Trust Your Gut, Mama: How I Found My Confidence as a New Mom
Hey mama,
Over the past several months, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing some of the top experts for these newsletters—sleep consultants, doulas, fertility specialists—you name it, I’ve asked them all the burning questions on behalf of all of you. But today, I wanted to switch things up and share a bit of my personal journey as a new mom, and let you in on something that’s really shifted my perspective. Spoiler: It’s all about trusting your gut and letting go of the guilt.
Not too long ago, I was caught in the endless cycle of sleepless nights. My son just wouldn’t go down in his crib, no matter what I tried. The only thing that worked? The stroller. I’d be up at 2 a.m., pushing him around the living room, feeling like a total failure because, according to all the "rules," he should be in his crib. I was so stressed and anxious, thinking I was doing something wrong.
Finally, I hit a breaking point and shared my experience on Instagram. And wow—the response was incredible. So many moms reached out, sharing that they had been there too. Some drove around in the car with their babies until they fell asleep; others let them sleep in the car seat because transferring them to the crib was a no-go. I suddenly didn’t feel so alone—and more importantly, I didn’t feel so guilty anymore.
Here’s what really hit me though: As I started to relax about the whole thing, my son’s sleep got *so* much better. It’s like he could sense that I wasn’t stressed anymore, and that calmness just helped him settle. Babies pick up on our energy, and when I was stressed, he was restless. But as soon as I let go of the guilt and embraced what worked for us, he started sleeping longer stretches, and our bond felt stronger. Now, we have our little routine, and even if the stroller is still part of it some nights, we’re both so much more relaxed—and that’s made all the difference.
I’ve realized that by trusting myself and my instincts, I’m a better mom to him. What works for us might not work for anyone else, and that’s perfectly okay. We all have to find our own way, and no two journeys are the same. The key is letting go of the pressure to do things a certain way and just doing what feels right for you and your baby.
So, I’m making a promise to share more of my personal journey in these newsletters going forward. As much as I love bringing in expert voices (and trust me, I still will!), I think there’s real value in hearing from moms just like you—going through the same ups and downs, navigating the endless phases, and figuring it out as we go. Because at the end of the day, we’re all in this together, and there’s no “right” way to do it.
Let’s stop judging ourselves and each other, and let’s celebrate whatever works—whether it’s the crib, the car seat, or the stroller. Trust your gut, and remember: You know what’s best for your baby.
Here for you,
Follow Leah on IG: @carmellawwe
