My biggest inspiration when it comes to motherhood is my sister. She’s a super mom, a boss nurse, and a loving wife who always puts her family first! There was no doubt in my mind that she had to be our first Wholesome Mama. With that, let’s welcome my big sister, Jessica.
Introduce yourself to The Wholesome Seed Audience.
Hello! My name is Jessica and I am from Southern California. I am a wife and mother of two young rambunctious boys who keep me on my toes. I am also a cardiovascular intensive care nurse who has a passion for living organically, travelling the world and finding joy in the small simple things in life.
You recently had your second baby boy in October, how do you find juggling both boys?
I was so surprised to see how easily I adjusted to having a second child. I remember being absolutely terrified of having another child after finding out I was pregnant. My son was 15 months old at the time and we had finally settled into a routine that worked for all of us. He was more independent, he was finally sleeping through the night and I finally felt like my postpartum hormones had settled back to normal. After my first son was born, I struggled with postpartum depression. Lack of sleep combined with constant worries and self-doubt about being a new mother and looking over my newborn baby took a toll on my mind and body. I was finally feeling like myself again after two years! However, after the birth of my second son, he just fell right into the routine we had created. He became a natural extension of our family. I found things came to me more naturally and I was able to enjoy the newborn stage in a way that I hadn’t been able to the first time.
Your birth didn’t go the way you intended, tell us a bit more about that.
In both pregnancies, my babies were in the breech position. For my firstborn, I was able to find an experienced local midwife who was able to perform a successful external cephalic version. Knowing the overwhelming benefits of having a vaginal delivery, I was determined to have the same for my second. However, after multiple external cephalic versions and attempting “spinning babies” methods, I was not able to turn my second child. I was devastated and crushed knowing that my birthing experience would be completely different from how I had delivered the first time. I worried that my scheduled cesarean delivery would not be as special and I was terrified about having a surgical procedure knowing what all of the risks could be. In the end, I had to remind myself that the only thing that truly mattered was the health and safety of my baby. When they handed me, my baby, it was just as special as the first time.
What is the biggest difference with having your second baby?
I think the biggest difference in having a second baby was finding the balance of spending quality alone time with both boys. I definitely suffered from overwhelming guilt of not being able to spend as much quality time with my eldest and I could tell he was struggling with his new brother getting all of the attention. I decided to make sure I spent some quality time with my oldest son each day. This usually happens in the early morning when his brother is still sleeping. We snuggle in bed and get out a few of his favorite books to read. These are my favorite moments of the day because it allows me to be fully present with him. I always seem to discover something that has changed or how much he has grown. I truly treasure this precious time that we can spend together.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My typical day starts with me taking a few moments to myself before both boys are awake. On most mornings it’s a cup of hot tea, watching the sunrise, going for a quick jog or reading a few pages of an interesting book. I find that this routine helps to ground me and gives me time to appreciate and mentally prepare for each new day. After breakfast, the boys and I spend time outdoors. It is important for me to make sure that they are engaged with their natural surroundings and build an appreciation for our beautiful planet. We love exploring nearby parks, going on nature walks or just running around the backyard in our bare feet. The rest of our day is spent juggling nap times, reading books, playing with friends and cooking dinner together as a family.
You have connected with a holistic mother’s group, what do they focus on and how is it inspiring you to raise your boys?
When I became pregnant with my son, it became very important for me to understand what I was putting into my body and consequently his too. Since then, I have tried to implement a non-toxic lifestyle and live as organically as possible. By chance, I was lucky to bump into a local holistic mom’s group at one of our favorite parks. Being a part of a community that also lives a life similar to mine has been a great support and has given me the encouragement that I need when I find some of my views conflicting with what is considered to be “mainstream.” I love that I am constantly learning from them ways to grow in my holistic health and wellness journey.
What is your best advice or biggest tips for moms who are about to welcome their second child?
I think the most important thing I have learned over the years is taking the time for mom breaks. The days we have can be very long and it is easy to become burned out when juggling the busy daily routine of caring for little ones. I really struggled with this with my first born and I felt immense guilt for wanting to leave him just so I could focus on fulfilling my needs. However, I found that the time I spent away from him, made me a much better mother. Just fifteen minutes alone was enough for me to recharge for the day. I didn’t realize how easy it was to implement this into my daily routine! For me it is the small, simple things like going to the grocery store alone, taking a short nap or soaking in the bathtub which allow me to relax and helps me reset for whatever else the day brings my way.
