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This post is part of the New Mom Monday series! A series about moms and their advice to new moms! Books and videos can only teach us so much, but there’s something special about hearing from real life moms. Honest, true, and always beautifully inspiring!!
What’s your Name?

Lisa Rancier

Tell us a little about yourself!

I am 28 years old and live in Blackfalds, AB. I am a registered nurse and a first time mom! My hubby and I have been married for almost 8 years and have one 6 month old daughter. We are both originally from Winnipeg, MB and we met and started dating when we were 16. I love to run, read, watch movies, and be outside – even in the winter. I am the happiest I have been in my life now that I am a mom.

How many kids do you have? What are their names and ages?

I have one, six month old daughter named Leighton.

How do you find your “me time”?

I have to be very conscious that I am making time for myself because I know it’s something I’m not good at. Instead of running around the house cleaning when Leighton is napping, I try to sit down, relax and do whatever I like – write, watch TV, read, and sew. My husband is really great and encourages me to get out with my friends so I try to see them every couple weeks to keep my sanity!

What is the best baby related book you’ve ever read?

I love the basic – What to Expect When You are Expecting. It gave me a really good idea of what to expect during pregnancy and delivery. Also – The Baby Whisperer was excellent. It gives a lot of tips on how to get to know what your baby needs based on their physical actions.

What’s the most useful baby product you have? Why do you love it?

Our Moby Wrap has been a lifesaver! Leighton loved to be held when she was younger so it was helpful for nap-time on the go and if she was generally cranky. It saved me a lot of back pain. It is a great starter wrap and hopefully I will invest in something sturdier in the future.

If you could say something to yourself when you first brought home your first baby, what would you say?

Don’t panic, you will be okay. Use the support you have around you, and don’t try and do it all yourself!

How much planning did you do before your baby was born, and how do you think that it helped or didn’t help?

I did a moderate amount of planning. I read a lot of books on baby sleep patterns and breastfeeding but at the end of the day we just did what worked for us. When something is no longer working then we change it. The reading helped because I had a good idea of what was “common” for babies and had some strategies on how to deal with crying/sleeping/breastfeeding issues.

What do you believe are the top three pieces of advice a new mom or someone trying to conceive should know?
  1. Don’t be so hard on yourself.
  2. Just because you struggle sometimes does not mean you are failing.
  3. Don’t try to rush through each stage – try to live in that moment. Life goes by too fast.
What is your best memory so far of being a mom?

When Leighton was around 6 weeks old, I was sitting with her in the rocking chair after feeding her. I was exhausted from being awake the night before and was just trying to make it through the day until my husband got home. After she was done nursing I tucked her into my arm and started singing “Skina ma rinky dink”. She looked right at me and smiled for the first time. I started crying immediately because it was easily the most beautiful thing I have even seen. My heart was so happy.

Give us the short form version of your birth story.
My water broke two weeks early so I ended up being induced at the hospital. The start of induction to time of birth was just shy of 12 hrs. My husband was the only person there with me other than the doctors and nurses.
Going into labor I had no birth plan – after 3.5 years of trying to conceive I just kept telling the doctor “do whatever you need to do to get her here safely”. Being a nurse I know how many things can go wrong during labor so I was ready to just wing it. I was however, very disappointed that I had to be induced because I was hoping to experience a natural labor. Because the contractions were so intense with the induction I did opt for an epidural. It was wonderful! I was able to get some rest so I had the energy to push when time came.
Right after Leighton was born she stopped breathing. This was hands down the SCARIEST moment of my life. I heard the nurses call a code and she was taken to NICU. Luckily my husband was able to go with her so she was not alone but the fear that sat inside me was unbearable. The worst part was that I was unable to go with her. The good thing is that she only needed breathing support, her heart didn’t stop and all her blood work was normal. The doctor expected her to make a full recovery.She was born at 7 am and by that afternoon she was able to come back to the room with me. She breastfed like a champ right from the get go and has had no problems since!
Lastly, for fun, define motherhood!

Motherhood is unconditional, wonderfully heartbreaking, overwhelming, and amazing love. It is the best and most challenging thing I have ever done in my life.

To hear more from Lisa Rancier be sure to visit her blog Say It In Your Batman Voice and follow her on Instagram.

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If you would like to participate in New Mom Mondays please feel free to message me by using my contact form! I would love to not only feature you on my blog but learn from your answers, as I’m sure many readers would too! 
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