<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The Reset: Holistic Health & Slow Living: Motherhood Topics]]></title><description><![CDATA[Posts about motherhood, pregnancy, birth, & beyond. ]]></description><link>https://kateeskuri.substack.com/s/motherhood-topics</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hwLu!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0c9d5221-35d3-480f-b82f-eb08b5c5c829_1080x1080.png</url><title>The Reset: Holistic Health &amp; Slow Living: Motherhood Topics</title><link>https://kateeskuri.substack.com/s/motherhood-topics</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 05:03:00 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[hello@thefoundationblog.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[hello@thefoundationblog.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[hello@thefoundationblog.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[hello@thefoundationblog.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[I Taught My Toddler How To Independent Play (Kinda). Here's How I Did It...]]></title><description><![CDATA[I'm not an expert. Not a guru. Just a mom trying to drink her coffee without reheating it 3 times. &#9697;&#776; &#9697;&#776; &#9697;&#776;]]></description><link>https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/i-taught-my-toddler-how-to-independent</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/i-taught-my-toddler-how-to-independent</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2025 18:10:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9f924a83-9cad-4987-8456-4b29439b1dd5_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of my very first thoughts when I found out I was pregnant with twins <br>(&#8230;after the initial gasp and <em>HOLY BLEEP!!!!</em>) was:</p><p><strong>HOW the heck am I going to keep my toddler entertained while taking care of two babies?? </strong></p><p>I couldn&#8217;t even fathom it! The visual of me &#8220;stuck&#8221; on the couch, nursing both babies while my toddler ran wild around the house felt so incredibly overwhelming to me. </p><p>So, I did what any Type A(ish) person might do: I tried to make a plan and get ahead of it. Immediately, I started researching and finding methods to build his independence <em>before</em> the babies arrived&#8230;</p><p><strong>But, at the time, Miles wasn&#8217;t even 2 yet and deep in that VELCRO phase where I felt like I needed to be &#8220;on&#8221; all day:</strong> constantly facilitating play, chasing him around, and responding to every &#8220;mama, look! look, mama, LOOK!!!!!&#8221;. </p><p>It was sweet &#129401; <br>It was heart melting &#129392;</p><p><em>&#8230;and also totally, completely unsustainable</em> when I thought about adding two more kids to the mix.&#129760;</p><p>Yet, I felt conflicted. </p><p>Because, <strong>I </strong><em><strong>wanted</strong></em><strong> to be present and playful with him. But I </strong><em><strong>also</strong></em><strong> wanted to foster independent play. And I just couldn&#8217;t find a sweet spot.</strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fDUc!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36e90232-8e20-4bfe-a0fb-e338b8710789_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fDUc!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36e90232-8e20-4bfe-a0fb-e338b8710789_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fDUc!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36e90232-8e20-4bfe-a0fb-e338b8710789_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fDUc!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36e90232-8e20-4bfe-a0fb-e338b8710789_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fDUc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36e90232-8e20-4bfe-a0fb-e338b8710789_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fDUc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36e90232-8e20-4bfe-a0fb-e338b8710789_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/36e90232-8e20-4bfe-a0fb-e338b8710789_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3071,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/i/163984035?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36e90232-8e20-4bfe-a0fb-e338b8710789_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fDUc!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36e90232-8e20-4bfe-a0fb-e338b8710789_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fDUc!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36e90232-8e20-4bfe-a0fb-e338b8710789_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fDUc!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36e90232-8e20-4bfe-a0fb-e338b8710789_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fDUc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36e90232-8e20-4bfe-a0fb-e338b8710789_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>When I&#8217;d look up different methods, some childcare educators made it seem like independent play had to be this super strict non-negotiable enforced with military-like consistency. And other voices were like, &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it, ~MaMa~ ! Just soak it in!!! Play cars for three hours straight!!!! You&#8217;ll miss this someday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!&#8221;</p><p><em>Annnnd&#8230; neither felt quite right.</em></p><p><strong>So, I decided to try a new approach to &#8220;independent play&#8221;:</strong> shaking up our current routine, experimenting with a few different strategies, and gently helping him build the confidence to play <em>on his own&#8230;</em> even if just for a few minutes at a time.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hYxL!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbc4c51c-1064-4bc1-8eac-b9b5310cf4ac_3024x4032.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hYxL!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbc4c51c-1064-4bc1-8eac-b9b5310cf4ac_3024x4032.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hYxL!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbc4c51c-1064-4bc1-8eac-b9b5310cf4ac_3024x4032.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hYxL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbc4c51c-1064-4bc1-8eac-b9b5310cf4ac_3024x4032.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hYxL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbc4c51c-1064-4bc1-8eac-b9b5310cf4ac_3024x4032.png" width="1456" height="1941" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/bbc4c51c-1064-4bc1-8eac-b9b5310cf4ac_3024x4032.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1941,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3961357,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/i/163984035?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbc4c51c-1064-4bc1-8eac-b9b5310cf4ac_3024x4032.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hYxL!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbc4c51c-1064-4bc1-8eac-b9b5310cf4ac_3024x4032.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hYxL!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbc4c51c-1064-4bc1-8eac-b9b5310cf4ac_3024x4032.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hYxL!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbc4c51c-1064-4bc1-8eac-b9b5310cf4ac_3024x4032.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hYxL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbc4c51c-1064-4bc1-8eac-b9b5310cf4ac_3024x4032.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Fast forward, and <em>this</em> is often the view during those nursing sessions I was so worried about back then. Playing <em>near </em>me&#8212; without being GLUED to me. I can now reliably get 15 or so minutes of him playing on his own when I need. Which may seem small, but it&#8217;s such a shift! </figcaption></figure></div><p></p><p></p><p>With <s>a little </s>a lot trial and error, the skill has started to truly click. And it&#8217;s been soooo life-giving (for both of us).</p><blockquote><p><strong>Of course, I don&#8217;t want to paint some unrealistic picture&#8212;</strong> it&#8217;s not like he&#8217;s creating architectural masterpieces with his MagnaTiles for 3 hours while I meditate and meal prep and get every ounce of my work done and feed and snuggle the babies. <em>No, no, no.</em> </p></blockquote><p>But! We have gone from zero minutes of independent play to <strong>a solid 20+ minutes</strong> at a time, which (tbh?????) felt IMPOSSIBLE about 9 months ago.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DfPK!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc32c8f0f-69b7-4d96-b51f-d829c84f3952_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DfPK!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc32c8f0f-69b7-4d96-b51f-d829c84f3952_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DfPK!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc32c8f0f-69b7-4d96-b51f-d829c84f3952_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DfPK!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc32c8f0f-69b7-4d96-b51f-d829c84f3952_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DfPK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc32c8f0f-69b7-4d96-b51f-d829c84f3952_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DfPK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc32c8f0f-69b7-4d96-b51f-d829c84f3952_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c32c8f0f-69b7-4d96-b51f-d829c84f3952_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3108,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/i/163984035?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc32c8f0f-69b7-4d96-b51f-d829c84f3952_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DfPK!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc32c8f0f-69b7-4d96-b51f-d829c84f3952_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DfPK!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc32c8f0f-69b7-4d96-b51f-d829c84f3952_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DfPK!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc32c8f0f-69b7-4d96-b51f-d829c84f3952_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DfPK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc32c8f0f-69b7-4d96-b51f-d829c84f3952_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>So, all of that being said, In this post, I&#8217;ll walk you through:</p><ul><li><p>&#10024; <strong>The simple &#8220;formula&#8221;</strong> <strong>I use each week</strong> to encourage more independent play</p></li><li><p>&#10024; <strong>How we store and rotate toys</strong> (hint: it&#8217;s not fancy or ~revolutionary~, but it works!)</p></li><li><p>&#10024; And mainly, <strong>the </strong><em><strong>low-effort changes</strong></em><strong> that made the biggest difference</strong></p></li></ul><p>If you&#8217;re in the trenches with a toddler who always wants you within three feet&#8230; same. &#129315; <em>This isn&#8217;t expert advice by any means, but it is what&#8217;s actively working for us right now,</em> and I am confident there are at least a few tips in here that make your life a little easier &amp; independent play a bit more realistic!</p><p>Let&#8217;s do it! &#11015;&#65039;</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6nMt!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe267b2f3-d465-4048-840f-60878fdfe181_1200x100.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6nMt!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe267b2f3-d465-4048-840f-60878fdfe181_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6nMt!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe267b2f3-d465-4048-840f-60878fdfe181_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6nMt!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe267b2f3-d465-4048-840f-60878fdfe181_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6nMt!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe267b2f3-d465-4048-840f-60878fdfe181_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6nMt!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe267b2f3-d465-4048-840f-60878fdfe181_1200x100.png" width="1200" height="100" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e267b2f3-d465-4048-840f-60878fdfe181_1200x100.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:100,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4713,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/i/163984035?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe267b2f3-d465-4048-840f-60878fdfe181_1200x100.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6nMt!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe267b2f3-d465-4048-840f-60878fdfe181_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6nMt!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe267b2f3-d465-4048-840f-60878fdfe181_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6nMt!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe267b2f3-d465-4048-840f-60878fdfe181_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6nMt!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe267b2f3-d465-4048-840f-60878fdfe181_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3><em>The Shift That Made The BIGGEST Difference&#8230;</em></h3><p><strong>First off, the biggest, most important change&#8212; less. is. more.</strong> </p><p>It might seem counterintuitive (and honestly, you&#8217;ve probably heard it 983289302x times before and tuned it out)&#8230; <em>but it&#8217;s true, you guys:</em> <strong>the fewer toys I leave out, the more my toddler actually plays.</strong></p><p>Like, actually. </p><p>You know when you go to those restaurants with a 17-page menu and it ends up being so hard to decide (<em>like, do I want a sandwich? or pancakes?? or&#8230;idk, brisket???</em>). But then you go to a cute, simple cafe with 5 simple options handwritten on a chalkboard and you&#8217;re like &#8220;Perfect, I&#8217;ll have the GF breakfast sandwich and an iced latte.&#8221;</p><p>I firmly believe it&#8217;s the same energy with toys. </p><p>Less. Is. More. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rTIj!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d72ebbc-f021-473d-a276-6166beb7854b_3024x4032.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rTIj!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d72ebbc-f021-473d-a276-6166beb7854b_3024x4032.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rTIj!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d72ebbc-f021-473d-a276-6166beb7854b_3024x4032.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rTIj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d72ebbc-f021-473d-a276-6166beb7854b_3024x4032.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rTIj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d72ebbc-f021-473d-a276-6166beb7854b_3024x4032.png" width="1456" height="1941" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6d72ebbc-f021-473d-a276-6166beb7854b_3024x4032.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1941,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2468913,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/i/163984035?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d72ebbc-f021-473d-a276-6166beb7854b_3024x4032.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rTIj!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d72ebbc-f021-473d-a276-6166beb7854b_3024x4032.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rTIj!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d72ebbc-f021-473d-a276-6166beb7854b_3024x4032.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rTIj!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d72ebbc-f021-473d-a276-6166beb7854b_3024x4032.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rTIj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d72ebbc-f021-473d-a276-6166beb7854b_3024x4032.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Tiny example, but we had a set of letter magnets that mostly sat untouched&#8230; On a whim, I decided to simplify, and I kid you not, the next time he saw them, he yelled 'LETTERS!' and ran over to play and slide them around. <em>(I know people on the internet exaggerate what their kids say all the time, but this literally just happened, hahaha.)</em></figcaption></figure></div><p></p><p></p><h4><strong>&#10024; To be clear,</strong><em><strong> </strong></em><strong>I&#8217;m not talking about throwing out everything you own and becoming a handcarved-maple-wooden-toy-only purist here, ok!!!</strong></h4><p>Mainly, making the shift to start rotating so that only A PORTION of toys are out at once, rather than having <em>everything</em> available at <em>all</em> times.  </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RbCL!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9f0dc327-77cc-4616-900f-7fc7f1ac50cb_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RbCL!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9f0dc327-77cc-4616-900f-7fc7f1ac50cb_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RbCL!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9f0dc327-77cc-4616-900f-7fc7f1ac50cb_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RbCL!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9f0dc327-77cc-4616-900f-7fc7f1ac50cb_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RbCL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9f0dc327-77cc-4616-900f-7fc7f1ac50cb_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RbCL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9f0dc327-77cc-4616-900f-7fc7f1ac50cb_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9f0dc327-77cc-4616-900f-7fc7f1ac50cb_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3071,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/i/163984035?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9f0dc327-77cc-4616-900f-7fc7f1ac50cb_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RbCL!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9f0dc327-77cc-4616-900f-7fc7f1ac50cb_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RbCL!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9f0dc327-77cc-4616-900f-7fc7f1ac50cb_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RbCL!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9f0dc327-77cc-4616-900f-7fc7f1ac50cb_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RbCL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9f0dc327-77cc-4616-900f-7fc7f1ac50cb_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><em><strong>Quick note: I *know* this is easier said than done</strong>.</em> It takes a bit of work, mental energy, and time to organize the toys and put them away. And I know it&#8217;s the LAST thing you want to do. I get it. But hopefully I can make it feel more simple! Below, I&#8217;ll share what <strong>we</strong> did, but no matter HOW you do it, toy rotation is actually your best friend. It&#8217;s not revolutionary, but it truly works. </p><p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Rz7V!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F310f8e0b-a682-43ac-969c-ce7ca6f64901_1200x250.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Rz7V!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F310f8e0b-a682-43ac-969c-ce7ca6f64901_1200x250.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Rz7V!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F310f8e0b-a682-43ac-969c-ce7ca6f64901_1200x250.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Rz7V!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F310f8e0b-a682-43ac-969c-ce7ca6f64901_1200x250.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Rz7V!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F310f8e0b-a682-43ac-969c-ce7ca6f64901_1200x250.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Rz7V!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F310f8e0b-a682-43ac-969c-ce7ca6f64901_1200x250.png" width="1200" height="250" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/310f8e0b-a682-43ac-969c-ce7ca6f64901_1200x250.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:250,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:23516,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/i/163984035?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F310f8e0b-a682-43ac-969c-ce7ca6f64901_1200x250.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Rz7V!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F310f8e0b-a682-43ac-969c-ce7ca6f64901_1200x250.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Rz7V!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F310f8e0b-a682-43ac-969c-ce7ca6f64901_1200x250.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Rz7V!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F310f8e0b-a682-43ac-969c-ce7ca6f64901_1200x250.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Rz7V!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F310f8e0b-a682-43ac-969c-ce7ca6f64901_1200x250.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>You can do a toy rotation in so many ways (some do it seasonally, and some do it daily!!) but here are the main REALISTIC methods that have worked for us. <em>Plus, 14 smaller, tangible tips that helped improve play!</em></p><h3>The &#8220;Box of the Day&#8221; Trick</h3><p>This was the first system we ever tried (kind of a whim), and it worked *shockingly* well&#8230;</p>
      <p>
          <a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/i-taught-my-toddler-how-to-independent">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[What I Eat In A Day... While Breastfeeding 🍼]]></title><description><![CDATA[(hint: it's a lot)]]></description><link>https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/what-i-eat-in-a-day-while-breastfeeding</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/what-i-eat-in-a-day-while-breastfeeding</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:02:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a2466f6b-7eb1-422d-a8d3-2adcdb69879c_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You guys know I&#8217;m passionate about eating in a way that nourishes my body&#8230;</p><p>but also in a way that&#8217;s REALISTIC.</p><p>As a busy working mom, I do my best to get healthy food on the table in a way that&#8217;s time-efficient, straight-forward, and no-drama. &#9996;&#65039;</p><p><em>(Translation: While I love holistic nutrition, you will *never* catch me sharing a <strong><a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/t/nourishing-recipes">recipe</a></strong> that takes hours to prepare or that includes 37 obscure ingredients that require a scavenger hunt through Erewhon. We keep things simple here, team!!!).</em></p><h4>And while I&#8217;ve always prioritized my nutrition, it is feeling like an Olympic sport lately&#8230; &#128558;&#8205;&#128168;</h4><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JxMM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9c92be83-7f2f-4fd6-bd17-89fc3a4251a3_3024x4032.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JxMM!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9c92be83-7f2f-4fd6-bd17-89fc3a4251a3_3024x4032.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JxMM!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9c92be83-7f2f-4fd6-bd17-89fc3a4251a3_3024x4032.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JxMM!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9c92be83-7f2f-4fd6-bd17-89fc3a4251a3_3024x4032.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JxMM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9c92be83-7f2f-4fd6-bd17-89fc3a4251a3_3024x4032.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JxMM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9c92be83-7f2f-4fd6-bd17-89fc3a4251a3_3024x4032.png" width="1456" height="1941" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9c92be83-7f2f-4fd6-bd17-89fc3a4251a3_3024x4032.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1941,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2873671,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JxMM!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9c92be83-7f2f-4fd6-bd17-89fc3a4251a3_3024x4032.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JxMM!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9c92be83-7f2f-4fd6-bd17-89fc3a4251a3_3024x4032.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JxMM!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9c92be83-7f2f-4fd6-bd17-89fc3a4251a3_3024x4032.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JxMM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9c92be83-7f2f-4fd6-bd17-89fc3a4251a3_3024x4032.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>If you're new around here (first of all, welcome!), I actually gave birth to twins about 4 months ago, and I'm so grateful to say that I&#8217;ve been able to exclusively breastfeed both of them so far. &#129401;</p><p>I shared more details on the highs and lows of my breastfeeding journey in <strong><a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/postpartum-update-the-highs-the-lows">my postpartum update</a></strong>, but in short, it&#8217;s been a mix of tandem feeds (so efficient, but sooo challenging to get the positioning right), 1:1 feeds (amazing &amp; straight-forward, yet takes a lot of time to do both babies individually), and a lot of pumping (not my favorite thing ever, but it&#8217;s simple &amp; allows others to help with bottles so that I can get much-needed breaks!).</p><p>While it hasn&#8217;t been all rainbows, it has been relatively straight-forward. I&#8217;m grateful to say that I generally enjoy the process of breastfeeding most of the time. It&#8217;s undoubtedly a lot of work, but the quiet, bonding moments it provides are so sacred to me... </p><p><strong>But holy cow (pun absolutely intended) &#8212;feeding two babies has been a </strong><em><strong>lot </strong></em></p><p>A lot of effort.<br>A lot of learning curves.<br>A lot of time. <br><em>A lot </em>of milk. <br>And a whooooole lot of eating. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Pp6N!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ed37624-81a8-498a-a673-de8f881fb3f3_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Pp6N!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ed37624-81a8-498a-a673-de8f881fb3f3_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Pp6N!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ed37624-81a8-498a-a673-de8f881fb3f3_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Pp6N!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ed37624-81a8-498a-a673-de8f881fb3f3_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Pp6N!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ed37624-81a8-498a-a673-de8f881fb3f3_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Pp6N!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ed37624-81a8-498a-a673-de8f881fb3f3_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5ed37624-81a8-498a-a673-de8f881fb3f3_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4216,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Pp6N!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ed37624-81a8-498a-a673-de8f881fb3f3_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Pp6N!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ed37624-81a8-498a-a673-de8f881fb3f3_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Pp6N!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ed37624-81a8-498a-a673-de8f881fb3f3_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Pp6N!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ed37624-81a8-498a-a673-de8f881fb3f3_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><h3><strong>I always laugh when someone says &#8220;</strong><em>Well, at least breastfeeding is free!&#8221;</em></h3><p>Um, first off, it&#8217;s only free if you believe a woman&#8217;s time is worth nothing. &#128579; Let&#8217;s please stop downplaying the energy and effort and TIME that go into nursing, pumping, cleaning bottles, and beyond. </p><p>Second, have you seen my grocery bill? &#128517; The amount of food I eat (and the amount of extra groceries I consequently need to buy) while breastfeeding is actually insane.</p><p>But, throughout both of my breastfeeding journeys, one thing has become crystal clear: if I&#8217;m not eating enough while nursing, my body lets me know&#8212;and fast.</p><p>My milk supply drops, <br>my energy crashes, <br>brain fog sets in, <br>and my mood can only be described as, well, <em>hangry. </em>&#128519;&#128519;&#128519;</p><p>Thankfully, I&#8217;ve learned how to properly fuel myself during this ultra-depleting time, keeping my health and nourishment top of mind while managing the demands and time constraints of postpartum.</p><p>In short&#8212; I aim for maximum nutrients, with minimal time.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Qete!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F347c4e4c-6ff8-4a52-ba54-e06123bb8921_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Qete!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F347c4e4c-6ff8-4a52-ba54-e06123bb8921_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Qete!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F347c4e4c-6ff8-4a52-ba54-e06123bb8921_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Qete!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F347c4e4c-6ff8-4a52-ba54-e06123bb8921_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Qete!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F347c4e4c-6ff8-4a52-ba54-e06123bb8921_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Qete!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F347c4e4c-6ff8-4a52-ba54-e06123bb8921_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/347c4e4c-6ff8-4a52-ba54-e06123bb8921_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4216,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Qete!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F347c4e4c-6ff8-4a52-ba54-e06123bb8921_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Qete!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F347c4e4c-6ff8-4a52-ba54-e06123bb8921_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Qete!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F347c4e4c-6ff8-4a52-ba54-e06123bb8921_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Qete!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F347c4e4c-6ff8-4a52-ba54-e06123bb8921_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3><strong>&#127868; And, today, I&#8217;m giving you a real-life look at </strong><em><strong>exactly</strong></em><strong> what I eat in a day to maintain my milk supply &amp; my energy (hint: it&#8217;s a lot):</strong> <br></h3><p>Here&#8217;s what to expect:</p><ul><li><p>&#10024; <strong>Mostly whole foods &amp; healthy choices, but&#8230;</strong>  I&#8217;m not tracking a dang thing in terms of calories or macros or my weight&#8212; too busy counting ounces of milk &#128521;</p></li><li><p><strong>&#10024; A peek at when I&#8217;m pumping and how much I&#8217;m making:</strong> &#8230;spoiler: I made 77 oz in this day &#128004;</p></li><li><p><strong>&#10024; 5 core breastfeeding nutrition approaches:</strong> These are my 5 no-fluff guidelines for fueling yourself while nursing &amp; maintaining milk supply. </p></li><li><p><strong>&#10024; The </strong><em><strong>best</strong></em> <strong>postpartum gift I received: </strong>It&#8217;s quite random, relatively affordable, and could make a HUGE difference for fueling a mom in your life! <em>(Hint: I&#8217;ve used it every. single. day. of my postpartum so far)</em></p></li><li><p><strong>&#10024; Real-life scenarios:</strong> I didn&#8217;t record this on leisurely Sunday with no plans and a perfectly stocked fridge&#8212; but a busy, chaotic weekday filled with mom-ing, working, and everything in between.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Ya ready? Let&#8217;s go! &#11015;&#65039;</strong></p><p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3cXb!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F11a67a1e-9edc-4a33-9c0d-bbe48ab14a92_1170x2080.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3cXb!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F11a67a1e-9edc-4a33-9c0d-bbe48ab14a92_1170x2080.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3cXb!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F11a67a1e-9edc-4a33-9c0d-bbe48ab14a92_1170x2080.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3cXb!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F11a67a1e-9edc-4a33-9c0d-bbe48ab14a92_1170x2080.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3cXb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F11a67a1e-9edc-4a33-9c0d-bbe48ab14a92_1170x2080.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3cXb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F11a67a1e-9edc-4a33-9c0d-bbe48ab14a92_1170x2080.jpeg" width="354" height="629.3333333333334" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/11a67a1e-9edc-4a33-9c0d-bbe48ab14a92_1170x2080.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:2080,&quot;width&quot;:1170,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:354,&quot;bytes&quot;:501765,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3cXb!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F11a67a1e-9edc-4a33-9c0d-bbe48ab14a92_1170x2080.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3cXb!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F11a67a1e-9edc-4a33-9c0d-bbe48ab14a92_1170x2080.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3cXb!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F11a67a1e-9edc-4a33-9c0d-bbe48ab14a92_1170x2080.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3cXb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F11a67a1e-9edc-4a33-9c0d-bbe48ab14a92_1170x2080.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Feeding these two has been one of the most surreal, beautiful, challenging experiences of my life &#129401; It&#8217;s been a whoooole new ballgame from my experience breastfeeding my singleton! </figcaption></figure></div><h2><em>A few quick notes: </em></h2><ul><li><p><strong>While I usually do a mix of pumping and breastfeeding,</strong> on this particular day, I exclusively pumped&#8212;mostly because 1) I thought it&#8217;d be fun to quantify it for this post and 2) I was curious exactly how much milk I was making. I do this every few weeks just to keep tabs on my supply! (What can I say&#8230; I love me some data &#129299;). </p></li><li><p><strong>This &#8220;day in the life&#8221; was actually recorded about six&#8212;</strong>maybe seven?&#8212;weeks ago. Not that it really matters, but I just a note that since then, my pumping routine has shifted a bit and I am less diligent now (for example, I finally dropped my middle-of-the-night pump&#8212; hallelujah!).</p></li><li><p><strong>Before we dive in, just a reminder&#8212;</strong>this is <em>my</em> approach. Every mom feeds their baby in the way that works best for them&#8212;breastfeeding, pumping, formula, or a mix of it all. &#9697;&#776; And let&#8217;s be real: some women do everything &#8220;right&#8221; and still struggle with milk supply. There&#8217;s <em>so</em> much nuance here, and I want to hold space for that.</p><p><br>So, take what&#8217;s helpful, leave what&#8217;s not. This is simply what works for me, my babes, and my family! As always, you do <em>you. </em>And I&#8217;ll do me &#11015;&#65039;</p></li></ul><p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VU3w!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F731f96de-53b6-4b20-93a6-0d1e10260268_1200x250.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VU3w!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F731f96de-53b6-4b20-93a6-0d1e10260268_1200x250.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VU3w!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F731f96de-53b6-4b20-93a6-0d1e10260268_1200x250.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VU3w!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F731f96de-53b6-4b20-93a6-0d1e10260268_1200x250.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VU3w!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F731f96de-53b6-4b20-93a6-0d1e10260268_1200x250.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VU3w!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F731f96de-53b6-4b20-93a6-0d1e10260268_1200x250.png" width="1200" height="250" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/731f96de-53b6-4b20-93a6-0d1e10260268_1200x250.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:250,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:22260,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VU3w!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F731f96de-53b6-4b20-93a6-0d1e10260268_1200x250.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VU3w!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F731f96de-53b6-4b20-93a6-0d1e10260268_1200x250.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VU3w!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F731f96de-53b6-4b20-93a6-0d1e10260268_1200x250.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VU3w!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F731f96de-53b6-4b20-93a6-0d1e10260268_1200x250.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3><strong>3:30 a.m. &#8212; 19 oz. pump &amp; a quick midnight snack</strong></h3><p>Because, yes, this &#8220;what I eat in a day&#8221; actually starts in the middle of the night&#8230;</p><p>Woke up to pump for the babies and felt genuinely hungry<em>.</em> This happens often to me during postpartum! With the amount of energy my body is using to make this much milk, I often need some fuel in the middle of the night. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VBz7!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa670258b-b94e-4fa3-b5e2-0b32e65bdd81_480x270.gif" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VBz7!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_lossy/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa670258b-b94e-4fa3-b5e2-0b32e65bdd81_480x270.gif 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VBz7!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_lossy/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa670258b-b94e-4fa3-b5e2-0b32e65bdd81_480x270.gif 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VBz7!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_lossy/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa670258b-b94e-4fa3-b5e2-0b32e65bdd81_480x270.gif 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VBz7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_lossy/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa670258b-b94e-4fa3-b5e2-0b32e65bdd81_480x270.gif 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VBz7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_lossy/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa670258b-b94e-4fa3-b5e2-0b32e65bdd81_480x270.gif" width="480" height="270" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a670258b-b94e-4fa3-b5e2-0b32e65bdd81_480x270.gif&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:270,&quot;width&quot;:480,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VBz7!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_lossy/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa670258b-b94e-4fa3-b5e2-0b32e65bdd81_480x270.gif 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VBz7!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_lossy/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa670258b-b94e-4fa3-b5e2-0b32e65bdd81_480x270.gif 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VBz7!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_lossy/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa670258b-b94e-4fa3-b5e2-0b32e65bdd81_480x270.gif 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VBz7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_lossy/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa670258b-b94e-4fa3-b5e2-0b32e65bdd81_480x270.gif 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>So, with sleepy, blurry eyes, I marched to the kitchen &amp; grabbed&#8230;</p>
      <p>
          <a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/what-i-eat-in-a-day-while-breastfeeding">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[🍼 Postpartum Update: The Highs, the Lows, and Everything in Between ]]></title><description><![CDATA[oh, baby!]]></description><link>https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/postpartum-update-the-highs-the-lows</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/postpartum-update-the-highs-the-lows</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 15 Jan 2025 16:02:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/086c7335-7bb0-4d59-a4a9-2ab66c5c35df_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello, my friend! </p><p>I have officially made it through the &#8220;4th trimester,&#8221; and <em>wow.</em> </p><p>There&#8217;s really is nothing like the time warp of the newborn bubble. Life simultaneously seems to slow down and speed up in tandem&#8212; days blur together in a haze of sleepy snuggles, endless feedings, diaper changes, and the tiniest, sweetest milestones.</p><p><strong>And today, I&#8217;m coming at you live with a thorough update&#8212; my postpartum journey, what it&#8217;s really like to have newborn twins, and how I&#8217;m adjusting to being a mom of three (THREE!).</strong> </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8eV!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F844685c9-3d52-41e5-b44b-f7d63c1f1de1_3024x4032.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8eV!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F844685c9-3d52-41e5-b44b-f7d63c1f1de1_3024x4032.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8eV!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F844685c9-3d52-41e5-b44b-f7d63c1f1de1_3024x4032.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8eV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F844685c9-3d52-41e5-b44b-f7d63c1f1de1_3024x4032.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8eV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F844685c9-3d52-41e5-b44b-f7d63c1f1de1_3024x4032.png" width="1456" height="1941" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/844685c9-3d52-41e5-b44b-f7d63c1f1de1_3024x4032.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1941,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3725615,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8eV!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F844685c9-3d52-41e5-b44b-f7d63c1f1de1_3024x4032.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8eV!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F844685c9-3d52-41e5-b44b-f7d63c1f1de1_3024x4032.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8eV!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F844685c9-3d52-41e5-b44b-f7d63c1f1de1_3024x4032.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8eV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F844685c9-3d52-41e5-b44b-f7d63c1f1de1_3024x4032.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>It&#8217;s madness. <br><em>Magical</em> madness. <br>But madness nonetheless &#129315;</p><p>As with most of my <strong><a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/t/motherhood">motherhood content</a></strong>, this update focuses on MY personal journey rather than diving into a ton of specifics about my children. Moreso, I want to offer my perspective<strong> as a mom in her early 30s&#8212;seeking to navigate the elusive balance of motherhood, career, marriage, household, and </strong><em><strong>trying </strong></em><strong>to maintaining a sense of self and personal identity throughout it all. &#129322;</strong> Writing about this wild ride feels so therapeutic for me, and I hope you enjoy reading this postpartum update as much as I&#8217;ve enjoyed sharing it.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ryyf!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd03a49a2-607d-4269-a03a-bc6b58b658ba_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ryyf!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd03a49a2-607d-4269-a03a-bc6b58b658ba_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ryyf!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd03a49a2-607d-4269-a03a-bc6b58b658ba_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ryyf!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd03a49a2-607d-4269-a03a-bc6b58b658ba_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ryyf!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd03a49a2-607d-4269-a03a-bc6b58b658ba_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ryyf!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd03a49a2-607d-4269-a03a-bc6b58b658ba_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d03a49a2-607d-4269-a03a-bc6b58b658ba_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4124,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ryyf!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd03a49a2-607d-4269-a03a-bc6b58b658ba_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ryyf!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd03a49a2-607d-4269-a03a-bc6b58b658ba_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ryyf!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd03a49a2-607d-4269-a03a-bc6b58b658ba_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ryyf!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd03a49a2-607d-4269-a03a-bc6b58b658ba_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I actually started writing this back in early November, during those very fresh, early postpartum days when my husband and I were both on parental leaves&#8212; gosh, such a tender, sacred, and, um, <em>sleep-deprived</em> time. </p><p>Then, I&#8217;ll also bring you up to speed with a few updates how things are now&#8212; after I&#8217;ve [at least partially] emerged from the newborn haze and we have both returned to work. </p><p>To be honest, it feels like I have two completely distinct versions of postpartum to catch you up on: those early days when everything was new, we were both<em> </em>on leave, and the outside world seemed to pause. And now&#8212;back in fullblown reality with work, countless responsibilities, and three full-blown kids in the mix!</p><h4><strong>&#10024; We&#8217;re slowly settling into what feels like (dare I say?) normal life&#8212; well, a new version of it</strong>. &#10024;</h4><p><em>&#8230; and I have a lot to say.</em> </p><p>I want this to feel like one of our coffee catch-ups, so I recorded all the nitty-gritty details podcast-style (press play at the bottom of this post! &#127911;). But don&#8217;t worry&#8212; I&#8217;ve also written out a brief overview of each response for those of you that prefer to read about it! </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sMch!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdbe4adb6-6a2b-4296-8ff5-f8abba688a40_1200x100.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sMch!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdbe4adb6-6a2b-4296-8ff5-f8abba688a40_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sMch!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdbe4adb6-6a2b-4296-8ff5-f8abba688a40_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sMch!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdbe4adb6-6a2b-4296-8ff5-f8abba688a40_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sMch!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdbe4adb6-6a2b-4296-8ff5-f8abba688a40_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sMch!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdbe4adb6-6a2b-4296-8ff5-f8abba688a40_1200x100.png" width="1200" height="100" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/dbe4adb6-6a2b-4296-8ff5-f8abba688a40_1200x100.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:100,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:21865,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sMch!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdbe4adb6-6a2b-4296-8ff5-f8abba688a40_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sMch!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdbe4adb6-6a2b-4296-8ff5-f8abba688a40_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sMch!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdbe4adb6-6a2b-4296-8ff5-f8abba688a40_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sMch!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdbe4adb6-6a2b-4296-8ff5-f8abba688a40_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><ul><li><p><strong>My greatest strength as a twin mom: </strong>Someone asked me this recently, and I was sort of surprised by what came to mind</p></li><li><p><strong>What drains me the most as a twin mom</strong>: It&#8217;s quite random &amp; ordinary, but it happens <em>all</em> the time in everyday life&#8230;</p></li><li><p><strong>How I&#8217;m feeling in this postpartum season</strong>&#8212;physically, emotionally, and energetically</p></li><li><p><strong>What it&#8217;s like breastfeeding TWO babies at once and how it&#8217;s compared to feeding my singleton. </strong>Spoiler alert: it&#8217;s <em>a lot</em> more difficult.</p></li><li><p><strong>Life with newborn twins</strong>&#8212;the best parts, the hardest parts, and everything in between</p></li><li><p><strong>How sleep has been going</strong>&#8212; or not going!</p></li><li><p><strong>My intentional steps to recover from a tough pregnancy</strong> and slooowly ease back into a workout routine that feels right.</p></li><li><p><strong>What&#8217;s going well</strong> (many things! &#9786;&#65039;) and what&#8217;s been difficult (also, many things! &#128517;) </p></li><li><p><strong>A glimpse into our daily flow in this chaotic season of life with twins and a toddler</strong>&#8212; how I&#8217;m feeling, what I&#8217;m hoping for, and how we are finding our new rhythm. </p></li></ul><p><strong>&#10024; To hear the thorough answer to all of these topics, press play at the bottom of this post (a 58-minute podcast episode!), or scroll through to read &#9697;&#776; Enjoy!</strong> </p><p><em>Just a heads up&#8212;there&#8217;s a free preview for all subscribers, with full access reserved for paid subscribers. &#9697;&#776; I totally get it&#8212;hitting the paywall is annoying. But the support from paid subscriptions is what directly allows me to dedicate the time and effort into this weekly newsletter (especially during this busy season of life!). Plus, it feels so much safer and cozier to share more personal topics, like motherhood, with a smaller, supportive community. </em>&#129293;<em> Thanks for your understanding!</em> </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C9Aq!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd23d2b2f-a844-4d5a-831c-11e082b5f634_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C9Aq!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd23d2b2f-a844-4d5a-831c-11e082b5f634_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C9Aq!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd23d2b2f-a844-4d5a-831c-11e082b5f634_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C9Aq!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd23d2b2f-a844-4d5a-831c-11e082b5f634_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C9Aq!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd23d2b2f-a844-4d5a-831c-11e082b5f634_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C9Aq!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd23d2b2f-a844-4d5a-831c-11e082b5f634_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d23d2b2f-a844-4d5a-831c-11e082b5f634_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3289,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C9Aq!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd23d2b2f-a844-4d5a-831c-11e082b5f634_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C9Aq!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd23d2b2f-a844-4d5a-831c-11e082b5f634_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C9Aq!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd23d2b2f-a844-4d5a-831c-11e082b5f634_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C9Aq!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd23d2b2f-a844-4d5a-831c-11e082b5f634_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AW-o!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2981794d-dca9-4504-9958-e6afe83401ff_1200x100.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AW-o!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2981794d-dca9-4504-9958-e6afe83401ff_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AW-o!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2981794d-dca9-4504-9958-e6afe83401ff_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AW-o!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2981794d-dca9-4504-9958-e6afe83401ff_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AW-o!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2981794d-dca9-4504-9958-e6afe83401ff_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AW-o!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2981794d-dca9-4504-9958-e6afe83401ff_1200x100.png" width="1200" height="100" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/2981794d-dca9-4504-9958-e6afe83401ff_1200x100.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:100,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:10002,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AW-o!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2981794d-dca9-4504-9958-e6afe83401ff_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AW-o!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2981794d-dca9-4504-9958-e6afe83401ff_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AW-o!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2981794d-dca9-4504-9958-e6afe83401ff_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!AW-o!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2981794d-dca9-4504-9958-e6afe83401ff_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Let&#8217;s start on a positive note!</p><p>In a recent Q&amp;A, someone asked me about my greatest skill as a twin mom. And while having two babies is undoubtedly chaotic, I honestly feel <em>meant</em> for it in some strange way? </p><p><em>So, after some thought, I&#8217;d say my greatest strength as a twin mom is my ability to balance structure *and* flexibility&#8212; and carry both with equal importance.</em></p><p>In general, our family thrives on consistent rhythms&#8212; not strict schedules or rigid routines, but small daily habits. Whether it&#8217;s automatically changing the twins&#8217; diapers before a feed or always reading two books before bed with my toddler, those little moments of predictability feel grounding and bring a sense of calm to our days.</p><blockquote><p><strong>For me, this light structure gives me some mental peace, like a quiet reassurance that I know what to expect (at least a little!&#129315;) from the day ahead. </strong></p><p><strong>&#8230;.But I&#8217;m also am </strong><em><strong>surrendered </strong></em><strong>to the fact that I will totally have to pivot and be flexible often. </strong></p></blockquote><p>Because, with twins, there&#8217;s double the unpredictability&#8212; if one baby skips a nap, one baby has difficulty latching, etc&#8212; I am good at flowing with it &amp; adapting &amp; not making it too big of a deal if can&#8217;t have our typical routines or schedules or they are out of sync. </p><p>I just pivot. <br>And get back to &#8220;normal&#8221; as soon as I can. </p><p>And, honestly? This attitude took time. With my firstborn, I was more fixated about our rhythms&#8212; but having twins has forced me (and <em>inspired</em> me) to find <strong>that elusive dance of having loose plans and predictable habits&#8212; but being totally willing to bend when life calls for it.</strong> </p><p>(Because, guess what, life <em>often</em> calls for it!) </p><p>So, yes, I think that&#8217;s my superpower&#8212;  being Type A enough to set us up for success with some preparation and consistency, but also being Type B enough to flex and adapt when life calls for it. It&#8217;s about knowing that no day will ever look exactly the same, but somehow, it all works out in the end. &#9697;&#776; </p><p><em>(PSSSST: I challenge you to reflect on this question too! It was empowering to think of what *my* special sauce is, and we all have our <strong><a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/a-note-to-all-of-the-mothers">own unique magic!</a></strong>)</em> </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ZnI!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F070b3286-f596-437e-a48f-1a16cc24d355_1200x100.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ZnI!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F070b3286-f596-437e-a48f-1a16cc24d355_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ZnI!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F070b3286-f596-437e-a48f-1a16cc24d355_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ZnI!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F070b3286-f596-437e-a48f-1a16cc24d355_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ZnI!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F070b3286-f596-437e-a48f-1a16cc24d355_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ZnI!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F070b3286-f596-437e-a48f-1a16cc24d355_1200x100.png" width="1200" height="100" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/070b3286-f596-437e-a48f-1a16cc24d355_1200x100.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:100,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:9942,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ZnI!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F070b3286-f596-437e-a48f-1a16cc24d355_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ZnI!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F070b3286-f596-437e-a48f-1a16cc24d355_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ZnI!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F070b3286-f596-437e-a48f-1a16cc24d355_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1ZnI!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F070b3286-f596-437e-a48f-1a16cc24d355_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Okay, I know it sounds silly and too mundane, but something that genuinely stresses me out is the mental friction of&#8230;</p>
      <p>
          <a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/postpartum-update-the-highs-the-lows">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[And Then There Were Two...]]></title><description><![CDATA[my twin birth story&#128118;&#127995;&#128118;&#127995;]]></description><link>https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/and-then-there-were-two</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/and-then-there-were-two</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:00:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9bf492db-d1f8-4de3-aef6-c6f704c40246_3024x4032.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hellloooo, my friends!</p><p>It feels so good to pop in &#8220;live&#8221; amidst my pre-scheduled maternity leave posts&#8212;</p><p>Right now, it&#8217;s 8:37 PM on Sunday. I just finished breastfeeding the babies, my toddler is asleep, I poured a sparkling water into a wine glass (it just feels more fancy ok), and I feel that familiar pull to sit down at my laptop and let the words floooow...</p><p><em><strong>It&#8217;s birth story time.</strong></em></p><p>And, gosh, I am excited to capture this. </p><p>Reading, talking, and sharing birth stories has always been one of my favorite forms of content to consume&#8212; and create. </p><p>I firmly believe there&#8217;s something powerful about women sharing their birth experiences: learning from one another, hearing each unique journey, and seeing how beautifully different every birth can look.</p><p><strong>But what&#8217;s so fascinating is that every birth story is truly unique, yet I&#8217;m always able to find </strong><em><strong>something</strong></em><strong> relatable in every one I hear? Whether it&#8217;s a small detail, a particular mindset, an experience with a provider, or even a specific intervention received... </strong></p><p><strong>Each labor </strong><em><strong>is</strong></em><strong> one-of-a-kind, yet almost always contains at least one  relatable thread running through it.</strong></p><p>Birth is so potent.<br>So emotional. <br>So individual. <br>But yet, so connective.</p><p>And today, I am sharing <em>my </em>unique story.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UsLb!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F35e37c3d-0033-47c0-b39e-a398c5f896b2_1170x1440.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UsLb!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F35e37c3d-0033-47c0-b39e-a398c5f896b2_1170x1440.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UsLb!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F35e37c3d-0033-47c0-b39e-a398c5f896b2_1170x1440.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UsLb!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F35e37c3d-0033-47c0-b39e-a398c5f896b2_1170x1440.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UsLb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F35e37c3d-0033-47c0-b39e-a398c5f896b2_1170x1440.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UsLb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F35e37c3d-0033-47c0-b39e-a398c5f896b2_1170x1440.jpeg" width="458" height="563.6923076923077" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/35e37c3d-0033-47c0-b39e-a398c5f896b2_1170x1440.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1440,&quot;width&quot;:1170,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:458,&quot;bytes&quot;:553818,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UsLb!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F35e37c3d-0033-47c0-b39e-a398c5f896b2_1170x1440.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UsLb!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F35e37c3d-0033-47c0-b39e-a398c5f896b2_1170x1440.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UsLb!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F35e37c3d-0033-47c0-b39e-a398c5f896b2_1170x1440.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UsLb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F35e37c3d-0033-47c0-b39e-a398c5f896b2_1170x1440.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">having <em>two</em> babies placed on your chest&#8212; indescribable. </figcaption></figure></div><h2>Before we begin &#8212;</h2><p>As I just mentioned, *every* birth is different. </p><p>And, along with that, people have different preferences&#8212; some women feel empowered by a scheduled c-section, some feel empowered by a vaginal epidural birth, and some feel empowered by an unmedicated home birth. </p><p><em>Everyone goes into birth with their own view, and in this post I&#8217;m just sharing <strong>mine&#8212; </strong>as someone who is very drawn to natural, holistic, low-intervention birthing *and* really respects modern medicine and feels safest giving birth in a hospital.</em>  </p><p>So I ask that you just view this with openness to my unique experience and remember that yours can (and probably will!) be different.&nbsp;</p><p>Deal? Deal &#9697;&#776; </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A01l!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a6ffdb8-a5a8-4683-bd6f-4db976c991a9_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A01l!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a6ffdb8-a5a8-4683-bd6f-4db976c991a9_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A01l!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a6ffdb8-a5a8-4683-bd6f-4db976c991a9_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A01l!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a6ffdb8-a5a8-4683-bd6f-4db976c991a9_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A01l!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a6ffdb8-a5a8-4683-bd6f-4db976c991a9_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A01l!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a6ffdb8-a5a8-4683-bd6f-4db976c991a9_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/4a6ffdb8-a5a8-4683-bd6f-4db976c991a9_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3957,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A01l!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a6ffdb8-a5a8-4683-bd6f-4db976c991a9_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A01l!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a6ffdb8-a5a8-4683-bd6f-4db976c991a9_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A01l!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a6ffdb8-a5a8-4683-bd6f-4db976c991a9_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A01l!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a6ffdb8-a5a8-4683-bd6f-4db976c991a9_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><h2>&#127868; In this birth story, I&#8217;ll cover&#8230; </h2><ul><li><p>Finding out I was having twins, and how I *immediately* discovered that I could no longer birth with the midwife team I was established with</p></li><li><p>Letting go of the &#8220;ideal&#8221; birth plan and embracing a new reality of a high-risk pregnancy</p></li><li><p>The search for&#8212;and magic of&#8212; finding an incredible OB-GYN</p></li><li><p><strong>How being aware and informed of all the different interventions </strong><em><strong>empowered </strong></em><strong>me, not scared me.</strong></p></li><li><p>How twin labor stacked up against my first singleton unmedicated birth</p></li><li><p>The preterm labor scare that snuck up on me</p></li><li><p><strong>To epidural or not? Wrestling with my plan for pain management</strong></p></li><li><p>Navigating <em>weeks and weeks</em> of prodromal labor (hello, mind games)</p></li><li><p>Making it to the finish line at 37 weeks + 6 days with twins! </p></li><li><p><strong>The holistic tricks I used to </strong><em><strong>naturally</strong></em><strong> induce labor in one attempt</strong></p></li><li><p>That time my dilation stalled between 5-7 cm&#8230; for 11 hours straight&#129322;</p></li><li><p><strong>Balancing low-intervention hopes with trusting modern medicine </strong></p></li><li><p>What it was like to deliver in the operating room (all hospital twin births happen there, regardless of C-section or vaginal!) </p></li><li><p>Welcoming not one but TWO good-sized babes of 7.5 lbs each! </p></li><li><p><strong>My POSITIVE birth story. Despite having twins, I had a safe, smooth, and empowering delivery. I feel truly grateful to say that.</strong></p></li><li><p>Yet even with a wonderful birth, I still needed to processing labor afterwards and handle a few lingering &#8220;what ifs&#8221; and second guesses</p></li><li><p>But, ultimately, this post is about how I found a sense of empowerment and peace in a labor and pregnancy that was filled with worry and unknowns. </p><p></p></li></ul><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kawF!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e67ee28-7771-41e0-8d10-2c71f6eeefcd_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kawF!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e67ee28-7771-41e0-8d10-2c71f6eeefcd_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kawF!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e67ee28-7771-41e0-8d10-2c71f6eeefcd_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kawF!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e67ee28-7771-41e0-8d10-2c71f6eeefcd_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kawF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e67ee28-7771-41e0-8d10-2c71f6eeefcd_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kawF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e67ee28-7771-41e0-8d10-2c71f6eeefcd_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6e67ee28-7771-41e0-8d10-2c71f6eeefcd_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3071,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kawF!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e67ee28-7771-41e0-8d10-2c71f6eeefcd_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kawF!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e67ee28-7771-41e0-8d10-2c71f6eeefcd_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kawF!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e67ee28-7771-41e0-8d10-2c71f6eeefcd_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kawF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e67ee28-7771-41e0-8d10-2c71f6eeefcd_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3>Below, I will share the full story&#8212; both written and in  podcast version if you prefer to listen! &#127911;</h3><p><em>And please note&#8212;I have no intention of &#8220;gatekeeping&#8221; my birth story! I&#8217;ll definitely share the brief cliffnotes of my experience on my <strong><a href="https://instagram.com/kate.eskuri">Instagram</a></strong> story Q&amp;A sometime soon! As always, there is no pressure to keep reading &#9697;&#776; </em></p><p><em>This post is moreso a <strong>thorough</strong> peek behind the curtain for those of you that want the whole story&#8212; I am so thankful that the substack platform gives me a safe space to share in long-form writing *and* podcast style for those who prefer to listen.</em> </p><p>While this twin pregnancy had many twists and turns, I am grateful to say I had a very empowered, safe, and smooth delivery. </p><p>And below, we&#8217;ll dig into alllll of it! </p><h2>&#127911; Press play below to listen&#8230; </h2>
      <p>
          <a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/and-then-there-were-two">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[One Month to Go (Or Is It? 😅): The Final Pregnancy Q&A]]></title><description><![CDATA[all things 3rd trimester, birth plans, postpartum prep, & more!]]></description><link>https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/one-month-to-go-or-is-it-the-final</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/one-month-to-go-or-is-it-the-final</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:02:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e01b8b50-18ce-4fa0-9cdc-3fae5f2042ef_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Alright, here we are&#8212; the <em>final</em> pregnancy Q&amp;A. </p><p>I&#8217;m writing this from that unmistakable last stretch of pregnancy. People keep asking when I&#8217;m due&#8212; and technically, it&#8217;s still a month away&#8212; but with twins, due dates feel more like suggestions. &#129315;Twins often arrive early, and after a few preterm labor scares last month (it&#8217;s been so mentally exhausting, but we&#8217;re hanging on), I&#8217;ve been existing in such a potent &#8220;in-between&#8221; mindset.</p><blockquote><p><strong>It feels like I&#8217;m living in a liminal space&#8212;where, right now, life remains unchanged. </strong></p><p><strong>It&#8217;s normal. Steady. Ordinary.</strong></p><p><strong>Yet, </strong><em><strong>at any moment</strong></em><strong>, everything could shift, and our family structure will be forever changed in the most profound, lasting way. &#129401;</strong></p></blockquote><p>It&#8217;s beautiful. It&#8217;s stressful. It&#8217;s wild to process. </p><p>And, to be honest, it&#8217;s hard to know how to act. <br><em>Do I nest? <br>Do I rest?</em> <br><br>I&#8217;m just doing my best to take it day by day, and trust the timing of my babies and my body.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!14xh!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8e5fbd80-1ea1-49b7-b151-eef6112047be_1200x250.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!14xh!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8e5fbd80-1ea1-49b7-b151-eef6112047be_1200x250.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!14xh!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8e5fbd80-1ea1-49b7-b151-eef6112047be_1200x250.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!14xh!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8e5fbd80-1ea1-49b7-b151-eef6112047be_1200x250.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!14xh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8e5fbd80-1ea1-49b7-b151-eef6112047be_1200x250.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!14xh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8e5fbd80-1ea1-49b7-b151-eef6112047be_1200x250.png" width="598" height="124.58333333333333" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8e5fbd80-1ea1-49b7-b151-eef6112047be_1200x250.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:250,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:598,&quot;bytes&quot;:122903,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!14xh!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8e5fbd80-1ea1-49b7-b151-eef6112047be_1200x250.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!14xh!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8e5fbd80-1ea1-49b7-b151-eef6112047be_1200x250.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!14xh!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8e5fbd80-1ea1-49b7-b151-eef6112047be_1200x250.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!14xh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8e5fbd80-1ea1-49b7-b151-eef6112047be_1200x250.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">This text from a friend sums it up perfectly: &#9996;&#65039; Will they arrive in hours orrrrr in weeks? Honestly, both seem equally possible!</figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>But, before we step into this new chapter (whenever that may be!), I wanted to set aside some time to reflect on these final months of growing these beautiful twins and answer YOUR questions.</strong> </p><p>Paid subscribers submitted anonymous questions about this pregnancy, and today I&#8217;ll be answering them one-by-one. We&#8217;ll recap the third trimester, birth plans, postpartum tips, childcare thoughts, and alllllll the emotions as we get ready to welcome these twins&#8230; </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wymv!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbe0f81e-5350-49a9-91c4-5b8ed2ff2feb_1170x1396.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wymv!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbe0f81e-5350-49a9-91c4-5b8ed2ff2feb_1170x1396.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wymv!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbe0f81e-5350-49a9-91c4-5b8ed2ff2feb_1170x1396.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wymv!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbe0f81e-5350-49a9-91c4-5b8ed2ff2feb_1170x1396.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wymv!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbe0f81e-5350-49a9-91c4-5b8ed2ff2feb_1170x1396.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wymv!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbe0f81e-5350-49a9-91c4-5b8ed2ff2feb_1170x1396.jpeg" width="422" height="503.51452991452993" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/bbe0f81e-5350-49a9-91c4-5b8ed2ff2feb_1170x1396.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1396,&quot;width&quot;:1170,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:422,&quot;bytes&quot;:308281,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wymv!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbe0f81e-5350-49a9-91c4-5b8ed2ff2feb_1170x1396.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wymv!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbe0f81e-5350-49a9-91c4-5b8ed2ff2feb_1170x1396.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wymv!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbe0f81e-5350-49a9-91c4-5b8ed2ff2feb_1170x1396.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wymv!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbbe0f81e-5350-49a9-91c4-5b8ed2ff2feb_1170x1396.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" 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x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Please enjoy this self-timer iphone photo that I took in my bathroom  &#129315;</figcaption></figure></div><p>You guys loved the candid updates from <strong><a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/my-pregnancy-journal-a-peek-at-my">My Unedited Pregnancy Diary</a></strong> (it became my 4th most popular post ever?!), and today will serve as more of a tangible reflection on how I&#8217;ve been feeling and what we envision for postpartum.</p><p>I genuinely love sharing content like this! </p><p>&#8230;But as with all of my motherhood posts, I aim to keep it a reflection of <em>my</em> journey, <em>my</em> experiences, and <em>my</em> thoughts&#8212; instead of overly placing all of the focus on my children themselves, ya know?</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6KZL!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F42c8e217-4e53-4aa5-9302-5e70a7528189_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6KZL!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F42c8e217-4e53-4aa5-9302-5e70a7528189_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6KZL!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F42c8e217-4e53-4aa5-9302-5e70a7528189_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6KZL!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F42c8e217-4e53-4aa5-9302-5e70a7528189_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6KZL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F42c8e217-4e53-4aa5-9302-5e70a7528189_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6KZL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F42c8e217-4e53-4aa5-9302-5e70a7528189_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/42c8e217-4e53-4aa5-9302-5e70a7528189_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3957,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6KZL!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F42c8e217-4e53-4aa5-9302-5e70a7528189_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6KZL!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F42c8e217-4e53-4aa5-9302-5e70a7528189_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6KZL!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F42c8e217-4e53-4aa5-9302-5e70a7528189_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6KZL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F42c8e217-4e53-4aa5-9302-5e70a7528189_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><h4><strong>&#11015;&#65039; So, in that spirit, today I&#8217;ll be recapping some of *my* thoughts as I navigate the final stages of pregnancy. Let&#8217;s get into it! </strong></h4><ul><li><p>What I&#8217;m packing in my hospital bag (annnnd what I&#8217;m not)</p></li><li><p>What my &#8220;maternity leave&#8221; as a small business owner will look like, and what I&#8217;ve done to prepare for it.</p></li><li><p>A quick check-in on how I&#8217;m doing&#8212;mentally, physically, logistically, spiritually&#8230;</p></li><li><p>Childcare thoughts: juggling three little ones under three in the U.S. will be an adventure! Here&#8217;s what we&#8217;re thinking&#8230;</p></li><li><p>What I anticipate will be the biggest difference of being postpartum with twins&nbsp;compared to our singleton.</p></li><li><p>While I&#8217;ve gradually processed my &#8220;birth plan&#8221; in the previous pregnancy Q&amp;As, I am finally feeling a sense of clarity and peace around it..</p></li><li><p>Tangible ways we&#8217;re helping our toddler transition (honestly, I&#8217;m winging it&#8212; but I&#8217;m here to share my thoughts!)</p></li><li><p>My vision, hopes, <em>and </em>apprehensions about breastfeeding TWO babies</p></li><li><p>My top tips for HOW to prepare for postpartum (getting very specific!)</p></li></ul><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jUv-!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F89e995bc-577d-4585-b998-2275704fe2d6_1170x1481.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jUv-!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F89e995bc-577d-4585-b998-2275704fe2d6_1170x1481.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jUv-!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F89e995bc-577d-4585-b998-2275704fe2d6_1170x1481.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jUv-!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F89e995bc-577d-4585-b998-2275704fe2d6_1170x1481.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jUv-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F89e995bc-577d-4585-b998-2275704fe2d6_1170x1481.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jUv-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F89e995bc-577d-4585-b998-2275704fe2d6_1170x1481.jpeg" width="374" height="473.4136752136752" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/89e995bc-577d-4585-b998-2275704fe2d6_1170x1481.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1481,&quot;width&quot;:1170,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:374,&quot;bytes&quot;:617908,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jUv-!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F89e995bc-577d-4585-b998-2275704fe2d6_1170x1481.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jUv-!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F89e995bc-577d-4585-b998-2275704fe2d6_1170x1481.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jUv-!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F89e995bc-577d-4585-b998-2275704fe2d6_1170x1481.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jUv-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F89e995bc-577d-4585-b998-2275704fe2d6_1170x1481.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h2><em><strong>Q: &#8220;What are you packing in your hospital bag? I&#8217;m a first-time mom, and I am so torn on how much I&#8217;ll actually need!&#8221;</strong></em></h2><p>For this one, I&#8217;m starting with a little intro on my philosophy around hospital bags <em>(hint: I think most people bring way too much)</em>, and then I&#8217;ll share a rapid-fire list of what I&#8217;m bringing&#8212; <em>and</em> what I&#8217;m leaving behind.</p>
      <p>
          <a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/one-month-to-go-or-is-it-the-final">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[📝 My Pregnancy Journal: A Peek At My Unfiltered Thoughts...]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Surprising Details You Haven&#8217;t Heard]]></description><link>https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/my-pregnancy-journal-a-peek-at-my</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/my-pregnancy-journal-a-peek-at-my</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 Aug 2024 23:46:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f72e49d9-8866-4fa0-9ed1-6146cb941a63_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Something about me&#8212; <br>I. am. <em>nostalgic.</em></p><p>Since a young age, I&#8217;ve strived to &#8220;capture&#8221; different stages of life and reflect on past seasons&#8212;reading old journals, flipping through photos, daydreaming about past experiences. It&#8217;s cheesy, but it truly allows me to connect with the various versions of myself and how I was feeling at <em>specific</em> points in time.</p><p><strong>And, lately, I&#8217;ve been channeling that nostalgia by writing down my random thoughts throughout this pregnancy in a sort of &#8220;journal.&#8221; </strong></p><p><em><strong>(AKA&#8230;. jotting sporadic insights into a random notes app on my phone. #Fancy)</strong></em></p><p>Honestly? Reading back on the entries for this twin current pregnancy has me feeling somewhat nostalgic for an experience I am <em>actively living.</em> </p><blockquote><p>Because while this has been ONE pregnancy, it has also included manyyyy different stages&#8212; full of twists and turns, major highs and lows, joy and anxiety, and so much in-between: </p></blockquote><ul><li><p>The two-week wait &amp; the confusing emotions that often come with that</p></li><li><p>The EARLIEST of symptoms, and the omg moment of finding out we're pregnant! (and why I was covered in <em>someone else&#8217;s </em>vomit 45 minutes after finding out.)</p></li><li><p>Balancing the joy &amp; gratitude of pregnancy with the <em>very</em> low lows of first trimester</p></li><li><p>Discovering it's twins (!!!) and a real-time documentation of the small signs, symptoms, and dreams that led me to believe there were 2&#8230;</p></li><li><p>Tackling the logistics: nesting, prepping, and all the considerations that have gone into expanding our family</p></li><li><p>Quick, lighthearted notes of times I was a hormonal MESS at random moments (if you don&#8217;t laugh, you&#8217;ll cry &#129315; &#8230;literally.) </p></li><li><p>Processing that my birth will likely have to look VERY different from my first unmedicated, midwife birth which I had loved&#8212;  finding the peace in a birth plan that will likely have to shift. </p></li><li><p>Navigating the <em>major </em>body changes of this double pregnancy.</p></li><li><p>Alllll the emotions&#8212; joy &amp; gratitude for these babies, frustration &amp; anxiety around health challenges, excitement &amp; nerves about the changes to come.</p></li><li><p>Managing the health anxiety, countless appointments, IV infusions, unexpected concerns, hospital stays, and more that have come with this higher-risk pregnancy.</p></li><li><p>All the way through the second trimester, third trimester, and into the great unknown&#8212;</p></li></ul><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IBF-!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0da1ea93-e755-4a14-993e-4c25f9206af5_3024x4032.png 424w, 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stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h2>&#8230;.Basically, if I had a thought, I jotted it down.</h2><p>And while I have been sharing about my experience in a more thorough, longer-form, and formal manner (you can read past motherhood posts <strong><a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/t/motherhood">here</a></strong>!), this is is more of <em>a peek in my brain </em>during this pregnancy<em>&#8212;</em> super honest, off-the-cuff, quick thoughts that have come to mind during this journey.</p><blockquote><p><strong>Some entries are lighthearted, some are quippy, some are emotional&#8230; it&#8217;s just a mix of all my different thoughts about pregnancy, motherhood, having twins, logistics, emotions, and more.</strong></p></blockquote><p>You will notice some redundancies, typos, etc., because I didn&#8217;t edit these at all&#8212; they are my real, true, off-the-cuff pregnancy thoughts (including the MANY premonitions I had about having twins! It was honestly wild to read back and see just <em>how</em> often I mentioned it before it was confirmed). </p><p>While I&#8217;m not sharing every single entry, I <em>am</em> sharing about 90% of them in the spirit of giving you an honest glimpse &amp; some behind-the-scenes photos into this pregnancy so far. Let&#8217;s jump in&#8212; </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Jrx!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec93106b-bf99-46c8-aac9-cadf5fbe6bf9_1170x1197.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Jrx!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec93106b-bf99-46c8-aac9-cadf5fbe6bf9_1170x1197.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Jrx!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec93106b-bf99-46c8-aac9-cadf5fbe6bf9_1170x1197.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Jrx!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec93106b-bf99-46c8-aac9-cadf5fbe6bf9_1170x1197.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Jrx!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec93106b-bf99-46c8-aac9-cadf5fbe6bf9_1170x1197.jpeg" width="550" height="562.6923076923077" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ec93106b-bf99-46c8-aac9-cadf5fbe6bf9_1170x1197.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1197,&quot;width&quot;:1170,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:550,&quot;bytes&quot;:1178462,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Jrx!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec93106b-bf99-46c8-aac9-cadf5fbe6bf9_1170x1197.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Jrx!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec93106b-bf99-46c8-aac9-cadf5fbe6bf9_1170x1197.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Jrx!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec93106b-bf99-46c8-aac9-cadf5fbe6bf9_1170x1197.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0Jrx!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec93106b-bf99-46c8-aac9-cadf5fbe6bf9_1170x1197.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Even though the size of my bump may say otherwise (&#128517;), I have nearly 2 months until my actual due date. That said, twins often arrive early so I&#8217;ve been <em>trying</em> to surround myself with positive birthing &amp; labor energy ahead of time &#10024;&#128330; <em>(I&#8217;m definitely more nervous about this upcoming labor than my first! So many unknowns and different possibilities, but my main prayer will always be for healthy momma &amp; 2 healthy babies.)</em> </figcaption></figure></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wg2X!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9a5ab5b-e088-4d28-ada4-1af5960cab69_1200x100.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wg2X!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9a5ab5b-e088-4d28-ada4-1af5960cab69_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wg2X!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9a5ab5b-e088-4d28-ada4-1af5960cab69_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wg2X!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9a5ab5b-e088-4d28-ada4-1af5960cab69_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wg2X!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9a5ab5b-e088-4d28-ada4-1af5960cab69_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wg2X!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9a5ab5b-e088-4d28-ada4-1af5960cab69_1200x100.png" width="1200" height="100" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a9a5ab5b-e088-4d28-ada4-1af5960cab69_1200x100.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:100,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6030,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wg2X!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9a5ab5b-e088-4d28-ada4-1af5960cab69_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wg2X!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9a5ab5b-e088-4d28-ada4-1af5960cab69_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wg2X!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9a5ab5b-e088-4d28-ada4-1af5960cab69_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Wg2X!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9a5ab5b-e088-4d28-ada4-1af5960cab69_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><ul><li><p>&#8220;Peeing on ovulation strips every day &amp; yesterday was my LH spike. today, I woke up to a pinchy cramp near left ovary. Egg release time?!?!?! &#129321;&#8221;</p></li><li><p><strong>&#8220;</strong>VERY crampy uterus. Definitely more than with my normal cycle.&#8221; </p></li><li><p>&#8220;gurgling / bubbly feeling in my womb&#8212; rising progesterone ?!&#8221;</p></li><li><p><strong>&#8220;had a dream that the orb of light I&#8217;ve been seeing in my dream &#8220;split&#8221; into two. It felt WEIRDLY vivid. like, it was a sign or something hahah. Am I having TWINS?! &#129392;&#129322;&#128561;&#8221;</strong></p></li><li><p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t have the basal body temp spike I was hoping for&#8230; &#128532; but LOTS of gurgling in womb. Also not wanting coffee that much and kind of grossed out by foods??? I know it&#8217;s too early for these symptoms but that&#8217;s genuinely how im feeling. Weird.&#8221;</p></li><li><p>&#8220;temp spike this AM &#129321;&#129321;&#129321;&#129321;&#129321;&#8221;</p></li><li><p>&#8220;temp spike again!!!!! Omg I&#8217;ve been waiting for this, it&#8217;s a different chart than my normal cycle so I feel like I could be?!?!&#8221;</p></li><li><p>&#8220;another night dreaming of the 2 orbs of light&#8230; &#128064;  I told Adam first thing when I woke up that I think we may be having twins hahahaha. Couldn&#8217;t be me jumping to conclusions &amp; going 0 to 100!!!!! &#128129;&#127995;&#8205;&#9792;&#65039;&#8221;</p></li><li><p><strong>&#8220;Potential early signs of pregnancy?</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>very tender boobs</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>increase in BO&nbsp;(i&#8230;. reek.)</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>wine doesn&#8217;t sound very good (who is she?!???!)</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>wanting taco John&#8217;s potato oles (with extra queso, hahaha)</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>&#8230;I wouldn&#8217;t have symptoms this early would I?!&#8221;</strong></p></li></ul></li><li><p>&#8220;tonsssssss of chills the last few days. I am FREEZING. also foods still sound kind of weird?&#8221;</p></li><li><p><strong>&#8220;Gosh, the two week wait is soooooo all-consuming &amp; mind-boggling as you are constantly *thinking* about if you&#8217;re pregnancy, but you don&#8217;t even actually know yet if you are or aren&#8217;t.&#8221;</strong></p></li><li><p>&#8220;I know this sounds insane, but I already feel somewhat nauseous and food aversions????? Like is my body THAT sensitive to HCG??? how could this be happening before I even (if even) I get a positive? I can&#8217;t even finish one cup of coffee, I almost threw up when I saw Miles scrambled eggs today, &amp; I am&#8230; still craving taco john&#8217;s &#128518; We shall seeeeeeee. If not, I think I need to schedule a doctors appt &#129315;&#8221;</p></li><li><p>&#8220;I am such a nutcase and start testing for pregnancy at like 5 days post-ovulation. like, kate, it&#8217;s <em>not</em> going to be positive. but yet, I can&#8217;t resist. WHY AM I LIKE THIS.&#8221;</p></li><li><p><strong>&#8220;Today I learned that midwife translates to &#8220;with woman&#8221;. Which I find sooo beautiful. gosh, I love pregnancy and birth and all the things.&#8221;</strong>&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>&#8220;like, I SERIOUSLY feel so weirdly nauseous. Already. That defies all logic. It&#8217;s not twins&#8230;. Is it?!&#8221;</p></li></ul><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rf7V!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F05efbaab-8c96-430b-bba8-e36e007d8f91_1200x100.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rf7V!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F05efbaab-8c96-430b-bba8-e36e007d8f91_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rf7V!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F05efbaab-8c96-430b-bba8-e36e007d8f91_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rf7V!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F05efbaab-8c96-430b-bba8-e36e007d8f91_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rf7V!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F05efbaab-8c96-430b-bba8-e36e007d8f91_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rf7V!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F05efbaab-8c96-430b-bba8-e36e007d8f91_1200x100.png" width="1200" height="100" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/05efbaab-8c96-430b-bba8-e36e007d8f91_1200x100.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:100,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:9708,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rf7V!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F05efbaab-8c96-430b-bba8-e36e007d8f91_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rf7V!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F05efbaab-8c96-430b-bba8-e36e007d8f91_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rf7V!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F05efbaab-8c96-430b-bba8-e36e007d8f91_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rf7V!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F05efbaab-8c96-430b-bba8-e36e007d8f91_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><ul><li><p>&#8220;Just had an overnight with to celebrate my friend&#8217;s belated 30th and felt the need to play it soooo safe&#8212; no wine, I skipped sauna, etc. because I just FEEL like I could be pregnant??? I HOPE I am pregnant??? but obviously don&#8217;t know yet. Gosh, the in-between is tricky.&#8221;</p></li><li><p>&#8220;tested this AM &amp; really thought it&#8217;d be positive. Nope. too early :( but I really feel like I am!!!!&#8221;</p></li><li><p> <strong>&#8220;Okay, after this morning, I was being so stubborn and kept testing &amp; testing on 6 different tests (I am&#8230;. insane?) and they were all negative but I. JUST. KNEW. Today was the day. I stubbornly drove into town to Walgreens for a the fanciest of fancy tests, and&#8230;. it&#8217;s positive! Adam and I found out in the bathroom together, and it was such a sweet moment. Miles was sleeping in the next room so we were like whispering and quietly yelling, hahaha. The faintest baby line everrrrr but it&#8217;s THERE!!!! </strong><em><strong>6</strong></em><strong> days before my missed period (!), but we </strong><em><strong>are</strong></em><strong> pregnant &#129401;&#129401;&#129401; gosh, i&#8217;m so excited. this feels really right.&#8221;</strong></p><p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XNS!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ceb377d-2ae7-4337-a274-ae99bf7c5c61_1100x300.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XNS!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ceb377d-2ae7-4337-a274-ae99bf7c5c61_1100x300.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XNS!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ceb377d-2ae7-4337-a274-ae99bf7c5c61_1100x300.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XNS!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ceb377d-2ae7-4337-a274-ae99bf7c5c61_1100x300.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XNS!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ceb377d-2ae7-4337-a274-ae99bf7c5c61_1100x300.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XNS!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ceb377d-2ae7-4337-a274-ae99bf7c5c61_1100x300.png" width="1100" height="300" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/2ceb377d-2ae7-4337-a274-ae99bf7c5c61_1100x300.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:300,&quot;width&quot;:1100,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:307601,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XNS!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ceb377d-2ae7-4337-a274-ae99bf7c5c61_1100x300.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XNS!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ceb377d-2ae7-4337-a274-ae99bf7c5c61_1100x300.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XNS!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ceb377d-2ae7-4337-a274-ae99bf7c5c61_1100x300.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XNS!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ceb377d-2ae7-4337-a274-ae99bf7c5c61_1100x300.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">the best moment. it&#8217;s crazy how your whole life can feel changed in an INSTANT. </figcaption></figure></div><p></p></li><li><p>&#8220;LOLOLOL. We found out I was pregnant during miles&#8217; naptime. Went to wake him up &amp; thought it would be such a beautiful moment of telling him he&#8217;ll be a big brother, buuuut now I&#8217;m covered in vomit. my poor baby had had his first true stomach bug and is throwing up :( :( :(  Immediately into the bath for snuggles &amp; warm water with mama. t&#8217;was NOT the hallmark moment I envisioned, but alas, <em>this</em> is parenthood.&#8221;</p></li><li><p><strong>&#8220;it&#8217;s crazy how you go from being so excited to instantly being anxious about the baby being safe and healthy. early pregnancy is such a ride. a rotating cycle of gratitude and anxiety.&#8221;</strong></p></li><li><p>&#8220;hahahah, OF COURSE my sister and best friend have somehow <em>already </em>texted me saying &#8220;i have a feeling you&#8217;re pregnant&#8221; and i just found I was pregnant like 2 seconds ago, hahahahha. amazing &#129392; i love how in tune they are. Baby is already being surrounded by love!&#8221; </p></li><li><p>&#8220;just realized it&#8217;s day 22 of my cycle &#129401; my lucky angel number on the day we found out. Hi, grandma pat&#128155;&#8221;</p></li><li><p><strong>&#8220;I am in awe. I can&#8217;t believe it. But yet I totally can. It just feels so right. our family is growing! My gut instinct is that it&#8217;s totally a girl. Like I feel quite clear it&#8217;s is a girl in there. but&#8230;.. I should say at least one girl, hahah. because I also feel like it could also be twins??? I know I keep saying that, but I&#8217;m honestly not kidding??? That feels crazy to type. I&#8217;ve just had this nagging feeling and the VIVID orb of light dreams and just this </strong><em><strong>feeling </strong></em><strong>that there&#8217;s more than one in there. Ahhhh!!! I don&#8217;t exactly know how we&#8217;d process that, but if that&#8217;s our story&#8212; that&#8217;s our story &amp; we will handle it &amp; roll with it &amp; enjoy it &#128155;  but regardless, WOWOWOW. Even one baby&#8212; such a gift. I am in awe. I feel in shock. I&#8217;m pregnant again! Thank you, God!!!!!!&#8221;</strong> </p></li><li><p>&#8220;Update&#8212; Adam now has the same stomach bug as Miles. Both boys are puking like crazy. And now I&#8217;m spiraling because I don&#8217;t want to get sick and potentially cause harm to the baby&#8212; I&#8217;m SO early and I know an illness or fever could impact things. ahhhhh. And, tbh, it has been weirdly a bit triggering for me to see the puke buckets&#8212; it&#8217;s reminding me of how 1st tri felt for me last time. like months &amp; months of endless stomach flu. ugh. I&#8217;m so curious how I will feel this time around. I am so confused if all the nausea and aversions I&#8217;ve been experiencing are pregnancy related or this stomach bug?? My symptoms have been different from Ads &amp; Moe so I think it&#8217;s more pregnancy but it also seems so ridiculously early to be experiencing that&#8230;? idk. We&#8217;ll see. &#8221;</p></li></ul><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PEg9!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffe34dc6a-5c51-427e-8bfa-efdde4f009a0_1200x100.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PEg9!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffe34dc6a-5c51-427e-8bfa-efdde4f009a0_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PEg9!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffe34dc6a-5c51-427e-8bfa-efdde4f009a0_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PEg9!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffe34dc6a-5c51-427e-8bfa-efdde4f009a0_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PEg9!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffe34dc6a-5c51-427e-8bfa-efdde4f009a0_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PEg9!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffe34dc6a-5c51-427e-8bfa-efdde4f009a0_1200x100.png" width="1200" height="100" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/fe34dc6a-5c51-427e-8bfa-efdde4f009a0_1200x100.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:100,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:5264,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PEg9!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffe34dc6a-5c51-427e-8bfa-efdde4f009a0_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PEg9!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffe34dc6a-5c51-427e-8bfa-efdde4f009a0_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PEg9!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffe34dc6a-5c51-427e-8bfa-efdde4f009a0_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PEg9!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffe34dc6a-5c51-427e-8bfa-efdde4f009a0_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><ul><li><p>&#8220;Gosh, I get so anxious in early pregnancy. Like, I&#8217;m so giddy but also aware that so many things can happen&#8230; whew. deep breath. one day at a time. but gosh this early first trimester can be so all-consuming mentally.&#8221;</p></li><li><p><strong>&#8220;Pregnancy apps are wild because you&#8217;re working out and blasting Cardi B and meanwhile it&#8217;s like &#8216;hey your baby&#8217;s neural tube is forming right now&#8217;.&#8221;</strong></p></li><li><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m psycho but prediction SHE will be coming this fall. I literally KNOW it&#8217;s there&#8217;s a girl in there. Well, at least one girl. Hahahahha.&#8221;</p></li><li><p>&#8220;okay&#8230;.so&#8230;. Did an HCG blood test, and they were looking for my lab value to at least double in 48 hours, and it&#8230;&#8230; MULTIPLIED BY 5?!?!?!? okay, now I am REALLY wondering about twins?!?!?!?! Regardless, so so so happy to see my hcg rising and all signs point to a positive pregnancy. Thank you, god!&#8221;</p></li><li><p>&#8220;I have been a LOT more emotional, weepy, on edge than I remember being in my pregnancy with Miles. Like&#8230;. I just cried during a Subaru commercial???? Send help.&#8221;</p></li></ul><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zi9t!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1794d6ca-29f1-49f6-a729-4607ee94cf05_1200x100.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zi9t!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1794d6ca-29f1-49f6-a729-4607ee94cf05_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zi9t!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1794d6ca-29f1-49f6-a729-4607ee94cf05_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zi9t!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1794d6ca-29f1-49f6-a729-4607ee94cf05_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zi9t!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1794d6ca-29f1-49f6-a729-4607ee94cf05_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zi9t!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1794d6ca-29f1-49f6-a729-4607ee94cf05_1200x100.png" width="1200" height="100" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/1794d6ca-29f1-49f6-a729-4607ee94cf05_1200x100.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:100,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4272,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zi9t!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1794d6ca-29f1-49f6-a729-4607ee94cf05_1200x100.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zi9t!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1794d6ca-29f1-49f6-a729-4607ee94cf05_1200x100.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zi9t!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1794d6ca-29f1-49f6-a729-4607ee94cf05_1200x100.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zi9t!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1794d6ca-29f1-49f6-a729-4607ee94cf05_1200x100.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><ul><li><p>It&#8217;s still early, but here are the differences I&#8217;ve noticed between this and my first pregnancy&#8212; <br></p></li></ul>
      <p>
          <a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/my-pregnancy-journal-a-peek-at-my">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[24 Holistic Things I Do During Pregnancy 🌱]]></title><description><![CDATA[simple and natural practices for a healthy pregnancy]]></description><link>https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/24-holistic-things-i-do-during-pregnancy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/24-holistic-things-i-do-during-pregnancy</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jul 2024 14:31:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/4cc18075-918e-407b-8aeb-922d5b690f37_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>While summer festivities bustle around me, <em>my</em> whole world feels a lot more inward&#8230;</p><p><strong>Pretty much everything I am doing lately revolves around this pregnancy, growing these twins, preparing for maternity leave, and nesting.</strong> </p><p> I have been sharing bits &amp; pieces of my pregnancy journey with you guys (as always, you can find all of my<a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/archive"> </a><strong><a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/archive">recent posts here</a></strong>!). </p><p><strong>However, I haven't yet discussed the holistic habits I implement during pregnancy to promote overall health for me, my babies, and my mental, physical, and emotional well-being.</strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MV0A!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3b276074-1817-4309-a054-ad71b867d70f_1169x1524.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MV0A!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3b276074-1817-4309-a054-ad71b867d70f_1169x1524.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MV0A!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3b276074-1817-4309-a054-ad71b867d70f_1169x1524.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MV0A!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3b276074-1817-4309-a054-ad71b867d70f_1169x1524.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MV0A!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3b276074-1817-4309-a054-ad71b867d70f_1169x1524.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MV0A!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3b276074-1817-4309-a054-ad71b867d70f_1169x1524.jpeg" width="402" height="524.0786997433704" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3b276074-1817-4309-a054-ad71b867d70f_1169x1524.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1524,&quot;width&quot;:1169,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:402,&quot;bytes&quot;:574399,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MV0A!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3b276074-1817-4309-a054-ad71b867d70f_1169x1524.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MV0A!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3b276074-1817-4309-a054-ad71b867d70f_1169x1524.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MV0A!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3b276074-1817-4309-a054-ad71b867d70f_1169x1524.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MV0A!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3b276074-1817-4309-a054-ad71b867d70f_1169x1524.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">I remember thinking that my twin bump was so big already when this was taken at 18 weeks pregnant. Oh, you sweet, silly, naive little girl&#8230; &#129315;</figcaption></figure></div><p>I won&#8217;t lie&#8212; pregnancy can be very challenging, both mentally and physically. In fact, this twin pregnancy has been quuuuite tough and uncomfortable for me in a variety of ways. </p><h3><strong>&#10024;&#128118;&#127995; But, even still, there </strong><em><strong>are</strong></em><strong> so many little things you can do to really make a difference in your health during pregnancy, and I&#8217;m sharing all of it today.</strong>&nbsp;</h3><p>A quick disclaimer: As a registered nurse with a doctorate degree who is ALSO a lover of &#8220;crunchy&#8221; hacks, I pride myself on striking a balance between allopathic medicine and holistic modalities. <em><strong>I love natural remedies, but I am in no way against modern medicine!</strong></em> I&#8217;m going to my OB appointments, I&#8217;m giving birth in a hospital, and *also* I&#8217;m doing a handful of holistic things to ease discomfort, prepare for labor, and stay healthy in pregnancy.&nbsp;</p><p>Despite what our hyper-polarized world likes to say, <strong>both</strong> approaches can happen in tandem.</p><p>Not to mention, <em>everyone&#8217;s </em>experience with fertility, pregnancy, labor, and motherhood is different, and this is just MY experience. I never consider my approach to be the sole &#8220;correct&#8221; way&#8212; as always on <strong><a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/">The Reset</a></strong>,<strong> </strong>you do you!</p><p>So, with all of that being said, let&#8217;s dive in!&nbsp;(The first 4 tips are open to everyone, but the full post of ALL 24 tips is for paid subs only)</p><h3>#1 Daily Collagen Supplementation</h3><p>We all know that collagen is amazing for connective tissue within the body (think skin, hair, nails, gut health, strong joints&#8212; all the things!)</p><p>... and that also includes the amniotic sac!  </p><p>Most people don&#8217;t realize that collagen is a huge building block of the &#8220;bag of waters&#8221; in pregnancy, and some studies show that decreased levels of collagen <strong><a href="https://academic.oup.com/biolreprod/article/72/1/230/2667339">may be a potential factor</a></strong> in PROM (premature rupture of membranes). </p><p><strong>So, in both my pregnancies, I have supplemental collagen daily! </strong>I keep it really simple&#8212; I just froth a scoop of <strong><a href="https://a.co/d/hykAKz9">this*</a></strong> into my morning coffee &amp; add it to any smoothies I have. That&#8217;s it! </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HqYN!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e0174b3-f127-45ee-984b-e65d02c13903_1170x1532.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HqYN!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e0174b3-f127-45ee-984b-e65d02c13903_1170x1532.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HqYN!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e0174b3-f127-45ee-984b-e65d02c13903_1170x1532.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HqYN!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e0174b3-f127-45ee-984b-e65d02c13903_1170x1532.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HqYN!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e0174b3-f127-45ee-984b-e65d02c13903_1170x1532.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HqYN!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e0174b3-f127-45ee-984b-e65d02c13903_1170x1532.jpeg" width="544" height="712.3145299145299" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6e0174b3-f127-45ee-984b-e65d02c13903_1170x1532.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1532,&quot;width&quot;:1170,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:544,&quot;bytes&quot;:317322,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HqYN!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e0174b3-f127-45ee-984b-e65d02c13903_1170x1532.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HqYN!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e0174b3-f127-45ee-984b-e65d02c13903_1170x1532.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HqYN!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e0174b3-f127-45ee-984b-e65d02c13903_1170x1532.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HqYN!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6e0174b3-f127-45ee-984b-e65d02c13903_1170x1532.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">1 scoop of collagen mixed in with my morning cup o&#8217; joe  is a pregnancy ritual I feel good about! </figcaption></figure></div><p>While this is anecdotal, one of my OB care providers asked me if I had consumed collagen in my first pregnancy as my amniotic sac was&#8230; um, apparently <em>very</em> intact. &#129315; In fact, the doctor who popped my waters told me it was one of the hardest-to-break bags she&#8217;d ever had! </p><p>So, with the twins, I am being extra diligent about my collagen as PROM can be more common in a multiples pregnancy. Admittedly, I wasn&#8217;t great about it the first half of pregnancy while I was facing hyperemesis, but I am getting back to it!  </p><p>Of course, I don&#8217;t think daily collagen (or anything) is ever going to magically ~guarantee~ strong bags of water, but I figure it can&#8217;t hurt. </p><p>And&#8212; bonus&#8212; I genuinely feel like it helped the connective tissue of my skin stretch to accommodate the bump, as well!!&nbsp;</p><h2>#2 Utilizing a birthing ball: </h2><p>During my last pregnancy, I was working full-time in a corporate role and was trapped behind a desk for 40+ hours per week. </p><p>Because of this, I swapped out my desk chair for a birthing ball and used it for hours each day&#8212; to sit on, to do pelvic tilts, hip circles, etc. </p><p><strong>And while it intuitively just felt lovely, there is actually quite a bit of data supporting birthing balls in both pregnancy and labor:</strong> </p><ul><li><p><strong>DECREASED C-SECTION RATE:</strong> Utilizing an birthing ball throughout the final 4-6 weeks of pregnancy resulted in increased liklihood of vaginal birth and decreased c-section rate compared to control <strong><a href="https://jmrh.mums.ac.ir/?_action=articleInfo&amp;article=3562">(source)</a></strong></p></li><li><p><strong>DECREASED PAIN:</strong> Birthing mothers using the exercise ball was correlated with decreased pain during labor <strong><a href="https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jog.12802">(source)</a></strong></p></li><li><p><strong>MAY IMPROVE FETAL POSITIONING:</strong> Completing pelvic rocking on a birth ball was correlated with increased proper head-tuck in the infant, longitudal positioning, and head down placement. <strong><a href="http://repository.lppm.unila.ac.id/14892/">(Source)</a></strong></p></li><li><p><strong>SHORTER LABOR DURATION:</strong> While this study is small, it demonstrated that more time doing birthing ball exercises was correlated with a shorter labor. <strong><a href="https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/FullText/2017/07000/Outcomes_of_Exercise_Training_Following_the_Use_of.23.aspx">(source</a>)</strong></p></li></ul><p>Whether you are in a desk job or not, investing in a birth ball for your pregnancy is a cost-effective, non-pharmacological method that may support pelvic comfort, proper positioning, and improved labor outcomes! I personally loved mine. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cHcQ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F69e71ace-90ee-4858-9208-fca136eb2580_1170x1223.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cHcQ!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F69e71ace-90ee-4858-9208-fca136eb2580_1170x1223.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cHcQ!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F69e71ace-90ee-4858-9208-fca136eb2580_1170x1223.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cHcQ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F69e71ace-90ee-4858-9208-fca136eb2580_1170x1223.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cHcQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F69e71ace-90ee-4858-9208-fca136eb2580_1170x1223.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cHcQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F69e71ace-90ee-4858-9208-fca136eb2580_1170x1223.jpeg" width="454" height="474.565811965812" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/69e71ace-90ee-4858-9208-fca136eb2580_1170x1223.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1223,&quot;width&quot;:1170,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:454,&quot;bytes&quot;:489095,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cHcQ!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F69e71ace-90ee-4858-9208-fca136eb2580_1170x1223.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cHcQ!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F69e71ace-90ee-4858-9208-fca136eb2580_1170x1223.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cHcQ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F69e71ace-90ee-4858-9208-fca136eb2580_1170x1223.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cHcQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F69e71ace-90ee-4858-9208-fca136eb2580_1170x1223.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Annnnnd we are officially poppin&#8217; buttons, team. I&#8217;m not even in my 3rd trimester yet, but I am nearly measuring &#8220;full term&#8221; for a singleton pregnancy size-wise! So wild. </figcaption></figure></div><h2>#3 Taking a quality prenatal </h2><p>One thing that I have researched tirelessly was finding the <em>best</em> possible prenatal I could. </p><p>And, guys? My search. was. exhausting.</p><p><strong>There are just SO many options out there, and, quite frankly, many of them are just&#8230; not great</strong>. Unfortunately, many prenatals on the market are cheaply made, crafted with synthetic fillers, artificial ingredients, and vitamins &amp; minerals that aren&#8217;t readily available and easily used by your body&#8230;</p><p>But, after endless research, I finally found what I was looking for&#8212; </p><p><strong>Insert: <a href="http://perelelhealth.sjv.io/k0eBAV">Perelel</a> (not sponsored, but sharing an affiliate link!)</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>They&#8217;re the first (and one of the only!) prenatals founded by OBGYNs</strong>, who designed each formulation with current clinical data, bioavailable formulations, and evidence-backed ingredients.</p></li><li><p><strong>Every product is </strong><em><strong>triple-tested </strong></em><strong>for safety, purity, and quality.</strong>&nbsp;They do raw-material testing, production testing, <em>and</em> third-party testing (You, guys&#8230; I can&#8217;t express how RARE this is in the unregulated supplement world!), </p></li><li><p><strong>AND their ingredients are formulated to each stage of pregnancy</strong>: For example, they give you extra folate in the 1st trimester while crucial neural tube development is occurring. There is so much I could say, but to sum it up&#8212; their prenatal formulations are by far the most bioavailable and comprehensive I have seen. </p></li></ul><p>That said, I was a bit weary at first because they <em>are</em> more expensive&#8212; but then I realized I was not only getting a quality, bioavailable prenatal, but also additional supplements that would benefit my pregnancy in each packet (for example, it&#8217;s not <em>just </em>the prenatal, it includes other supplements like DHA/EPA fish oil, probiotics, magnesium, etc.)</p><p><strong>HOW I PERSONALLY USED THEM:</strong> My husband and I took their <strong><a href="http://perelelhealth.sjv.io/752jK5">male pre-conception pack</a></strong> &amp; <strong><a href="http://perelelhealth.sjv.io/m5AW1O">female conception set</a></strong> in the months leading up to trying to optimize our sperm and egg health, then I took their <strong><a href="http://perelelhealth.sjv.io/daQ1E2">1st trimester pack</a></strong> (<em>when </em>I was able to with hyperemesis&#8230;&#128517;), transitioned into their <strong><a href="http://perelelhealth.sjv.io/q4Jbog">2nd tri pack</a> </strong>really diligently, and will soon be using their <strong><a href="http://perelelhealth.sjv.io/xkW4oy">3rd tri formulation</a></strong>! I also took their <strong><a href="http://perelelhealth.sjv.io/rQZ6WD">&#8220;mom multi support pack&#8221;</a></strong> for the entirety of my last postpartum and breastfeeding experience to help combat nutrient depletion. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="http://perelelhealth.sjv.io/k0eBAV" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KSdr!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36ac102d-ab18-457f-b98f-91a93423dda4_1140x600.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KSdr!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36ac102d-ab18-457f-b98f-91a93423dda4_1140x600.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KSdr!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36ac102d-ab18-457f-b98f-91a93423dda4_1140x600.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KSdr!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36ac102d-ab18-457f-b98f-91a93423dda4_1140x600.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KSdr!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36ac102d-ab18-457f-b98f-91a93423dda4_1140x600.jpeg" width="542" height="285.2631578947368" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/36ac102d-ab18-457f-b98f-91a93423dda4_1140x600.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:600,&quot;width&quot;:1140,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:542,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Unilever Ventures leads $6 million series A investment in Perelel Health  vitamin company - Glossy&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;http://perelelhealth.sjv.io/k0eBAV&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="Unilever Ventures leads $6 million series A investment in Perelel Health  vitamin company - Glossy" title="Unilever Ventures leads $6 million series A investment in Perelel Health  vitamin company - Glossy" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KSdr!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36ac102d-ab18-457f-b98f-91a93423dda4_1140x600.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KSdr!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36ac102d-ab18-457f-b98f-91a93423dda4_1140x600.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KSdr!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36ac102d-ab18-457f-b98f-91a93423dda4_1140x600.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KSdr!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36ac102d-ab18-457f-b98f-91a93423dda4_1140x600.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">If you want to try them out, I&#8217;m a proud affiliate (not sponsored!) so you can <a href="http://perelelhealth.sjv.io/k0eBAV">click here and enter KATE20</a> to save some moolah &#9697;&#776; From pre-conception through pregnancy and postpartum, this brand is my go-to. </figcaption></figure></div><p>I just love that I can actually <em>trust</em> the ingredients and that each packet is specifically designed with 4-5 supplements that are most beneficial for EACH unique stage of the motherhood journey. It&#8217;s seriously so cool and innovative!!!</p><p>While I understand that it&#8217;s easy (and MUCH more accessible) to take any ol&#8217; prenatal option, getting a quality prenatal is a great opportunity to optimize if you can afford it! It may seem small, but a more optimized, bioavailable approach to your prenatal can be so so, so powerful for both you &amp; your baby. </p><h3>#4 Nurturing my spiritual side &amp; connecting with my babies</h3><p>While it&#8217;s easy to focus solely on the physical body, I really try to lean into the spiritual and emotional aspects of pregnancy, as well. </p><p>This practice is a lot less formalized and much more intuitive&#8212; but I am constantly trying to connect with my babies, putting my hands on my belly, praying over my pregnancy, meditating about a health pregnancy, visualizing labor, repeating positive affirmations, etc. </p><p><strong>Some examples of positive affirmations: </strong></p><ul><li><p><em><strong>&#8220;I am meant to be the mother to THIS baby.&#8221; </strong></em></p></li><li><p><em><strong>&#8220;I will trust the timing of my pregnancy&#8221;</strong></em></p></li><li><p><em><strong>&#8220;Even in difficult moments, I am strong and capable.&#8221;</strong></em></p></li><li><p><em><strong>&#8220;My baby and I are surrounded by love&#8221;</strong></em></p></li></ul><p>Leaning into the spiritual side of pregnancy helps me connect with my &#8220;why&#8221; (as pregnancy is very mentally and physically challenging for me), but I also like to think that the positive energy translates to my sweet babes. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66Oh!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F86a4a95b-8b95-4cd8-85e2-0f16cbfb63cf_884x1211.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66Oh!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F86a4a95b-8b95-4cd8-85e2-0f16cbfb63cf_884x1211.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66Oh!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F86a4a95b-8b95-4cd8-85e2-0f16cbfb63cf_884x1211.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66Oh!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F86a4a95b-8b95-4cd8-85e2-0f16cbfb63cf_884x1211.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66Oh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F86a4a95b-8b95-4cd8-85e2-0f16cbfb63cf_884x1211.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66Oh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F86a4a95b-8b95-4cd8-85e2-0f16cbfb63cf_884x1211.jpeg" width="498" height="682.2149321266968" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/86a4a95b-8b95-4cd8-85e2-0f16cbfb63cf_884x1211.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1211,&quot;width&quot;:884,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:498,&quot;bytes&quot;:444922,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66Oh!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F86a4a95b-8b95-4cd8-85e2-0f16cbfb63cf_884x1211.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66Oh!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F86a4a95b-8b95-4cd8-85e2-0f16cbfb63cf_884x1211.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66Oh!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F86a4a95b-8b95-4cd8-85e2-0f16cbfb63cf_884x1211.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66Oh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F86a4a95b-8b95-4cd8-85e2-0f16cbfb63cf_884x1211.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Spent a lot of time last week setting up the nursery&#8212; sorting through all the newborn clothes from my firstborn, setting up 2 (!) cribs, and getting organized for these babies! </figcaption></figure></div><h3>#5 Natural Stretch Mark Prevention</h3><p>First off, I have absolutely NOTHING against stretch marks&#8212; these lines are the tangible sign of growing a beautiful baby and the countless bodily sacrifices we make as mothers&#8230; &#10024; </p><p>My attitude with my firstborn was that stretch marks were largely inevitable, but I was going to <em>try </em>to do a few key things to limit them if I could. </p><p><strong>If I ended up preventing them, great! But if I got them, no biggie.</strong></p><p><strong>And, the result? I had a 8.5 lb baby, a verrry large bump, and genuinely didn&#8217;t get a single</strong><em><strong> </strong></em><strong>stretch mark??? I was somewhat shocked!</strong></p><p>Of course, genetics and mother&#8217;s skin type absolutely plays a role, but I <em>also </em>think there were a few key things I did that helped naturally prevent them. </p><p>Each night of my pregnancy, I followed a [very] simple nightly bump care routine that I genuinely think made a real difference&#8230;.</p><p><strong>Here&#8217;s exactly what I did to naturally prevent stretch marks:</strong></p>
      <p>
          <a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/24-holistic-things-i-do-during-pregnancy">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[✨ Your Questions, My Answers: TWIN Pregnancy Q&A Time! 👶🏻👶🏻]]></title><description><![CDATA[body image, prenatal routines, & what I'm most nervous about...]]></description><link>https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/your-questions-my-answers-twin-pregnancy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/your-questions-my-answers-twin-pregnancy</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 19 Jun 2024 11:02:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a3d73c0a-391e-461c-bd80-8c49d22e45ad_1172x1010.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello, hello!</p><p>As I type this, I am sitting at a coffee shop, sipping on a half-caf americano, feeling my two little ones move &amp; groove in my belly (so wild), and just so <em>inspired </em>to write this post&#8230;</p><p>It&#8217;s pregnancy Q&amp;A time, baby! </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EDeO!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa341f1ac-81cf-496a-8f0a-b5c58e618745_3024x4032.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EDeO!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa341f1ac-81cf-496a-8f0a-b5c58e618745_3024x4032.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EDeO!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa341f1ac-81cf-496a-8f0a-b5c58e618745_3024x4032.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EDeO!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa341f1ac-81cf-496a-8f0a-b5c58e618745_3024x4032.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EDeO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa341f1ac-81cf-496a-8f0a-b5c58e618745_3024x4032.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EDeO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa341f1ac-81cf-496a-8f0a-b5c58e618745_3024x4032.png" width="1456" height="1941" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a341f1ac-81cf-496a-8f0a-b5c58e618745_3024x4032.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1941,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4518833,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EDeO!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa341f1ac-81cf-496a-8f0a-b5c58e618745_3024x4032.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EDeO!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa341f1ac-81cf-496a-8f0a-b5c58e618745_3024x4032.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EDeO!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa341f1ac-81cf-496a-8f0a-b5c58e618745_3024x4032.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EDeO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa341f1ac-81cf-496a-8f0a-b5c58e618745_3024x4032.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by hearing different women&#8217;s experiences with pregnancy, labor, postpartum, and beyond&#8230; </p><p><strong>I just appreciate the fact that there can be similarities from person-to-person, but yet literally no two pregnancies will ever be exactly the same. Each experience is uniquely beautiful, challenging, and individual. </strong></p><p><strong>&#8230;and today, I&#8217;m excited to share </strong><em><strong>my </strong></em><strong>journey.</strong></p><p>Last month, I shared a link to a pregnancy Q&amp;A with my paid subscribers so they could ask their SPECIFIC questions about my twin pregnancy, and today I&#8217;m covering it all&#8230;  </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dIMn!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F14e38c5c-1ab7-48cd-98ad-0592dad542b9_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dIMn!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F14e38c5c-1ab7-48cd-98ad-0592dad542b9_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dIMn!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F14e38c5c-1ab7-48cd-98ad-0592dad542b9_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dIMn!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F14e38c5c-1ab7-48cd-98ad-0592dad542b9_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dIMn!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F14e38c5c-1ab7-48cd-98ad-0592dad542b9_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dIMn!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F14e38c5c-1ab7-48cd-98ad-0592dad542b9_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/14e38c5c-1ab7-48cd-98ad-0592dad542b9_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3267,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dIMn!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F14e38c5c-1ab7-48cd-98ad-0592dad542b9_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dIMn!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F14e38c5c-1ab7-48cd-98ad-0592dad542b9_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dIMn!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F14e38c5c-1ab7-48cd-98ad-0592dad542b9_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dIMn!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F14e38c5c-1ab7-48cd-98ad-0592dad542b9_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Writing and recording this Q&amp;A was honestly super therapeutic for me. These questions gave me the chance to pause. to reflect. and to <em>really </em>process what this time has been like... each pregnancy is such a vivid (yet temporary!) phase of life, and I am thankful for the opportunity to capture it in this way. So, thank you! &#129782;&#127996;</p><p>And you may notice that these answers are primarily about ME. As I navigate motherhood in our increasingly online world, I am striving to find a good balance about what I share about my family life. When it comes to content like this, I may share snippets of my kiddos, but do my best to keep my content focused on <strong>myself</strong> and <strong>my</strong> experience, my pregnancy, my motherhood journey, rather than making it overly focused on my family, ya know? Because while I genuinely LOVE talking about motherhood and my personal life, I am trying to find the elusive balance of sharing these topics *and* staying respectful to my loved ones and their privacy! I&#8217;m forever learning &amp; adjusting &amp; experimenting &amp; figuring it out as I go &amp; just doing my best along the way &#9697;&#776;  </p><p>&#8230;And, trust me, I still have a LOT to say about my own experience &#128133;&#127995; Ya girl is never at a loss for words &#129315;</p><h1>In this post, I will cover&#8230; </h1><ul><li><p>How many kids I envision for our family (&#8230;and if twins changed that! &#128517;), </p></li><li><p>Body image in this pregnancy (it&#8217;s been, um, <em>very </em>different than my singleton pregnancy&#8230;) </p></li><li><p>If we decided to find out their genders of the babies and if they are identical or fraternal (hint, hint&#8230; we DID &#128521;) </p></li><li><p>How I distinguished between &#8220;normal&#8221; morning sickness and  hyperemesis gravidarum&#8230; woof.</p></li><li><p>What my fitness routine has looked like this pregnancy (getting VERY specific) </p></li><li><p>Tangible ideas for how we are [attempting] to prepare our toddler for his upcoming role as a big brother</p></li><li><p>What I&#8217;m most excited about with twins (!!)</p></li><li><p>&#8230;annnd what I&#8217;m most nervous about with twins &#129760;&#129322;</p></li></ul><h3><strong>Basically, it&#8217;ll be a rundown of  everything that I&#8217;ve experienced with this twin pregnancy so far&#8230; </strong></h3><blockquote><p>Much like previous<a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/t/ask-kate-anything"> </a><strong><a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/t/ask-kate-anything">Q &amp; A posts</a></strong>, I answered your questions podcast style just so I could really make it true to me and add an extra personal touch, include more details, etc. While I personally love listening<em> </em>to someone and hearing their voice, I also typed up written summaries to each of the questions if you prefer to read my answers &#9697;&#776; Enjoy! </p></blockquote><p>Alright I won&#8217;t make you wait any longer, let&#8217;s get into it!&nbsp;</p>
      <p>
          <a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/your-questions-my-answers-twin-pregnancy">
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          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[oh, baby!🤰🏻👶🏻👶🏻 (...or BABIES?!)]]></title><description><![CDATA[a 41-minute podcast reflecting on all of it &#10024;]]></description><link>https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/oh-baby-or-babies</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/oh-baby-or-babies</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 12 May 2024 11:41:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F22fefad6-dd9c-4c84-8168-9144b4117471_3024x4032.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>First off, happy Mother&#8217;s Day! I know this day can hold a lot of emotions (from beautiful to difficult and everywhere in-between) so just know I am sending love your way, whatever you&#8217;re feeling &#127800;</p><p>And, I&#8217;ll be honest, I really don&#8217;t know how to ease into this post&#8230; </p><p>because I am bursting at the seams to tell you that I am pregnant!</p><p><strong>&#8230;with TWINS.</strong></p><p>(Yes, really.)&nbsp;</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!El8i!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F509257b5-4e15-4e31-a4bc-34bf43a351a7_3024x4032.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!El8i!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F509257b5-4e15-4e31-a4bc-34bf43a351a7_3024x4032.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!El8i!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F509257b5-4e15-4e31-a4bc-34bf43a351a7_3024x4032.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!El8i!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F509257b5-4e15-4e31-a4bc-34bf43a351a7_3024x4032.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!El8i!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F509257b5-4e15-4e31-a4bc-34bf43a351a7_3024x4032.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!El8i!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F509257b5-4e15-4e31-a4bc-34bf43a351a7_3024x4032.png" width="556" height="741.2060439560439" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/509257b5-4e15-4e31-a4bc-34bf43a351a7_3024x4032.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1941,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:556,&quot;bytes&quot;:8548054,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!El8i!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F509257b5-4e15-4e31-a4bc-34bf43a351a7_3024x4032.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!El8i!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F509257b5-4e15-4e31-a4bc-34bf43a351a7_3024x4032.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!El8i!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F509257b5-4e15-4e31-a4bc-34bf43a351a7_3024x4032.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!El8i!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F509257b5-4e15-4e31-a4bc-34bf43a351a7_3024x4032.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><strong>It feels crazy to even type. While I </strong><em><strong>did </strong></em><strong>have such a weird gut intuition that it was twins this entire pregnancy (but more on that later&#8230;), I still feel a bit of disbelief as I type that.</strong> </p><p>Like, I, Kate Eskuri, am going to be a <em>twin mom</em>. &#128118;&#127995;&#128118;&#127995; What a unique club to join!</p><p>Adam and I are so thrilled about these two littles ones joining our family.</p><p>Even with this pregnancy being very much planned, finding out that there are TWO babies will always be such a crazy, miraculous, awe-striking, worry-inducing, joy-filled, stressful, beautiful, surprising thing! Like, we are  genuinely so excited *and* have moments of overwhelm at the fact that life is about to be verryyy fast-paced (3 kids at or under 2 years old!), but yet&#8230; it all just feels <em><strong>right.</strong>&nbsp;</em></p><ul><li><p>Do we have it allllll figured out? No, of course not.&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>Is life about to be quite hectic? You bet.</p></li><li><p>Has this pregnancy been physically one of the hardest times of my life? In fact, it has.&nbsp;</p></li></ul><h4><strong>&#10024; But yet&#8230; I feel a peace. A steadiness. A grace. &#128524; I am </strong><em><strong>meant </strong></em><strong>to be the mother to these two babies. I feel that so surely. It&#8217;s hard to describe, but I am very at peace with it all.</strong>&nbsp;</h4><blockquote><p><em>And before I get too far into it, I just want to say I COMPLETELY understand if this is a sensitive or hard topic for any of you &amp; you need to protect your peace when I share pregnancy things. &#128330; </em></p><p><em>We all come from different perspectives, histories, and experiences with pregnancy, fertility, miscarriage, raising kids, infant loss, parenting, etc., and your perspective and emotions are 100% valid. I *completely* understand if you need to distance yourself as I share this pregnancy. If so, please reply to this email and I can help you &#8220;opt out&#8221; specifically of my motherhood &amp; pregnancy content (you can still receive everything else, if you&#8217;d like!). </em></p><p><em>Whatever best serves YOU and your energy, and&nbsp;I mean that sincerely! I am truly sending love to you, my friend &#8212; WHEREVER you are on your journey</em>. &#129293;</p></blockquote><p>So, for now, I wanted to keep it brief &amp; just share the general news in the intro, but I&#8217;ll share wayyyy more specifics below in this email for those who are interested&#8230;</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!veP4!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F22fefad6-dd9c-4c84-8168-9144b4117471_3024x4032.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!veP4!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F22fefad6-dd9c-4c84-8168-9144b4117471_3024x4032.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!veP4!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F22fefad6-dd9c-4c84-8168-9144b4117471_3024x4032.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!veP4!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F22fefad6-dd9c-4c84-8168-9144b4117471_3024x4032.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!veP4!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F22fefad6-dd9c-4c84-8168-9144b4117471_3024x4032.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!veP4!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F22fefad6-dd9c-4c84-8168-9144b4117471_3024x4032.png" width="470" height="626.559065934066" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/22fefad6-dd9c-4c84-8168-9144b4117471_3024x4032.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1941,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:470,&quot;bytes&quot;:10143933,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!veP4!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F22fefad6-dd9c-4c84-8168-9144b4117471_3024x4032.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!veP4!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F22fefad6-dd9c-4c84-8168-9144b4117471_3024x4032.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!veP4!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F22fefad6-dd9c-4c84-8168-9144b4117471_3024x4032.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!veP4!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F22fefad6-dd9c-4c84-8168-9144b4117471_3024x4032.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">My two little growing babes &#128155;&#128155; Photos by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/emileemeador/">Emilee Meador</a></figcaption></figure></div><p>Adam and I are so honored to welcome TWO more children into our family. Wow. &#129401; It&#8217;s all so wild &amp; beautiful, and it feels so dang good to finally share the news with you!</p><p>Xx,</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mNh2!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe33b7444-eb28-4317-8bbc-2785182bb770_1080x1080.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mNh2!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe33b7444-eb28-4317-8bbc-2785182bb770_1080x1080.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mNh2!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe33b7444-eb28-4317-8bbc-2785182bb770_1080x1080.png 848w, 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https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mNh2!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe33b7444-eb28-4317-8bbc-2785182bb770_1080x1080.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mNh2!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe33b7444-eb28-4317-8bbc-2785182bb770_1080x1080.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!mNh2!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe33b7444-eb28-4317-8bbc-2785182bb770_1080x1080.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BurE!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b2a7985-4725-449b-8e82-50e70e1212a8_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BurE!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b2a7985-4725-449b-8e82-50e70e1212a8_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BurE!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b2a7985-4725-449b-8e82-50e70e1212a8_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BurE!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b2a7985-4725-449b-8e82-50e70e1212a8_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BurE!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b2a7985-4725-449b-8e82-50e70e1212a8_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BurE!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b2a7985-4725-449b-8e82-50e70e1212a8_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9b2a7985-4725-449b-8e82-50e70e1212a8_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4219,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BurE!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b2a7985-4725-449b-8e82-50e70e1212a8_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BurE!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b2a7985-4725-449b-8e82-50e70e1212a8_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BurE!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b2a7985-4725-449b-8e82-50e70e1212a8_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BurE!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b2a7985-4725-449b-8e82-50e70e1212a8_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><em>All of that being said, let&#8217;s dive into this Sunday&#8217;s R.E.S.E.T. and share some of what I&#8217;ve been thinking about, processing, and loving lately. </em></p><p><em>There&#8217;s some depth, some lightness, and more behind-the-scenes of this pregnancy. Thanks for being here for the professional, the personal, and everything in between. Let&#8217;s get into it!</em>&nbsp;</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u6UZ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93f9737d-c795-4ec1-b94a-dcf3388e554a_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u6UZ!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93f9737d-c795-4ec1-b94a-dcf3388e554a_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u6UZ!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93f9737d-c795-4ec1-b94a-dcf3388e554a_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u6UZ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93f9737d-c795-4ec1-b94a-dcf3388e554a_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u6UZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93f9737d-c795-4ec1-b94a-dcf3388e554a_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u6UZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93f9737d-c795-4ec1-b94a-dcf3388e554a_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/93f9737d-c795-4ec1-b94a-dcf3388e554a_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4219,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u6UZ!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93f9737d-c795-4ec1-b94a-dcf3388e554a_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u6UZ!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93f9737d-c795-4ec1-b94a-dcf3388e554a_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u6UZ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93f9737d-c795-4ec1-b94a-dcf3388e554a_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u6UZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93f9737d-c795-4ec1-b94a-dcf3388e554a_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gxcy!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc3e3e905-3534-484e-8c26-ee8c3dc80929_1100x200.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gxcy!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc3e3e905-3534-484e-8c26-ee8c3dc80929_1100x200.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gxcy!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc3e3e905-3534-484e-8c26-ee8c3dc80929_1100x200.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gxcy!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc3e3e905-3534-484e-8c26-ee8c3dc80929_1100x200.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gxcy!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc3e3e905-3534-484e-8c26-ee8c3dc80929_1100x200.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gxcy!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc3e3e905-3534-484e-8c26-ee8c3dc80929_1100x200.png" width="1100" height="200" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c3e3e905-3534-484e-8c26-ee8c3dc80929_1100x200.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:200,&quot;width&quot;:1100,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:10862,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gxcy!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc3e3e905-3534-484e-8c26-ee8c3dc80929_1100x200.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gxcy!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc3e3e905-3534-484e-8c26-ee8c3dc80929_1100x200.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gxcy!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc3e3e905-3534-484e-8c26-ee8c3dc80929_1100x200.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gxcy!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc3e3e905-3534-484e-8c26-ee8c3dc80929_1100x200.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>&#8230;A few things that have made me smile on the internet</p><p>I&#8217;ve got another lighthearted roundup of links for you today! I pride myself on finding positive, comforting content on the internet (no small feat IMO!!!) and here are a few things I&#8217;ve bookmarked for you to enjoy:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p><strong>&#128330;&#65039;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/154881674677807050/">An affirmation for the anxious soul:</a> </strong>mmmm, I often need this reminder.</p></li><li><p><strong>&#129489;&#8205;&#129489;&#8205;&#129490; <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/154881674677807005/">I&#8217;ve never related to anything more as a parent:&nbsp;</a></strong>is this a &#8220;parenting style&#8221;? Because yes.</p></li><li><p><strong>&#127969; <a href="https://www.domino.com/digital-issues/molly-baz-home-altadena-california/">A home tour from the amazing Molly Baz: </a></strong>love the use of color!</p></li><li><p><strong>&#128242; <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/154881674677842692/">The sweetest text a dad sent his kids</a>: </strong>this is my kind of love note</p></li><li><p><strong>&#128103;&#127995; <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/154881674677846746/">A reminder to my younger self:</a> </strong>forever chasing this. </p></li><li><p><strong>&#128170;&#127996; <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/154881674677853363/">Motivation for healthy habits:</a> </strong>it&#8217;s an investment in your future</p></li></ul><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_c6f!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96fac9cd-463b-4323-87f4-d2642bc88568_1100x200.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_c6f!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96fac9cd-463b-4323-87f4-d2642bc88568_1100x200.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_c6f!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96fac9cd-463b-4323-87f4-d2642bc88568_1100x200.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_c6f!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96fac9cd-463b-4323-87f4-d2642bc88568_1100x200.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_c6f!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96fac9cd-463b-4323-87f4-d2642bc88568_1100x200.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_c6f!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96fac9cd-463b-4323-87f4-d2642bc88568_1100x200.png" width="1100" height="200" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/96fac9cd-463b-4323-87f4-d2642bc88568_1100x200.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:200,&quot;width&quot;:1100,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:9989,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_c6f!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96fac9cd-463b-4323-87f4-d2642bc88568_1100x200.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_c6f!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96fac9cd-463b-4323-87f4-d2642bc88568_1100x200.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_c6f!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96fac9cd-463b-4323-87f4-d2642bc88568_1100x200.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_c6f!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96fac9cd-463b-4323-87f4-d2642bc88568_1100x200.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>&#8230;How I&#8217;m feeling about becoming a twin mom &#129392;&#129395;&#129322;&#9786;&#65039;&#128517;&#128525;</p><p>Let&#8217;s just say, I have an LOT of thoughts. So, I sat down at the mic to record a 41-minute podcast full of allllll my initial thoughts on finding out we are having twins (!) and my pregnancy experience thus far. </p><blockquote><p><strong>In this recording, I share&#8230;</strong> the moment we found out we were pregnant, my experience with hyperemesis gravidarum this pregnancy (one of the hardest physical things I have ever gone through&#8230;), the many gut instincts and signs and dreams I had that convinced me it was twins early on (yes, really), how this pregnancy has challenged me physically and mentally (prepare for a few tears), and beyond&#8230; </p></blockquote>
      <p>
          <a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/oh-baby-or-babies">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[ 🍼24 Ways Motherhood Has Changed Me]]></title><description><![CDATA[#9 has been so impactful...]]></description><link>https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/24-ways-motherhood-has-changed-me</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/24-ways-motherhood-has-changed-me</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 12:18:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3e7203d8-8852-42cd-9056-04e5db9f4fdb_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ahhhh, motherhood.&nbsp;</p><p>The most blissful, blurry, beautiful experience of my life.</p><p>Ever since I first saw that positive test about two and a half years ago, I have been on a <em>gradual</em> evolution.</p><p>And I really mean that. <br><br><strong>I think that a lot of moms experience a </strong><em><strong>drastic </strong></em><strong>change once their baby is born, but mine has felt much more subtle and slow.</strong></p><p>When I look around at my life, many things feel unchanged in certain ways and wildly different in others. But even the &#8220;wildly different&#8221; ebbs happened quite gradually. Let me explain&#8212;</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!noCX!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbcb5123d-3f1d-49cb-b5ca-2767019f5cd0_1600x1067.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!noCX!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbcb5123d-3f1d-49cb-b5ca-2767019f5cd0_1600x1067.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!noCX!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbcb5123d-3f1d-49cb-b5ca-2767019f5cd0_1600x1067.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!noCX!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbcb5123d-3f1d-49cb-b5ca-2767019f5cd0_1600x1067.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!noCX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbcb5123d-3f1d-49cb-b5ca-2767019f5cd0_1600x1067.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!noCX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbcb5123d-3f1d-49cb-b5ca-2767019f5cd0_1600x1067.jpeg" width="610" height="406.80631868131866" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/bcb5123d-3f1d-49cb-b5ca-2767019f5cd0_1600x1067.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:971,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:610,&quot;bytes&quot;:345230,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!noCX!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbcb5123d-3f1d-49cb-b5ca-2767019f5cd0_1600x1067.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!noCX!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbcb5123d-3f1d-49cb-b5ca-2767019f5cd0_1600x1067.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!noCX!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbcb5123d-3f1d-49cb-b5ca-2767019f5cd0_1600x1067.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!noCX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbcb5123d-3f1d-49cb-b5ca-2767019f5cd0_1600x1067.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">my little love</figcaption></figure></div><p>The very innermost core of my being feels quite constant&#8212; who I am, who <em>Kate </em>is, feels largely the same actually. My personality feels relatively unchanged, I am still passionate about my career, my interests remain relatively stable&#8230; </p><p><em>&#8230;but yet.</em></p><blockquote><p>When I look around, I see so many ways that life has shifted and transformed. They haven&#8217;t necessarily been dramatic 180-degree changes, but things <em>have</em> evolved and expanded. <em><strong>I</strong> </em>have evolved and expanded.</p></blockquote><p><strong>And today I am going to share 24 ways that my mindset, hobbies, life priorities, responsibilities, marriage, TIME, and, heck, even my physical body have changed since becoming a mom.&nbsp;</strong></p><p>In this list of 24 items, I am going to share the very obvious, but also the more subtle, sneaky ways that life has changed since I entered this era of my life. Ya ready? Let&#8217;s jump in.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RZLQ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd9caea11-cd91-4fc2-a2ed-34d9c1ff4127_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RZLQ!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd9caea11-cd91-4fc2-a2ed-34d9c1ff4127_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RZLQ!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd9caea11-cd91-4fc2-a2ed-34d9c1ff4127_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RZLQ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd9caea11-cd91-4fc2-a2ed-34d9c1ff4127_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RZLQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd9caea11-cd91-4fc2-a2ed-34d9c1ff4127_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RZLQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd9caea11-cd91-4fc2-a2ed-34d9c1ff4127_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d9caea11-cd91-4fc2-a2ed-34d9c1ff4127_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4124,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RZLQ!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd9caea11-cd91-4fc2-a2ed-34d9c1ff4127_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RZLQ!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd9caea11-cd91-4fc2-a2ed-34d9c1ff4127_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RZLQ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd9caea11-cd91-4fc2-a2ed-34d9c1ff4127_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RZLQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd9caea11-cd91-4fc2-a2ed-34d9c1ff4127_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3>#1 The way I would describe my life is different now</h3><p>Even though I had a &#8220;full&#8221; life before kids with work, socializing, and beyond, things generally felt pretty straightforward. If I wanted to do something, I did it. If I had a goal, I went for it. If I wanted to hang out with my friends, I saw them. Speaking very broadly, life pre-kids felt quite <em>uncomplicated </em>and<em> easy. </em></p><p>And now? I wouldn&#8217;t necessarily use those exact words to describe life since becoming a mom, but a whole new crop of descriptors has emerged. </p><p>Life <em>doesn&#8217;t</em> feel as simple, but it does feel richer, more worthwhile, more vivid, more selfless, more connected, more&#8230; purposeful? It&#8217;s hard to describe what I mean, but basically, having a child absolutely did not make my life easier, but it made it <strong>better</strong> and different in so many other ways.&nbsp;</p><h3>#2 I <em>don&#8217;t </em>assume that everyone should want to be a parent&nbsp;</h3><p>Ever since becoming a parent, I feel even MORE firm in my belief that not everyone should want to be a parent or needs to have kids in order to cultivate a fulfilling, meaningful life. A child-free life can be <em>just </em>as meaningful &amp; beautiful &amp; purposeful! </p><p><em>It just depends on the person.</em> </p><p>While I personally felt very called to motherhood, I have always respected people who are on a child-free path. Not to mention, there are many people who desperately want to be parents, but have had a difficult journey getting there. ALL of these people deserve love and respect on their own unique journey. </p><p>My point? I can <em>love</em> being a mom *and* understand that parenthood is not the path that everyone seeks.&nbsp;</p><h3>#3 I have found the things that *I* am passionate about as a mom</h3><p>My son is almost 2, and I have found a lot of clarity on the type of mom that <em>I</em> am. I am simply not the mom who will set up an elaborate craft or sensory bin or have a perfectly styled outfit on my child. But I AM the mom who loves to get outside, get messy, be goofy, spend time in the kitchen, cultivate joy around food, etc. </p><blockquote><p><strong>EVERY parent has their own gifts and things that they are drawn to &#8212; I&#8217;ve really learned where *I* shine as a mom and made peace with the areas where I am not as inherently gifted.</strong>&nbsp;</p></blockquote><h3>#4: Time <em>is</em> more monotonous now, but&#8230; </h3><p>Okay, to be honest, this is what I was <em>most</em> nervous about in my decision of becoming a parent&#8212; the potential of feeling trapped in the monotonous day-to-day of parenting. </p><p>Before having children, I used to love flying by the seat of my pants, letting my day flow, traveling every chance I got, making plans, and generally doing<em> </em>every day <em>on my own terms</em>.&nbsp;</p><p>Now, my days <strong>are</strong> much more monotonous, but&#8230;</p>
      <p>
          <a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/24-ways-motherhood-has-changed-me">
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[an impromptu message to the mamas...🕊]]></title><description><![CDATA[(a love note to all parents and parents-to-be)]]></description><link>https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/a-note-to-all-of-the-mothers</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/a-note-to-all-of-the-mothers</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 11 Mar 2024 02:21:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b3885a82-2372-4cdb-b3be-93446386fedb_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Something I've heard so much since becoming a parent is that "every baby is different" <em>(which is true, by the way)</em>, but I'd also like to remind you of this&#8230;</p><h2>&#10024;Every MOTHER is different, too&#10024;</h2><p>We are all unique individuals, and as a result, we are all going to parent in our own unique way too&#8212;</p><h3><strong><br>It&#8217;s so obvious, but yet, </strong><em><strong>often gets forgotten.</strong></em></h3><blockquote><p>In today&#8217;s motherhood culture, it's easy to fixate on the "right" thing to do. To compare. To contrast. To question. To criticize. To seek perfection. </p><p>To look outside of ourselves for "answers".</p></blockquote><p><strong>But, the truth? There has never been one singular perfectly &#8220;correct&#8221; way to do </strong><em><strong>anything&#8212; </strong></em><strong>motherhood included. </strong></p><p>You may approach baby sleep differently than your neighbor does. You may breastfeed your baby, while your best friend exclusively pumps, while your other friend prefers formula. You may prefer a relaxed, go-with-the-flow approach while your co-worker prefers more structure &amp; predictability. You may stay-at-home with your kids while your cousin utilizes daycare, and your college roommate has a nanny. Your labor might've looked different than your sister's or your best friend&#8217;s did. You may be taking a different route introducing solids than your mom did. </p><h3>&#8230;and I&#8217;m here to remind you  that. is. OKAY!</h3><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2uw_!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9f6b18b-0912-482d-85f7-32888385cf0c_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2uw_!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9f6b18b-0912-482d-85f7-32888385cf0c_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2uw_!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9f6b18b-0912-482d-85f7-32888385cf0c_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2uw_!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9f6b18b-0912-482d-85f7-32888385cf0c_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2uw_!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9f6b18b-0912-482d-85f7-32888385cf0c_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2uw_!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9f6b18b-0912-482d-85f7-32888385cf0c_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a9f6b18b-0912-482d-85f7-32888385cf0c_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4216,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2uw_!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9f6b18b-0912-482d-85f7-32888385cf0c_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2uw_!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9f6b18b-0912-482d-85f7-32888385cf0c_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2uw_!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9f6b18b-0912-482d-85f7-32888385cf0c_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2uw_!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9f6b18b-0912-482d-85f7-32888385cf0c_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>We are ALL going to parent in a slightly different <em>(or, um, very different)</em> way from one another, and truly <em>accepting</em> that is so freeing.</p><ul><li><p>Are ANY of us the &#8220;perfect&#8221; parent? Absolutely not.</p></li><li><p>Will we ALL make mistakes in parenthood? Undoubtedly. </p></li><li><p>Are there things we would maybe change or do differently? Sure. </p></li><li><p>Are we going to grow &amp; evolve &amp; learn as we go? Without a doubt. </p></li><li><p><em>But are most of us just trying OUR bests? Yes. Yes. Yes.</em> </p></li></ul><p>&#8230; And do ALL of us have our own unique gifts as a parent? YES. YES. YES. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!__ZU!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2abee10b-c775-48de-8d33-e7c70113a7b2_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!__ZU!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2abee10b-c775-48de-8d33-e7c70113a7b2_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!__ZU!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2abee10b-c775-48de-8d33-e7c70113a7b2_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!__ZU!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2abee10b-c775-48de-8d33-e7c70113a7b2_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!__ZU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2abee10b-c775-48de-8d33-e7c70113a7b2_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!__ZU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2abee10b-c775-48de-8d33-e7c70113a7b2_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/2abee10b-c775-48de-8d33-e7c70113a7b2_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4252,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!__ZU!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2abee10b-c775-48de-8d33-e7c70113a7b2_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!__ZU!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2abee10b-c775-48de-8d33-e7c70113a7b2_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!__ZU!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2abee10b-c775-48de-8d33-e7c70113a7b2_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!__ZU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2abee10b-c775-48de-8d33-e7c70113a7b2_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><h3><strong>&#127800; My friend, the way that you nurture, feed, care for, play with, and approach motherhood is unique to YOU. And that's the beauty of it! That's the freedom of it! That's the JOY of it! &#127800;</strong></h3><p><em>So, stop looking outside yourself for answers that don&#8217;t exist&#8212; and, instead, lean into the internal whispers &amp; the natural instincts that you have as a parent.</em> </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qtHF!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbf5f6b39-4603-4d1d-bcc4-529268b90b95_2192x2697.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qtHF!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbf5f6b39-4603-4d1d-bcc4-529268b90b95_2192x2697.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qtHF!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbf5f6b39-4603-4d1d-bcc4-529268b90b95_2192x2697.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qtHF!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbf5f6b39-4603-4d1d-bcc4-529268b90b95_2192x2697.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qtHF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbf5f6b39-4603-4d1d-bcc4-529268b90b95_2192x2697.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qtHF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbf5f6b39-4603-4d1d-bcc4-529268b90b95_2192x2697.jpeg" width="376" height="462.510989010989" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/bf5f6b39-4603-4d1d-bcc4-529268b90b95_2192x2697.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1791,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:376,&quot;bytes&quot;:478028,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qtHF!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbf5f6b39-4603-4d1d-bcc4-529268b90b95_2192x2697.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qtHF!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbf5f6b39-4603-4d1d-bcc4-529268b90b95_2192x2697.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qtHF!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbf5f6b39-4603-4d1d-bcc4-529268b90b95_2192x2697.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qtHF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbf5f6b39-4603-4d1d-bcc4-529268b90b95_2192x2697.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption"></figcaption></figure></div><h3><em><strong>It's funny because people often ask me what my "parenting style" is, and, to be honest?</strong></em></h3><p>Just the Kate Eskuri style.&#9996;&#65039;</p><p>&#8230;and I don't say that in a smug <em>"I, Kate Eskuri, know best"</em> kind of way, but moreso</p><p><strong>That I am just doing *my* best,<br>That I am trusting *my* gut,<br>That I am following *my* instincts, <br>That I am doing what works best for *my* family and *my* unique situation.</strong></p><blockquote><p>And that likely WILL look different from you. <br>From them. <br>From others. <br>From relatives.<br>From friends. <br>From society. </p><p><em>And there&#8217;s a peace that comes from really *accepting* that.</em></p></blockquote><p><strong>Because, as similar as we may be, NO two mothers will ever be the same. (Which deserves to be *celebrated*, not compared&#128521;)</strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_j8A!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00cca0f2-44de-47e0-b09a-096e88c9ef5e_2719x3264.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_j8A!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00cca0f2-44de-47e0-b09a-096e88c9ef5e_2719x3264.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_j8A!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00cca0f2-44de-47e0-b09a-096e88c9ef5e_2719x3264.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_j8A!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00cca0f2-44de-47e0-b09a-096e88c9ef5e_2719x3264.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_j8A!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00cca0f2-44de-47e0-b09a-096e88c9ef5e_2719x3264.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_j8A!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00cca0f2-44de-47e0-b09a-096e88c9ef5e_2719x3264.jpeg" width="362" height="434.5989010989011" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/00cca0f2-44de-47e0-b09a-096e88c9ef5e_2719x3264.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1748,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:362,&quot;bytes&quot;:4694678,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_j8A!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00cca0f2-44de-47e0-b09a-096e88c9ef5e_2719x3264.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_j8A!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00cca0f2-44de-47e0-b09a-096e88c9ef5e_2719x3264.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_j8A!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00cca0f2-44de-47e0-b09a-096e88c9ef5e_2719x3264.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_j8A!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00cca0f2-44de-47e0-b09a-096e88c9ef5e_2719x3264.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h2>So, just a reminder&#8212;</h2><p>There has never been (and will never be) one, singular, perfect "right" way to parent. Point blank, period.</p><blockquote><p>So, give yourself permission to do it in the way that is magnetic &amp; natural &amp; aligned to <em>you</em>.</p></blockquote><p><strong>Because no one (like, literally no one on earth) could raise </strong><em><strong>your</strong></em><strong> kiddos in the exact, special way that *you* do it. </strong></p><p>You&#8217;ve got your own unique magic, mama. </p><p>Own it. <br>Trust it. <br>Celebrate it.</p><p>And always follow <em>your </em>gut.</p><p>XX,</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1_F6!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66b8d4a4-d3a5-43dd-a1ee-336d27eff8e7_1080x1080.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1_F6!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66b8d4a4-d3a5-43dd-a1ee-336d27eff8e7_1080x1080.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1_F6!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66b8d4a4-d3a5-43dd-a1ee-336d27eff8e7_1080x1080.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1_F6!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66b8d4a4-d3a5-43dd-a1ee-336d27eff8e7_1080x1080.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1_F6!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66b8d4a4-d3a5-43dd-a1ee-336d27eff8e7_1080x1080.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1_F6!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66b8d4a4-d3a5-43dd-a1ee-336d27eff8e7_1080x1080.png" width="216" height="216" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/66b8d4a4-d3a5-43dd-a1ee-336d27eff8e7_1080x1080.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1080,&quot;width&quot;:1080,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:216,&quot;bytes&quot;:85798,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1_F6!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66b8d4a4-d3a5-43dd-a1ee-336d27eff8e7_1080x1080.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1_F6!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66b8d4a4-d3a5-43dd-a1ee-336d27eff8e7_1080x1080.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1_F6!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66b8d4a4-d3a5-43dd-a1ee-336d27eff8e7_1080x1080.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1_F6!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F66b8d4a4-d3a5-43dd-a1ee-336d27eff8e7_1080x1080.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WmiR!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4365c60a-1735-485e-8a68-b1419ea3d7b4_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WmiR!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4365c60a-1735-485e-8a68-b1419ea3d7b4_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WmiR!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4365c60a-1735-485e-8a68-b1419ea3d7b4_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WmiR!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4365c60a-1735-485e-8a68-b1419ea3d7b4_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WmiR!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4365c60a-1735-485e-8a68-b1419ea3d7b4_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WmiR!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4365c60a-1735-485e-8a68-b1419ea3d7b4_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/4365c60a-1735-485e-8a68-b1419ea3d7b4_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3071,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WmiR!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4365c60a-1735-485e-8a68-b1419ea3d7b4_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WmiR!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4365c60a-1735-485e-8a68-b1419ea3d7b4_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WmiR!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4365c60a-1735-485e-8a68-b1419ea3d7b4_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WmiR!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4365c60a-1735-485e-8a68-b1419ea3d7b4_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><h5>PS: Did you like this essay? It would mean the world to me if you pressed that heart below&#10084;&#65039;, left a comment&#128172;, or shared it with a friend &#128257;. A little word of mouth goes a long way! <br></h5><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/a-note-to-all-of-the-mothers/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/a-note-to-all-of-the-mothers/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><h5><br>And, if you&#8217;re new here, 1) Welcome! and 2) If you would like to start receiving weekly emails from me&#8212; on all things wellness, motherhood, simplicity, &amp; lifestyle&#8212; you can <a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/subscribe">click here</a> or explore <a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/archive?sort=top">my entire archive</a>! <br></h5><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h5><br></h5><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOQ5!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9ad0eda4-5e54-4506-ae58-68f17381af2b_1100x200.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOQ5!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9ad0eda4-5e54-4506-ae58-68f17381af2b_1100x200.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOQ5!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9ad0eda4-5e54-4506-ae58-68f17381af2b_1100x200.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOQ5!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9ad0eda4-5e54-4506-ae58-68f17381af2b_1100x200.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOQ5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9ad0eda4-5e54-4506-ae58-68f17381af2b_1100x200.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOQ5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9ad0eda4-5e54-4506-ae58-68f17381af2b_1100x200.png" width="1100" height="200" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9ad0eda4-5e54-4506-ae58-68f17381af2b_1100x200.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:200,&quot;width&quot;:1100,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:27337,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOQ5!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9ad0eda4-5e54-4506-ae58-68f17381af2b_1100x200.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOQ5!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9ad0eda4-5e54-4506-ae58-68f17381af2b_1100x200.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOQ5!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9ad0eda4-5e54-4506-ae58-68f17381af2b_1100x200.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!dOQ5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9ad0eda4-5e54-4506-ae58-68f17381af2b_1100x200.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;5713d6a2-ce16-4420-92e3-b70a318b6a44&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Alright, pals. Today we&#8217;re talking about meal prepping&#8230; but specifically for people who hate meal prepping (*raises hand* &#128587;&#8205;&#9792;&#65039;). Let&#8217;s face it &#8212; we all logically know that meal prepping often sets us up for healthier, more convenient, more time-efficient meals amidst a busy life&#8230;.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Meal Prep; But Make It Simple &#9996;&#65039;&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:124975863,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Kate Eskuri, DNP&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;I&#8217;m Kate&#8211; a registered nurse with my doctorate degree in integrative health, and I am so excited to make \&quot;wellness\&quot; feel SIMPLE and realistic for busy people (...just like you, *wink*)&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/be880f3e-be68-477d-ac9c-23daee7c9235_1024x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:1000}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2024-01-31T12:22:13.200Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7810694c-2500-439b-8cb7-7a476f5f3622_1456x1048.png&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/meal-prep-but-make-it-simple&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:141132909,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:53,&quot;comment_count&quot;:14,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;The Reset: Holistic Health &amp; Slow Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0c9d5221-35d3-480f-b82f-eb08b5c5c829_1080x1080.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;070e1316-fffe-4452-b313-227296f93ccf&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Happy Sunday! After feeling in a funk for a few weeks , I am getting back into my groove&#8212; more peaceful, more in tune with myself, and I&#8217;ve caught some small [much-needed] glimmers of humanity lately: &#129402; The stoic businessman wearing a suit who jogged a block after me to hand me my toddler&#8217;s shoe that had unknowingly fallen off. Thank you, kind sir!&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;A before &amp; after of our bathroom reno &#128064; &quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:124975863,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Kate Eskuri, DNP&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;I&#8217;m Kate&#8211; a registered nurse with my doctorate degree in integrative health, and I am so excited to make \&quot;wellness\&quot; feel SIMPLE and realistic for busy people (...just like you, *wink*)&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/be880f3e-be68-477d-ac9c-23daee7c9235_1024x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:1000}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2024-02-18T12:25:49.482Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/4b446acb-abb3-4f35-97ad-eabf88f3530d_1456x1048.png&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/a-before-and-after-of-our-bathroom&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:&quot;The Sunday R.E.S.E.T. &quot;,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:141644480,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:30,&quot;comment_count&quot;:10,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;The Reset: Holistic Health &amp; Slow Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0c9d5221-35d3-480f-b82f-eb08b5c5c829_1080x1080.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;e441f03b-a6ee-44fb-a9d9-285571ab0a7f&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Last year, I set out not to buy any new clothes for 2023, and&#8230; I DID IT. Today, I&#8217;m going to be sharing everything I learned through the process. This post is a long one (giddy up) so we are jumping straight in! First things first, why did I choose to do a no-buy challenge with clothes?&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;I Didn&#8217;t Buy *ANY* New Clothes For A Year &#8212; &quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:124975863,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Kate Eskuri, DNP&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;I&#8217;m Kate&#8211; a registered nurse with my doctorate degree in integrative health, and I am so excited to make \&quot;wellness\&quot; feel SIMPLE and realistic for busy people (...just like you, *wink*)&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/be880f3e-be68-477d-ac9c-23daee7c9235_1024x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:1000}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2024-02-07T12:22:48.265Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/539c74ae-d3c6-4b9b-896f-c08110cf53c7_1456x1048.png&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/i-didnt-buy-any-new-clothes-for-a&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:&quot;Lifestyle / Personal Content &quot;,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:141237212,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:40,&quot;comment_count&quot;:32,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;The Reset: Holistic Health &amp; Slow Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0c9d5221-35d3-480f-b82f-eb08b5c5c829_1080x1080.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p><br></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[1(ish) year postpartum reflections: motherhood, pregnancy, & breastfeeding, oh my! ]]></title><description><![CDATA[&#127911; Listen to my honest thoughts on this stage of life]]></description><link>https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/1ish-year-postpartum-reflections</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/1ish-year-postpartum-reflections</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Eskuri, DNP]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:01:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f89f614f-c4d5-471a-a7b0-04b1052a09a1_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s absolutely WILD to think that it&#8217;s been over a year since Miles joined our family <em>(like, sorry, how do I have a 15-month-old already?!).</em> </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!eSz3!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16b688ae-6f68-4ae9-af1f-075ae71b8d36_504x322.gif" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!eSz3!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16b688ae-6f68-4ae9-af1f-075ae71b8d36_504x322.gif 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!eSz3!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16b688ae-6f68-4ae9-af1f-075ae71b8d36_504x322.gif 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!eSz3!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16b688ae-6f68-4ae9-af1f-075ae71b8d36_504x322.gif 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!eSz3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16b688ae-6f68-4ae9-af1f-075ae71b8d36_504x322.gif 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!eSz3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16b688ae-6f68-4ae9-af1f-075ae71b8d36_504x322.gif" width="382" height="244.05555555555554" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/16b688ae-6f68-4ae9-af1f-075ae71b8d36_504x322.gif&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:322,&quot;width&quot;:504,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:382,&quot;bytes&quot;:1022135,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/gif&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!eSz3!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16b688ae-6f68-4ae9-af1f-075ae71b8d36_504x322.gif 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!eSz3!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16b688ae-6f68-4ae9-af1f-075ae71b8d36_504x322.gif 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!eSz3!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16b688ae-6f68-4ae9-af1f-075ae71b8d36_504x322.gif 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!eSz3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16b688ae-6f68-4ae9-af1f-075ae71b8d36_504x322.gif 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I have so much to say about this stage of life. </p><h4><em>It feels&#8230;</em> </h4><ul><li><p>simple. yet chaotic.</p></li><li><p>new. yet instinctual.&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>vivid. yet blurry.</p></li><li><p>joyful. yet draining.</p></li><li><p>slow. yet fast.</p></li></ul><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!m81y!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0bc9c9e-c9ae-4524-b534-3153d05a643d_1052x1278.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!m81y!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0bc9c9e-c9ae-4524-b534-3153d05a643d_1052x1278.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!m81y!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0bc9c9e-c9ae-4524-b534-3153d05a643d_1052x1278.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!m81y!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0bc9c9e-c9ae-4524-b534-3153d05a643d_1052x1278.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!m81y!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0bc9c9e-c9ae-4524-b534-3153d05a643d_1052x1278.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!m81y!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0bc9c9e-c9ae-4524-b534-3153d05a643d_1052x1278.png" width="344" height="417.9011406844106" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f0bc9c9e-c9ae-4524-b534-3153d05a643d_1052x1278.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1278,&quot;width&quot;:1052,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:344,&quot;bytes&quot;:1627045,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!m81y!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0bc9c9e-c9ae-4524-b534-3153d05a643d_1052x1278.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!m81y!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0bc9c9e-c9ae-4524-b534-3153d05a643d_1052x1278.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!m81y!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0bc9c9e-c9ae-4524-b534-3153d05a643d_1052x1278.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!m81y!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0bc9c9e-c9ae-4524-b534-3153d05a643d_1052x1278.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Safe to say, motherhood has been a trip. Some parts are amazing, some draining, some neutral &#8212;&nbsp;and today I&#8217;m coming at you with an authentic, no-nonsense recap of <em>the past 15 months</em> of my life as a new mom. (Let&#8217;s just say, I had <em>a lot </em>of thoughts)</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kuld!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b8522f9-ac62-48aa-97ef-6fd4e85a9ac4_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kuld!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b8522f9-ac62-48aa-97ef-6fd4e85a9ac4_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kuld!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b8522f9-ac62-48aa-97ef-6fd4e85a9ac4_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kuld!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b8522f9-ac62-48aa-97ef-6fd4e85a9ac4_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kuld!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b8522f9-ac62-48aa-97ef-6fd4e85a9ac4_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kuld!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b8522f9-ac62-48aa-97ef-6fd4e85a9ac4_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7b8522f9-ac62-48aa-97ef-6fd4e85a9ac4_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3289,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kuld!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b8522f9-ac62-48aa-97ef-6fd4e85a9ac4_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kuld!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b8522f9-ac62-48aa-97ef-6fd4e85a9ac4_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kuld!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b8522f9-ac62-48aa-97ef-6fd4e85a9ac4_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kuld!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b8522f9-ac62-48aa-97ef-6fd4e85a9ac4_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><h4><strong>From pre-conception to labor, all the way to postpartum, marriage, body, and logistics, I&#8217;m breaking it alllllllll down in this podcast-ish episode.</strong>&nbsp;</h4><ul><li><p>When I knew I was &#8220;ready&#8221; to have kids</p></li><li><p>Things I would (and wouldn&#8217;t) do if I got pregnant again</p></li><li><p>How I&#8217;ve changed since becoming a mom</p></li><li><p>Did I have&#8230; name regret?! </p></li><li><p>My experience in the postpartum phase (physically &amp; mentally)</p></li><li><p>The many hormonal shifts I experienced and how they <em>felt</em>&#8212; postpartum, getting my period back early, weaning from nursing, etc. </p></li><li><p>The <em>logistics </em>(and specifics!) of our careers, maternity leave, paternity leave, etc.</p></li><li><p>How our marriage has evolved (and also how it&#8217;s stayed the same) since becoming parents</p></li><li><p>A more thorough review of my breastfeeding, pumping, and weaning experience</p></li><li><p>A little pep talk on embracing YOUR unique motherhood journey</p></li><li><p>And just a general &#8220;peek behind the curtain&#8221; of how I have approached motherhood, postpartum, &amp; beyond! </p></li></ul><h3><em>My goal for this particular episode is an off-the-cuff chat about the ups and downs and in-betweens of pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood.</em> </h3><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K6pg!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe72aa7a0-69c7-40e8-9772-1fb4b952d8f2_1026x1238.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K6pg!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe72aa7a0-69c7-40e8-9772-1fb4b952d8f2_1026x1238.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K6pg!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe72aa7a0-69c7-40e8-9772-1fb4b952d8f2_1026x1238.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K6pg!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe72aa7a0-69c7-40e8-9772-1fb4b952d8f2_1026x1238.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K6pg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe72aa7a0-69c7-40e8-9772-1fb4b952d8f2_1026x1238.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K6pg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe72aa7a0-69c7-40e8-9772-1fb4b952d8f2_1026x1238.png" width="528" height="637.0994152046784" 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y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lo7U!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffdaa7b20-d089-4da8-9fee-17d76564dbc8_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lo7U!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffdaa7b20-d089-4da8-9fee-17d76564dbc8_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lo7U!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffdaa7b20-d089-4da8-9fee-17d76564dbc8_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lo7U!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffdaa7b20-d089-4da8-9fee-17d76564dbc8_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lo7U!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffdaa7b20-d089-4da8-9fee-17d76564dbc8_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lo7U!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffdaa7b20-d089-4da8-9fee-17d76564dbc8_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/fdaa7b20-d089-4da8-9fee-17d76564dbc8_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4124,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lo7U!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffdaa7b20-d089-4da8-9fee-17d76564dbc8_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lo7U!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffdaa7b20-d089-4da8-9fee-17d76564dbc8_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lo7U!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffdaa7b20-d089-4da8-9fee-17d76564dbc8_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lo7U!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffdaa7b20-d089-4da8-9fee-17d76564dbc8_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><h5>A quick heads up&#8212; this audio track will only be open to my paid community &#9697;&#776; While I continue to share 1-2 free posts per month, the bulk of my content is exclusively for my paid subscribers. </h5><h5>I&#8217;d love to have you <a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/subscribe">join</a> the club, but if you prefer to stay a free subscriber, here are 4 other posts that are open &amp; ready for ya. Free or paid, I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here, my friend!<br></h5><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;a1016335-5151-4d52-a44e-59aa70488b44&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Summer is nearly here, and the season of fresh air &amp; sunshine &amp; blue skies is upon us. [and all the pale Minnesotans said ALLELUIA!!!!] Just last night, I had a picnic on the shores of Lake Superior with some friends, and it was so simple, but I left it feeling so&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Forest Bathing Does WHAT For Your Health?!&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:124975863,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Kate Eskuri, DNP&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Hi, friend. I&#8217;m Kate&#8211; a registered nurse with my doctorate degree in integrative health, and I am so excited to make \&quot;wellness\&quot; feel SIMPLE and realistic for busy people (...just like you, *wink*)&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/be880f3e-be68-477d-ac9c-23daee7c9235_1024x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:1000}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2023-06-14T17:18:49.878Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/76e2bc4a-0108-49cf-8a07-c31971fd22e4_1456x1048.png&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/forest-bathing-does-what-for-your-1aa&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:128150304,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:25,&quot;comment_count&quot;:22,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;The Reset: Holistic Health &amp; Slow Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0c9d5221-35d3-480f-b82f-eb08b5c5c829_1080x1080.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;0db8423c-2a45-4d93-aadf-d0a44e29c4af&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Hey, hey, my friend. I hope you are having a lovely weekend. In this edition of The Sunday R.E.S.E.T., I will be sharing&#8212; An emotional reflection on the end of my breastfeeding journey The ginger-turmeric immune boosting recipe I&#8217;ve been making on repeat&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;The Sunday R.E.S.E.T. #3&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:124975863,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Kate Eskuri, DNP&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Hi, friend. I&#8217;m Kate&#8211; a registered nurse with my doctorate degree in integrative health, and I am so excited to make \&quot;wellness\&quot; feel SIMPLE and realistic for busy people (...just like you, *wink*)&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/be880f3e-be68-477d-ac9c-23daee7c9235_1024x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:1000}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2023-10-29T11:01:14.093Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8142eaf3-8f4c-4436-b159-c06113019288_1456x1048.png&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/the-sunday-reset-3&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:138345592,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:25,&quot;comment_count&quot;:14,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;The Reset: Holistic Health &amp; Slow Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0c9d5221-35d3-480f-b82f-eb08b5c5c829_1080x1080.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;45f8dcc7-a4c1-45c5-8bdf-70b93b3f0712&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Okay, a RANDOM storytime comin&#8217; atcha&#8212; Let me set the scene: It was a Tuesday evening. A cold Minnesota day. And I was on my way to hot yoga. It was just an ordinary class&#8212; moving my body, syncing up with my breath, stretccccching aching muscles, and just slowing. myself. down. (mentally, physically, emotionally&#8230;)&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;this ONE thing my yoga instructor said stopped me in my tracks&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:124975863,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Kate Eskuri, DNP&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Hi, friend. I&#8217;m Kate&#8211; a registered nurse with my doctorate degree in integrative health, and I am so excited to make \&quot;wellness\&quot; feel SIMPLE and realistic for busy people (...just like you, *wink*)&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/be880f3e-be68-477d-ac9c-23daee7c9235_1024x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:1000}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2023-06-01T01:31:09.371Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3d81799e-c952-4d7d-a029-3167d02b7364_1456x1048.png&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/this-one-thing-my-yoga-instructor&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:119075772,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:73,&quot;comment_count&quot;:17,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;The Reset: Holistic Health &amp; Slow Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0c9d5221-35d3-480f-b82f-eb08b5c5c829_1080x1080.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;64cfa746-31b9-42cc-9500-a1c7c57ea87d&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Hey, hey, friend&#8212; Today I am boppin&#8217; in your inbox to talk about&#8230;. drum roll&#8230;. COOKBOOKS. But not just any cookbooks&#8212; We&#8217;re covering my favorite cookbooks Today, I am recapping the 8 *specific* books that I find myself reaching for over &amp; over (and, um, over) again.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;My 8 *Favorite* Cookbooks for Simple (and Healthy!) Meals&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:124975863,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Kate Eskuri, DNP&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Hi, friend. I&#8217;m Kate&#8211; a registered nurse with my doctorate degree in integrative health, and I am so excited to make \&quot;wellness\&quot; feel SIMPLE and realistic for busy people (...just like you, *wink*)&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/be880f3e-be68-477d-ac9c-23daee7c9235_1024x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:1000}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2023-05-25T15:52:14.721Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/088e82b1-16d6-4f4a-a4da-a2ad05cc628b_1456x1048.png&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/my-8-favorite-cookbooks-for-simple&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:121889739,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:28,&quot;comment_count&quot;:6,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;The Reset: Holistic Health &amp; Slow Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0c9d5221-35d3-480f-b82f-eb08b5c5c829_1080x1080.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ANaR!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d6e2a1f-2c4a-454b-b321-3893f3079842_600x60.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ANaR!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d6e2a1f-2c4a-454b-b321-3893f3079842_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ANaR!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d6e2a1f-2c4a-454b-b321-3893f3079842_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ANaR!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d6e2a1f-2c4a-454b-b321-3893f3079842_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ANaR!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d6e2a1f-2c4a-454b-b321-3893f3079842_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ANaR!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d6e2a1f-2c4a-454b-b321-3893f3079842_600x60.png" width="600" height="60" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/1d6e2a1f-2c4a-454b-b321-3893f3079842_600x60.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:60,&quot;width&quot;:600,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4124,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ANaR!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d6e2a1f-2c4a-454b-b321-3893f3079842_600x60.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ANaR!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d6e2a1f-2c4a-454b-b321-3893f3079842_600x60.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ANaR!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d6e2a1f-2c4a-454b-b321-3893f3079842_600x60.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ANaR!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d6e2a1f-2c4a-454b-b321-3893f3079842_600x60.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><h2>Press play below! </h2><p>In this hour-long, motherhood-focused podcast, we'll get into the nitty gritty details, the challenges, and the transformations I've experienced, as well as the logistics, shared parenting responsibilities, and redefining what's important &#8212; we're diving straight in.</p><p>So pull up a comfy chair and press &#8220;play&#8221; now, I can&#8217;t wait to share this with you!</p>
      <p>
          <a href="https://kateeskuri.substack.com/p/1ish-year-postpartum-reflections">
              Read more
          </a>
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