Mama, this doesn’t have to be YOUR normal.

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I am tired all the time. 

My sleep is restless. 

I wake up and I’m already ready for a nap. 

No amount of sleep is enough sleep. 

All of these are phrases I used to describe how I had recently been feeling to my doctor’s nurse practitioner. I know what you are thinking and I thought so too. 

That’s just normal motherhood. 

Maybe this is true. But I was not content to go through my life exhausted and drained just hoping to wake up the next morning with more energy and less dark circles from a sleep full of night sweats, tossing and turning. This does not have to be what motherhood looks like for me. I chose to advocate for myself and my health despite what society says is normal for mothers. 

So I did. 

In December I went to my Family Doctor’s Nurse Practitioner, who is a new mother, and to my surprise, she listened. (I realize the extreme privilege of having healthcare at my fingertips and I am forever grateful).  She changed the medication I take and did blood work. Three months later when my blood work was normal and nothing changed I went back. She listened again and offered me solutions that fit with my lifestyle and still breastfeeding toddler. There was no judgment, in fact, she said she experienced the same thing and the solution she offered me was the same she did for herself. 

Why did it take me so long to go? Why was I so scared? 

Society? My own shame and guilt? Fear that it’s all in my head? Refusal to take time to care for my own health? The glorification of busy? All of the above?

This, whatever “this” is for you doesn’t have to be your new normal mama if you don’t want it to be. You have the power and the strength to make a change, to advocate for yourself, your body, your health, your mental stability. And if advocating feels a little scary your tribe is there to speak up for you when your voice feels silent. 

What are you refusing to accept as normal? How are you going to change it?

Whatever it is;

We got you.

Normal Motherhood

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Madison O
Madison is a Texas A&M Graduate who is beginning her 6th year as a Technical Theatre teacher and 3rd year at Gregory-Portland High School. She and her wife moved to the coastal bend to be closer to family as they began the fertility process to grow their family. Madison and her wife were thrilled to welcome their daughter, Amelia, to the family in May via Reciprocal IVF. Madison has also begun working toward her Masters degree in Educational Administration at TAMUCC (gotta keep it in the Aggie family!) Talk about one busy mama! Madison enjoys time outside and has always loved to write for her own personal blog in her free time. She is so excited to start this new adventure of motherhood and to be joining the wonderful community of Corpus Christi Moms on the blog!