#RealLifeMoms (June)
Hi Mamas!
Every month we would like to feature our #RealLifeMom. Whether you have been through a pregnancy or birthing ordeal, or have an interesting story to share, or even if you are just experiencing the normal motions of Motherhood, we want to hear from you!
Email: hello@yaybaby.co.za and put #RealLifeMom in the subject line, and we will get back to you.
Everyone benefits from sharing their stories and hearing someone else's.
This month we are featuring a Mama who we think is just a wonderful human being with an incredible PREEMIE story to tell:.Nicolle Grosskopf (of @littlelittleprem)
Tell us a little about yourself: "I am a plain Jane stay at home mommy to my 34 weeker preemie Wade Grosskopf and wife to my best friend Wayne Grosskopf. I am currently studying to get my BEd Foundation phase degree, and love making handmade items for NICU babies. I was born and raised in Centurion, Pretoria and currently reside in Pretoria East."
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We got to chat to Nicolle about life as a Real Life Mom, and asked her a few questions.
You contracted Meningitis at 23 weeks pregnant, and your journey from there can only be described as unbelievably emotional.
Would you mind sharing your story with us, and how it impacted you becoming a Real Life Mom?
Do you have any advice for pregnant moms?
ENJOY every second of being pregnant, take pictures every day and flaunt your beautiful pregnant body, you are growing a little human be proud of your body! Trust your gut and NEVER wish for your pregnancy to end early! Spoil and pamper yourself, sleep and rest! And DON’T compare yourself to other pregnant mommies, you are beautiful!
Tell us a little about having a newborn:
Do you have a funny story to share about having a Newborn?
Do you have any advice for new moms?
The saying goes “you can’t pour from an empty cup’’ TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!
Take a shower,
Have a yummy meal,
Drink enough fluids,
Ask for help!
Rest, rest, rest as much as you can!
Resting and staying hydrated helps to have a good milk supply for your baby!
What has been the most difficult thing you have had to overcome, in the journey of becoming a mom/being a mom?
The most difficult thing for me was mom guilt and jealousy towards mothers with full term babies, firstly leaving the hospital every night without my baby was one of the hardest things to do. I cried every night because I felt so guilty for leaving him their all alone and I also felt so angry when I saw a happy family leaving the hospital with a new born, I longed for a normal birth and spending the first hour after birth doing skin to skin, I truly mourn a full term pregnancy and natural birth till this day. I had a few pregnant friends at that time and I actually couldn’t look at their belly pics or their new born pics because I actually felt jealous for not having the full-term belly and the natural birth and the new born cuddling pics.
What was the best advice that YOU received?
Take it easy, you just had a baby, you can clean the house later! Let your baby sleep on your chest there is no such thing as spoiling a baby.
What was the most useful product/item that you purchased or were gifted?
Electric Breast pump, I used my breast pump since day 1 because baby was in the NICU. This was the only way I could feed my baby, I used it every 3 hours until my baby turned 4 months and finally latched onto my breast.
5 MUST HAVE pregnancy/baby items/products:
- Pregnancy pillow that you can use as a feeding pillow afterwards.
- Baby Monitor
- Nose Frida
- Cold Humidifier
- A good electric breast pump
3 things that MUST go in your hospital bag:
- Silicone Pump to catch your colostrum
- Small face cloths for baby. (wet wipes are cold on a new born babies bum, rather use thin small face cloths and heat the cloth up in warm water before cleaning babies bum.)
3 things that MUST go on your baby shower registry:
- Baby Wrap
- Coconut oil (it’s amazing to use for a new born’s bum, and mommy’s sore nipples)
1 thing you feel that you absolutely DID NOT need:
- Bottle warmer
Name 1 thing you wish you had bought or received. And why?
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A comfortable feeding chair, I didn’t have one so had to sit on an uncomfortable dining table chair when pumping or breastfeeding. I spent every 2-3 hours feeding and pumping and I wished I had a comfortable feeding chair to spend most of my day in.
Do you have a parting thought for our other Real Life Mamas:
"To NICU moms – You CAN do the impossible, because you’ve been through the unimaginable
The NICU journey is a step process, many forward and many backwards, but witnessing the determination of a premature baby, fight for life with each breath they take is life changing for parents and those around them!
you are strong and you will get through this and you will walk out of those NICU doors even stronger! And remember Miracles do exist!"
Quick Fire Challenge
(The below aims to normalize motherhood. We get so worked up over “doing the right thing” when in actual fact there is no right thing. You are doing a great job if your baby is fed, clean, dry and happy. You got this Mama!)- Breast or Bottle or Both
- Cloth Nappies or Disposables
- Natural Birth or C-Section
- Followed a strict schedule or went with the flow
- Co-Sleep or Own Bed (from the beginning)
- Full term or Premature
- Stay at Home Mom or Back to Work
- Nanny or Playschool/Creche
- Pureed Food or Baby Led Weaning
Disclaimer: This blog is made available by Yay Baby for general information purposes only. By using this blog you understand that these articles are in no way a substitute for actual medical or professional advice.
If you have any questions relating to this article, for Yay Baby or for Nicolle directly, feel free to post in the comments below!
