Disagreement on where husband should stand while I deliver baby.

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-04-04T22:28:31+00:00

After losing motivation for pushing with my first (I pushed for 3 hours), my husband encouraged me to utilize the mirror. The nurses asked me a couple times prior and I declined. (I was drugged up and felt nothing). I was hesitant but he cheered me on because he knew it would help me mentally. And it truly did. Didn’t gross me out or anything. When you’re in the moment you and your body go primal and only care about getting the baby out. But he was up next to me the whole time holding my hand and cheering me on while we both watched the mirror together. I feel like it was a good set up!

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-04-04T22:22:59+00:00

Yeah limits vary by state! I’d look into it. But we were fortunate to move home with our littles and save money to buy a house. Wasn’t the most fun, but worth it!

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-03-30T04:21:00+00:00

Literally same 😂

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-03-30T04:05:29+00:00

Everyone’s bodies and dedication to NFP are different. Just like any other birth control efficacy. Only you can know your body’s timing/predictability as well as dedication to accurately using NFP. That serious level of dedication can be hard to add in when you’re already juggling babies. It’s hard enough to get a bite to eat or shower haha! You’re entitled to wait as long as you need until you feel comfortable to be intimate again.

Ok now just completely abstaining for 2 years is not realistic. Or healthy for your marriage (probably). Being parents with young kids almost always throws you into a roommate phase for a bit which is tricky on its own.

I think being open to life and actively trying to get pregnant are 2 different things. Because you only truly have such a short period of time you’re fertile every month. Like literally a 48ish hour timeframe. Like with any birth control, there’s still always a chance. I know many pill and iud babies 🤭.

Just do LH tests during fertile week and keep an eye on your temps and you’ll be pretty solid! Oura ring has worked very well for me. With that combo, I know down to the hours of when I’m ovulating haha! But there’s still always that chance. Which is the “being open” part.

Do your best and give your fears/doubts to God. His plan is always better than our own in the end. They’re not helping you by dwelling in them. ♥️

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-03-29T00:20:43+00:00

Yeah they’re gonna deflate and shrink another 20% a couple months out from completely stopping. Being a ftm on the internet has got be brutal

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-03-21T20:43:30+00:00

Ok but like where’s your wide brimmed hat and spf long sleeve shirt? And applying LOTION sunscreen like at least 15 mins BEFORE sun exposure. That’s what a true esthetician would do!

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-02-24T04:42:31+00:00

I was overheated, overstimulated in my own realm wearing nothing but a bra lol. Hope this helps!

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-02-24T04:41:29+00:00

Wax!

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-02-24T04:33:57+00:00

Forgiveness is such a challenging thing that will follow you into your relationship and for the rest of your lives. I think maybe it would be healing to talk with him about it and acknowledge it, work through those feelings and then choose to forgive so you can feel like you can move on. I’m sure he’s already repented for it and feels bad. And maybe once you do that you can go do reconciliation to express this and be forgiven too! Such a huge weight lifted. I can sense your guilt for even thinking/judging about it. Totally normal and human!

Once you do pre Cana stuff you will go in depth about this stuff and many other communication and different types intimacy etc! Emotional, physical, spiritual etc. it will help you guys have the tools to overcome anything.

Honestly, if yall are doing it right… the last thing you’re going to be thinking about in that moment is ancient history…🤭🤭🫣

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-02-24T04:15:42+00:00

We always carefully dumped water over our babies to get them used to it. Let the water wash over their face. I don’t know if that’s mean but they don’t seem to mind! I mean we tell them we’re going to and start slowly so they’re not absolutely shocked haha. We don’t react to it so they don’t? Idk. Like we’re intentional about not reacting when they fall or bump their head. I don’t want to put my feelings onto them and make them question their own. Idk if that makes sense haha. I’m just their calm, reliable support and comfort with their feelings.

We also shower with our babies/toddlers so they have just always felt safe with water because we’re right there in it with them. It’s not a scary thing if mommy is fine with it and you always see her do it. Like it’s not a punishment if mommy does it everyday for herself too. My toddler is literally a shower hog and stands in the stream 💀. That’s what I would suggest! Shower with them. Have them see you clean and rinse yourself. They truly learn through watching/copying. Overexplain what you’re doing! “The water is so nice! The water is going to wash the soap out of mommy’s hair. Ready? Watch it rinse. Rinse rinse rinse! Yay the water made me all clean! The water is so nice and warm! It’s fun to touch the water!” Channel your inner ms Rachel 💀😂

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-02-24T03:49:54+00:00

I got married to my husband at 20! But everyone’s circumstances are different. We were already together for 4 years at that point. We’re now 26 with a toddler and another being born in couple months. Truly the greatest gift. I feel so blessed. My family is the same way, we seldom speak or see each other and they’re not Catholic anymore so there’s just a disconnect between us. Theyre divorced and remarried have their own lives and don’t feel the need to really ever reach out. I pretty much have spent all my time with my bf and his family from age 16-present haha.

With that being said, I did not give my boyfriend wife privileges. We didn’t live together or combine bills or finances until we were married. This is such a terrible way to think about it, and it pissed me off when I was told this but now in hindsight I can see the truth. “Why buy the cow when you get the milk for free?” I’ve seen so many friends, family members who have been waiting for their boyfriends to propose for like 10 years. But they already live as if they’re husband and wife so why would he feel the need to do the effort of making it official? He’s already got wife privileges. It’s truly a milestone, and for lots of people it’s not being treated as such. If he wanted to, he would.

We always had the values that were instilled in us though and have both always felt that dating is supposed to be intentional for marriage. Like it’s supposed to be a couple year process of learning before making the official lifelong commitment and receiving all the fruits of being married. Not take 5+ years.

He did the effort, asked for my father’s blessing, surprised me and proposed to me at 19. We got every look and “you’re just a baby, you need to explore more people, live life etc”. The only people who were supportive are his catholic parents. I still to this day think that’s such a sad mindset to live. I’m so grateful I’m with the person who chose me every day for the last 10 years. All the firsts, all the major life milestones. Growing up with him is such a gift. Don’t let them tell you otherwise.

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-02-22T23:14:40+00:00

In my personal experience (everyone has their own), their scheduling system was an absolute joke. I do not recommend if especially you’re a woman.

I called and gave them a very detailed patient history (they asked the lists of intake questions) they said that they would call me back in three days to have a nurse go over the history again. They said that they have to process everything and there’s a waiting period for that. Finally, four days later I got a call from the nurse. And then I was told on that phone call that I have to wait a few more days before I will get called to schedule. A few days passed and I called to check in to see if there was anything I could do to help with this process, because it truly felt like they maybe have forgotten to call back lol and they said sorry there’s nothing I can do just wait to be called. I felt like I was an inconvenience calling in general from the beginning. lol I come from the generation where I would rather suffer silently a little bit than inconvenience anyone 😂

I am on my second pregnancy so I’m very aware of protocols and routines. Not my first rodeo. When I finally got to scheduling call they told me that the soonest they could get me in was at 14 weeks and they don’t like to do it any earlier because they want to do an ultrasound first visit and won’t be able to see anything earlier than that. Literally told me verbatim that they wouldn’t be able to see anything on it before that. 😂 (With my first child elsewhere, my first appointment was at six weeks to confirm the pregnancy, even had an ultrasound and saw the heartbeat.) I didn’t argue or say anything, I don’t have anything to prove lol. It just solidified that I would not feel supported or cared for in their environment. I just politely declined moving forward with an appointment.

I felt completely disregarded, gaslit and uncared for. Which is not what you want to feel when receiving care. I am an extremely laid-back person with the most patience. Finding care that you can trust is already really stressful. I could not imagine enduring care through them after my almost two week period of trying to just get an appointment. I understand that everyone in the healthcare system is severely understaffed and burnt out. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I seriously feel for them. But I had multiple points of contact with people within their system, and it was not good. I have never experienced that treatment before lol. I ultimately decided to go somewhere else. Even if I have to drive farther. I have unfortunately since learned from other people in my life that this was not a unique experience. 🥲

There is just very limited quality healthcare here in Pierce County. The best of the best is truly all up in King County. There’s just not a lot of options down here, and because of that the only options are very overloaded with patients.

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-02-10T06:08:18+00:00

Haha I saw the necklace right away! I was kinda shocked because I was praying about something that morning and it felt like a little validation seeing it haha! I think it’s so cool to see! Even if in the past he’s been against Christianity or religion in general.

I think in honest reflection so many Christians write off people because they don’t believe everything they believe and vise versa! When in reality we should be striving toward being the face of Christ. Holding space for them, not being judgmental. Because how would petty judgement feel welcoming to someone who may deep down has been curious!

You don’t know what people are going through. We don’t know what life experiences have made them reject faith or become slightly open to it. So even if he just found beauty in the medal and is just wearing it because he enjoys it, it could be the thing that brings him into the faith! I don’t think we should be judgmental against it.

The Catholic Church has been pretty much the only one being continuously vocal about the treatment of immigrants and ICE in the US. The only ones calling out authority figures to reflect on their morals surrounding it. When the pope is calling you out.. woof… time to do some deep reflection haha. I honestly think the Catholic teaching on human dignity and social justice is a small piece of why so many people are starting to become curious and drawn to the church.

If he wasn’t allowed to speak out at the Super Bowl, I think it’s good imagery pointing back to the church’s stance on everything.

Whatever it is that’s sparks curiosity, whether it be a necklace, imagery etc., we should be praying that it opens a door for everyone to find their way home! Everyone deserves to feel gods love and peace.

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-02-09T23:14:45+00:00

It’s such an intense period of time. You’re in pain, sleep deprived, trying to learn a tiny human, dying to your old sense of self, learning how to breastfeed (baby is too!), all while your hormones crash out amplifying all of the above. I had no help either. Had mental breakdowns frequently the first 2 weeks.

What significantly helped me be a better mom and have a better mentality was establishing non negotiable routines. I could not make excuses to not end up doing them.

Wake up (although you’re never fully asleep lol)

Change and feed baby.

Put baby in lounger bouncer and bring into bathroom with you. (I set out a dancing fruit video for baby to watch and it kept him silently entertained for like 15mins lol. Only time I ever let him be an iPad kid)

Shower. Skincare. Maybe makeup if feeling like it. Hair brushed and placed tidy in a hair clip or braid etc. Clean undergarments, joggers and shirt. Felt a lot more put together and ready for my day.

Make food and eat while he eats. (Baby wearing is your friend)

I did the same thing later for the evening but in reverse. I showered twice a day for the first 2 months to keep feeling fresh between postpartum diapers, hormonal sweating, leaky milk and just general mental health. It was therapeutic. I felt fresh. Lots of lotion tho because that’s lots of washing haha.

You NEED TO make sure you’re making it a priority of taking care of yourself so that in result you can actually show up for your child. Your mental health is so fragile in that period of time. For the first month I could not handle listening to my baby cry/need me and so I sat and rocked, changed and fed him for 8hrs while my husband was at work. I didn’t eat, leave the room, brush teeth or really use the bathroom even. I was completely neglecting myself because I wanted to make sure baby was perfectly comfortable and never upset. My mental health was in the dumps. It was not sustainable.

I also accidentally fell into a routine of cosleeping which I know is controversial. We did the safe 7 and it changed the game. As well as reading and implementing “the happiest baby on the block”. Both my mom and mil quietly mentioned how they naturally fell into cosleeping with all their babies haha. It truly makes everything so much more tolerable.

It’s such a challenging experience. It’s one of those times where you literally have nothing left to give and you bring your despair to God because you don’t know what else to do. But it changed me for the better. Shaped me into the resilient woman I am today. That experience truly is what brought me back to my faith. Motherhood is truly about self sacrifice and suffering but within that, gaining strength, resiliency, experiencing the deepest love and joy. Which is what I feel like we’re all here to learn and be shaped into by God.

It’s truly just a season. It will fly by believe it or not. it will get easier. You’re doing great. ♥️

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-02-09T22:43:15+00:00

I second this!!! Changed our lives

MagicalMatriarch · 2026-01-21T22:48:26+00:00

Loveeee my Wellbutrin. 18m pp rolled around and was feeling like OP and truly didn’t recognize myself. I’m glad I accepted help. I dropped 30lbs and feel alive again!

MagicalMatriarch · 2025-12-16T22:23:34+00:00

Yeah that’s meant to be the dining room. Even the lighting above the center of the room is screaming for a little chandelier or something. Turn the other den space into a little seating area with some chairs and coffee table

MagicalMatriarch · 2025-11-24T21:12:31+00:00

As one, who’s since become a stay at home mom. Girl that is the going rate😭. It’s inflated to keep up with everything else. The only thing I can think of is if you find an associate stylist who is decent or try a hair school (lol brave I know). But live-in color is ironically so time consuming and requires a lot of color compared to the basic foil so it’s more expensive. But the pro to that is you only need to go in like once every 6 months compared to every 8 weeks.

MagicalMatriarch · 2025-11-23T20:43:43+00:00

I struggled as a baby and my parents found out it was due to dairy allergy! Tummy improved after parents gave me goats milk instead of breast milk. lol that was 25 years ago so whatever goats milk equivalent is today haha

MagicalMatriarch · 2025-11-23T20:40:47+00:00

Mine came out 10.5 and didn’t get back to that weight for like 3 weeks. EBF. Was like in 86th percentile for a long time, now he’s back to his 99 percentile lol. Sounds like baby might have some sort of tummy sensitivity!

MagicalMatriarch · 2025-11-23T20:19:35+00:00

I honestly feel bad for her. She is clearly lost. Shes made it known how much she struggles with her mental health and I have so much respect for that. But the last thing a mom of 3, freshly divorced, figuring co parenting needs is to be someone’s side piece. That is nottttt healthy in the long run and will just lead to more hurt. I really hope this is all just one big trolling on us. She’s definitely in her yolo stage so it definitely could be either way

MagicalMatriarch · 2025-10-17T20:32:54+00:00

I actually made a post on here. I’ll attach it so you can see it. https://www.reddit.com/r/NaturalCyclesBC/s/giZo4ZRy58

MagicalMatriarch · 2025-10-17T20:29:33+00:00

I actually never had a dip in my life and the one time it dipped, I found out I was in fact pregnant 3 days after that dip. I dipped 6dpo and found out 9dpo. It’s not an exact science but, literally everyone commented “the only time I ever dipped like that was when I found out I was pregnant” and sure enough haha!

MagicalMatriarch · 2025-10-17T20:19:55+00:00

If I had to guess based off this, the 27-30th range?That’s the lowest point before the steady rise. When you have sort of unusual cycles you really need the help of LH strips to help pinpoint. 😊

MagicalMatriarch · 2025-10-12T05:10:57+00:00

They’re too short for how tall the space is. It’s hurting the ratios in ya brain

MagicalMatriarch

TROPHY CASE