The journey into motherhood is an extraordinary one, but it comes with its share of challenges. Research shows that 91 per cent of Canadian mothers say they feel underprepared for the challenges after birth and 95 per cent think women need more postnatal support. With most new moms only seeing their medical professional or midwife at the six-week mark after giving birth, it’s clear that the current system can leave some women without the tools and resources they need to best care for themselves and their newborns. To fill the crucial gap in this period after birth, Huggies, has teamed up with leading baby expert, registered nurse and founder of The Mama Coach, Carrie Bruno, to empower moms and alleviate postnatal challenges through Project Hug. This new program addresses the gap in post-birth support with an innovative five module curriculum that includes online resources to help new moms care for themselves and their babies. Moms will learn about the benefits of skin-to-skin hugs, receive breastfeeding guidance, gain insights on infant sleep, mental well-being support and local resources available to them for a confident start. Additionally, Huggie partner Esther Lee, of @thiswildheart, is sharing how Project Hug will help empower new moms from a first-person perspective. Check out her story, here. We chatted with Esther to learn more. —Noa Nichol
Hi Esther! Please tell us a bit about yourself to start.
I am mom of two, digital creator and Huggies partner. I started sharing on social media back in 2014 and have developed my content from travel to lifestyle. In the last few years, I have also focused on motherhood and home content.
Let’s talk about your journey around early motherhood. What were the early days, after your child was first born, like?
It was a complete mix of emotions: blurry, confused, exhausted, sad, happy, and overwhelmed – all at once! I moved into my mother-in-law’s home for one whole month after I gave birth. In Asian culture, there is a strong belief and focus on postnatal care – through food, physical traditions like staying warm and not showering for certain lengths of time. This is why my mother-in-law took me in and really took care of me and the baby during that first month. I definitely had my share of challenges after giving birth and looking back, I believe I had a bit of postpartum blues but I didn’t realize this until much further down the road. Reflecting on that experience, I was much better able to deal with the symptoms after my second child was born. My experience is why I feel this conversation is so important – caring for myself is so important so that I can be the mom I want to be. Traditionally, in Asian culture, you’re not supposed to go out for a month or so after having a child. So, I didn’t go out of the house at all unless it was for appointments. I did sneak out one time to the mall just to take a quick walk!
What were some of the challenges you faced, that perhaps you were not expecting, in those early days of motherhood?
Because everything was so new, I just felt completely lost. I thought I was prepared but then it just hits you that everything is brand new. Sure, I had all my baby supplies ready, but did I know how to use a breast pump? Nope. Did I really know how to change a diaper or give my baby a bath? Absolutely not. Everything felt so foreign. But even though it was challenging at times, I think there is a real beauty about navigating through those early days of motherhood. You learn so much and you really rise to the challenge because you have no choice but to do it.
Looking back, what do you wish you had done differently, to help alleviate some of those challenges? Were there tools/resources available that you just weren’t aware of, that you’d like other parents to know about?
At the time, my number one resource was friends: moms who were already experts. Other than that, the only thing I really knew to do was to use Google for any questions. But that can be so problematic because of how much conflicting advice is out there so I stopped. Telehealth helped when our child had a fever and we didn’t know what to do. I didn’t really find groups anywhere or reliable resources that were easy to access. In the aftermath of giving birth, there are a lot of times when you need help, but sometimes it can be hard to know where to go for support. Huggies® Project Hug® Postnatal Care Program was created with this exact challenge in mind. This program aims help moms get the support and education they need to feel confident in the early stages of babyhood.
What have you learned, as a mom, about the impact of your own health on your family/children?
You can’t really be a good mom without focusing on yourself too. Self-care is really important for me, and it can look different for everyone. It’s important to remember that as a mom, you’re not going to get everything right the first time. You will have some wins, and it would be great if that happened every time a challenge popped up, but the reality is, that’s not always the case. Every child is different, so you learn to navigate motherhood differently with each child. It’s a huge learning curve and the best reward.
Finally, what’s the best thing about being a mom?
It’s really just watching the kids grow up together. I love making memories that I will have forever. Suddenly, you have this tiny human that turns into a toddler before your eyes. And now, my son is five (he’s a kid!), my daughter is three and it’s just amazing to see how much they’ve grown. Life is so fragile and beautiful in so many ways. I understand this more now after having my own kids.
share:
Be the first to comment