Week 22/52 of maternity leave

Reaching new milestones, falling apart at the seams and the first pub garden visit of 2025

We’re late, but hey - better to show up late than not at all. Energy levels have been low (I think I’m batting off the lurgy), so I’m proud to have still found the time to do this write up albeit later than I’d hoped.

It was a relatively low-key week for us that ended at the pub, so I’m not complaining!

Deep tissue massage

I was gifted a half-price coupon for a local beauty salon by a family member who decided they weren’t going to make use of it (lucky me!), so I opted for a deep tissue massage. Oh boy, it was much needed. I told the masseuse due to breastfeeding my upper back and neck were in bits, so she focussed a lot on that area.

Swimming class #5

I’m so impressed with Winnie’s kicking at swimming! She is non-stop from beginning to end with her strong little leggies and unbothered by the splashes she makes that completely cover her face. We’re practicing grasping the side of the pool and she’s doing a great job with that. She lights up when we pour water from the toy watering cans, so there’s now one in the Amazon basket for bath time! I’m so glad we went with swimming as her first class.

Winnie can roll!

After lots of practice and assistance since coming out of her harness at 15 weeks, Winnie managed to roll back-to-tummy by herself this week. She’s doing a great job at pulling her arm out from underneath her but depending on whether she’s close to nap-time, she doesn’t always seem to know what to do with herself once she’s rolled! Reaching new milestones definitely makes playtime more fun and I can really start to see her toy preferences coming through as her motor skills develop (a giraffe and some stacking cups appear to be top tier ATM). We are getting a few 5am wake ups, but otherwise, her sleep is fortunately not getting too disrupted with the developmental leaps going on.

Post-partum recovery

Lately I’ve really been feeling as though my body is falling apart, which is both upsetting and impractical as a new mum that’s only just turned 30. I knew I would need to be kind to myself in the post-partum period and not set unreal expectations of “bouncing back”, but I realise I had attached this more to body image (ie fitting back in to my jeans) and did not consider too much what physical recovery might look like (ie struggling to get up off the floor with Winnie in my arms). I’m 20 weeks on from giving birth and my core is still weak, my back jars easily when holding Winnie & leaning over to change her, and I’ve somehow picked up a mild ankle sprain that has worsened over a number of weeks (probably months to be honest) with my knee and hip starting to ache, I guess through over-compensation. It’s easier said than done to get everything looked at - especially with a long list of ailments that will need to be addressed over multiple doctors visits, and the appointment wait times. So, a late night purchase of a 30-day “Mamma Rebuild” fitness plan, an ice pack and ibuprofen is my POA in the meantime. I’m also looking into a ‘Mummy MOT’ postnatal examination. Pregnancy and childbirth are such enormous things to go through and I owe it to myself, my body and Winnie to feel in better shape.

What worked for you in post-partum recovery? How long did it take for you to feel better physically?

A very wholesome weekend

My partner having both Saturday AND Sunday off work made for a wonderful weekend of joint parenting and enjoying the sunshine together as a family. Hurrah! Everything felt SO much easier with another pair of hands in the mix and I really felt so grateful for it. I took care to take in the little things like a walk to the bakery, a stop-off to the pub garden (my other half’s favourite pastime) and McDonald’s breakfast in bed, reminding myself this is what we dreamed of. Naturally, a couple of badly timed poo explosions kept us humble but I really wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Sunday watercolour

This month’s reference was a daffodil and cherry blossom tree filled scene, using wax resist technique and a masking fluid before laying down the watercolour to give some more detail to the blossom petals. It was challenging but good fun.

What we’re watching: The White Lotus

With season 3 recently being released, we thought we’d see what all the fuss is about. Having just finished the first season, I’m left still asking this question - yet we’ve started season 2? It feels like something that needs to be binged because its slow nature would probably put me off if I was waiting week on week for another ep. It’s a lovely show to look at and has a very well curated ensemble cast, but it’s definitely not what I was expecting. And Jennifer Coolidge will always be Stifler’s Mom.