hrs during the day (when you're not a #labourer ) . 2) want to tell me you love me for 10mins?! 🤦🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️ (I mean it's nice and all, don't get me wrong but for 10mins!! 😕) . 3) Ehen... She wants to read a novel for or in 10mins?.. Ko le werk! . . So I did what any #mum would do... Turn it back in for a re-do😏 . . It didn't go down well with the #author 😬 Her argument: it was painstakingly written... 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 . #mumdiaries #mumanddaughter #instamoment

[niharikarc07]

Day 13: Celebrating today 500 days of Motherhood 🤗. Do not wanna judge it by good or bad coz #ipledgetobeme . Shared #ontheblog. #newpost #newpostalert #feedgoalschallenge #feeds #feeds #celebrating #motherhood #motherhoodthroughinstagram #motherhoodunplugged #momemts #milestone #motherslife #indianmum #augustend #augustdiaries #august #500 #500days #byniharika #mumblogger #mumdiaries #wearealmoms #excited #thisisme #wednesday #bloggersofinstagram #blogger #blog

[drawdressdream]

⚜️POSTPARTUM UPDATE⚜️ Here I am 6 months later after giving birth to Sako via c~section. I am 3kg off the weight I was previously but I did religiously workout while I was pregnant (weights, yoga) and post pregnancy. I remember doing walking lunges the day before the op. I took a month off the gym after the birth. Spent that month trying to express what minimal milk I had so that was enough of a workout. My scar is healing well, not perfect, slight pouch above the area but not that bad. I trained abs for the first time this week and geez had that abdominal pain for days after. Hurt to cough. All in all, I'm back on track and happier with my 58kg bod now. Still can't zip up most of my jeans but my Husband prefers me a bit juicer. I have no regrets having a c~section. . . . . . . . . #birthstory #csection #csectionrecovery #csectionscar #csectionbelly #postbabybody #postpartum #fitmum #mummyblogger #mumlife #csectionbaby #lululemons #myhonestmotherhood #documentingmotherhood #fitpregnancy #6monthsold #6monthspostpartum #mumandbaby #uniteinmotherhood #strongmum #momblogger #ohheymama #fitmoms #mumdiaries #csectionmama #bestofmum

[mlhweber]

But for real though. I keep saying either I look somewhat pregnant or that I had too many carbs. Lol. #Repost @mrsthompson1209 with @repostapp. ・・・ Lol, is it baby? Is it Christmas chocolate? 😂 #pregnancy #pregnancyproblems #pregnancyprobs #2ndtrimester #teamyellow #mumlife #mumdiary #mumdiaries #junebaby #June2016

[lovelottiex]

So there is a lot about at the minute about breast feeding or bottle feeding? As I write this I am watching a segment on Jeremy Vine entitled ‘Post breastfeeding pics online?’ while last night I come across an article on another blog I follow which discussed Chrissy Teigen's post calling for people to ‘normalize formula’ as a mum to a newborn this topic is very relevant right now and very close to my heart. So let’s discuss this.

With both my children I liked the idea of breastfeeding, let’s look at the benefits according to the NHS. Breastfeeding helps prevent infection in your baby as well as providing them with vitamins and nutrition. Breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of SIDS and childhood leukemia as well as promoting many other long term benefits like reducing the risk of childhood obesity. The benefits for mum, well it helps shrink you uterus back down, it protects your health reducing your risk of disease such as breast cancer as well as helping you burn extra calories and improving your bond with your baby. That’s a lot of benefits and I liked the idea but no way would I actually do it! My closest friend is absolutely amazing I see her breastfeed her daughter all the time, having bottle fed her first born she surprised herself as she loved breastfeeding her second and when everyone told her it was time to wean her off, it was her who struggled with that not her daughter. She had been subject to many a filthy look and snide comment but she wouldn’t of changed so why was I and still am so reluctant?

The simple truth is I don’t like getting undressed in front of anyone not even my partner. I am therefore not confident enough to deal with the filthy looks and snide comments that my friend did. If I breastfed my children I would feel uncomfortable doing it in public so that would mean either my child has to wait when we're out or I have to find somewhere private but there are very few private spaces when out so potentially that leaves me sat in an unsanitary public loo. Neither option is fair to me or my child. If at home I would still feel to self conscious should we have visitors to feed my child. The most unfair bit of this is whilst I am not very confident in myself I feel I would have overcome this if it wasn’t for other peoples judgement. This is one of the most natural things to do and a baby breastfeeding is no different to me or you having a sandwich. If you don’t like it look away.

That said, I bottle fed/feed both my children and looking for an equivalent to the NHS benefits of breastfeeding I come across an article ’20 Benefits of Bottle Feeding.' Heres a few of the benefits, its less invasive, not as uncomfortable and your diet does not affect your child’s formula. Your entire family can feed baby which gives dad and siblings another way to bond with baby and it can mean your body regulates itself quicker. But as I say these are just a few. I decided I would bottle feed my first baby before I even fell pregnant but I kept this decision very quiet. Why did I keep my decision so quiet bottle feeding a baby is perfectly normal I here you say. The short answer is in my life no, bottle fed babies are not normal I know many people who breastfed their babies from day dot whereas I only know one other person who bottle fed from day dot. Eventually my decision came out, my own mother told me I should reconsider reiterating the benefits of breastfeeding and when I stated that I had made up my mind she simply stated ‘well I never thought a daughter of mine wouldn’t breast feed’ in a tone of utter dismay. The health visitor came to the house and asked bottle or breast and I said bottle, her response ‘well thats fine but I must still tell you about the benefits of breastfeeding...have you considered breastfeeding for the first few weeks...breastfeeding really is the best option for baby’ her tone as I reiterated I wanted to bottle feed was one of disgust. Through out my first pregnancy despite being firm in my decision and reiterating it time and time again to health professionals the continued to give me leaflets and tell me ‘breast is best.’

My second child was also bottle fed. Many of the conversations I had had previously with health professionals didn’t happen as I had very fewer appointments , being my second and in the middle of a pandemic. However I still got the same lecture if not more so from family and friends. My own mother lectured me and when I said I had made my decision she urged me to reconsider breastfeeding would pass on the anti bodies my baby needed in the middle of a pandemic, I explained to her just the idea of it stressed me out so actually doing it would be even worse, that still didn’t stop her she told me she would e there every step of the way and we could do it together. When baby was home my neighbours asked was he breastfed not how was he fed but was he breastfed and when I said no bottle fed they looked at me in a way that made me feel I had to justify myself explaining (ironically) that I couldn’t deal with the stigma around breastfeeding but the surely the fact that I am justifying bottle feeding my baby says there is also a stigma there two.

My point of explaining all this is that like those who breastfeed, mums who bottle feed their child may also feel that stigma and it is wrong. I take my hats off to mums who breastfeed but I shouldn’t be made to feel bad for bottle feeding. There is no wrong or right my nephews were bottle feed and are now happy healthy children running rings round my sister as is my daughter. My friends children are both happy and healthy. There are many mums who want to breastfeed which is amazing and you go for it if that’s you. There are many mums who can’t or struggle or just don’t want to breastfeed for a hundred and one reasons including personal and medical and if you choose to bottle feed thats also amazing. Either way you are nourishing and looking after a child, it is the toughest job there is and you are there day in day out so give yourself a break and do whats best for you and your baby. Thats the reality of all this, breast isn’t best and nor is formula, what is best is whats best for mum and baby! If your one of the people judging these new mums, quite simply don’t we are nearly always our own toughest critic we don’t need you!

[ameerachakra-blog]

My two eldest, off to a week of surfing on Monday! A lovely dinner had to celebrate the end of school... Bring on the summer hols 🏄‍♀️🏄‍♂️- - - - - #momsofinstagram #kids #motherslove #mummyblogger #mumdiaries #mommyblogger #dinnerdate #photography #photographer #photooftheday (at Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre London Heathrow)

[lovelottiex]

[ameerachakra-blog]

Stopping off for some lunch at out local #eat - - - - #familygoals #mummyblogger #mumdiaries #mumsofinstagram #kiddiestyles #kidsactivities #summerholiday #lunchtime #photography #photographer #photooftheday (at Windsor Castle at Windsor England.)

[ameerachakra-blog]

Awesome backdrop - whilst picnic-ing and playing with the kiddies...summer holiday fun ☀️- - - - - #summerholiday #kidsactivities #siblinggoals #windsorcastle #homepark #funtimes #mummyblogger #mumdiaries #mumsofinstagram #mummyblogger #photography #photographer #photooftheday (at Windsor, Berkshire)

[niharikarc07]

Day 3: The three C's of life CHOICE CHANCE CHANGE You must make a choice, to take a chance, or your life will never change. #wordsofwisdom #quotes #quotestoliveby #quoteoftheday #wordstoliveby #wordsofwisdom #wisewords #feedgoals #motivationalquotes #motivation #adobespark #feedgoalschallenge #mumdiaries #feeddiaries #byniharika #challenge #instagramer #instafollow