Lessons I've Learned in Waiting for a Baby

Woof. Just the title of this post makes me cringe because it’s a story I don’t want, didn’t want, and tried with all my power to avoid. In the exhaustion of feeling completely over social media and tired of trying to compile the things I’m walking through into a succinct caption, I decided to lean in. I started this blog at 19 years old for me, and at 30 years old, I’m taking some of that back. My deepest desire in sharing my writing, especially through challenging seasons, is that it helps someone else. Ultimately, I write because it’s my way of processing my feelings, connecting to God, and making sense of the things I’m learning.

MotherhoodGriffin HillJanuary 6, 2023miscarriage, infertility, baby, new mom, encouragement Comments

Everything I Wish I'd Known About Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is an unbelievably sensitive topic. If you’re not a mom yet, that may sound over-exaggerated, but it’s just such an intimate, emotional, and tricky process for most women and their new babies. I want to acknowledge that and also preface this post by saying that I am not writing this to invoke feelings of shame for anyone reflecting on their breastfeeding journey. If you desired to formula feed or exclusively pump, you are no less of a mom than any breastfeeding mom for making that choice. If you had to switch to formula or exclusive pumping somewhere along the way, that decision is also in no way reflective of your status as an amazing mom. There is too much mom shaming out there, and that is not my heart behind this post. I know how emotional it is to want to feed your baby the way you want to feed your baby and how difficult it is to make changes within that process.

A Letter to My Baby, When the World Feels Hard

Dear baby,

You woke up today chatting with yourself again. I think it’s my favorite sound in the world, you just peacefully greeting the day and waiting for me to snatch you up with kisses. What I would give for that kind of peace right now.

Daily LifeGriffin HillApril 2, 2020motherhood, baby, coronavirus, pandemic, parenthood, new momComment

An Honest Look at My Postpartum Experience

Throughout my pregnancy, almost everyone “warned” me about postpartum, or the fourth trimester, if you will. Most of these warnings were well meaning, and some of them (mostly random followers on Instagram who could have just not spoken up) were fear mongering and drenched in a trauma perspective. I get it - there are some horrific birth and postpartum experiences out there, and many women have valid reasons to carry baggage from their season as a new mom. While I firmly believe that it is important to be prepared for a change in plans or the potential of a rough start to motherhood, I also believe that we need to be careful about the way we speak to new moms about something they haven’t experienced yet, and something that may or may not be full of negative experiences.

Daily LifeGriffin HillFebruary 13, 2020pregnancy, postpartum, postpartum journey, fourth trimester, new mom, new babyComment

The Good, the Bad, and the Carbs of My First Trimester

Long before I even wanted to be pregnant, I’ve always enjoyed reading about other people’s pregnancy experiences and how their lives and habits changed because of them. I will say upfront that I do not write this point from the standpoint of being a medical professional, an expert on pregnancy (LOL), or anything of the like. I just wanted to share my first trimester with the world and answer your all’s most asked questions from my Instagram! So, here goes: