How I am dealing with Post Partum Anxiety

Hello lovelies,


I have always had mild anxiety ever since I was a teenager. Overthinking things. Wondering "what if I did that" or "what if I said this instead". It was never an issue, it was always something I dealt with and for me, it was my "normal". 

Fast forward to having my first child and finding my new "normal" as a mother was hard, because I dealt with pretty severe PPA and never told anyone, not even my husband. After my first pregnancy, my anxiety was something I truly suffered with, especially social anxiety. My mind would conjure up the worst what if's possible and it got so bad that I could hardly even speak to my own friends and family without turning red and shaking with anxiousness. I never went on medication and it did start to get noticeably better after I went back to work at 8 months post-partum. For the most part it was gone after less than a year PP. 

Fast forward to me getting pregnant a second time and this time with twins, I told my husband everything. I wanted to be "prepared" this time and I also wanted him to know the signs and what to watch out for on my behalf. Being pregnant with twins, literally does mean double the hormones, which this time in my case, also meant double the anxiety. My PPA came much later than it did with my first, however it was still prevalent early on in different ways. I became very irritable and impatient in the beginning and then around 10 months PP it turned into anxiousness, nausea, and severe irritability.  

I am not the type of person to go on medication, I like to deal with things internally and through mindfulness. Being a mother of three (and twins) is definitely a challenge at times. Add my hectic work schedule and having a life on top of it all, while still dealing with PPA (15 months PP), I have come to accept many things. I have also come to accept the fact that I do need to have more me time and also be open to trying new things. With that being said, taking ownership in the fact that anxiety is now a part of my new "normal", I have been on the look out for natural products to help relieve my stress on a day to day basis - for when it can all get a little too overwhelming. 


I recently stumbled upon Birch + Fog on Instagram and they were kind enough to send me some products to try out. I picked out some of their edibles that are infused with CBD (cannabidiol) and if you know me, you would know that of course I picked their EP Simply CBD Dark Chocolate and their Simply Jane Double Dose Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup. CBD is an all-natural cannabis compound that provides all of the medicinal benefits of cannabis without the feeling of being “high”. In fact, CBD can actually counter-balance the effects of THC, which makes it a great tool for re-stabilizing your consciousness after a night of fun, or in my case, a night of work from home and crazy kids  who don't like too sleep. 


Whenever I am feeling anxious at work or if I want to wind down at the end of the day, one square from the bar, or a bite from the peanut butter cup does the trick.

If you want to try out products from Birch + Fog be sure to use my promo code "annpaige" at checkout to SAVE $20 off your purchase!
They offer a wide range of other CBD products, as well as oils for headache and menstrual cramp relief (also a new fav product of mine!), to THC and hemp products. Also be sure to check out their skin care and bath bombs too!

In addition to trying out CBD products, I also practice deep breathing and never leave the house without my mala bracelets. Collectively they are all really helping me to live with and manage my anxiety. If you too are dealing with anxiety, just know that you are not alone. Let those closest to you know what you are going through, so that they can be aware and also help you find the right tools that work for you.

I hope that this post has been helpful to any other mommas out there who are also coping with PPA or just anyone in general who is living with anxiety.

Thank you so much for reading this post and comment below if you have any tips or favourite products that help you relieve stress and anxiety.

Until next time....

xoxo
annpaige

What’s in my hospital bag - Second time around

Hello lovelies,

This post is a little overdue, as I just recently delivered my babies!!! My boy/girl twins were born at 37 weeks on February 23rd and they are doing amazing! Both are healthy and we couldn’t be happier.

Packing a hospital can be daunting when you have never been through a pregnancy before, as you don’t want to over pack, nor under pack. I definitely am a slight over packer, because having twins I wanted to be prepared for an extra stay if I ended up needing a c-section or if my babies needed time in the NICU. Neither happened, however it is better to be over prepared then under.

The bag I choose to use is the Weekender bag from Poppy & Peonies. It is a great sized bag with so many pockets and the print is super cute for Spring. The bag has two handle straps, as well as a shoulder strap, making it great for a diaper bag, or a weekend away bag. It also has mesh pockets on the inside and two water bottle pockets on the outside. I highly recommend this bag for anyone wanting a bag to use as a carry on, diaper bag, or a hospital bag!

This time around I tried not to pack too much, as the first time I packed way too much - mind you I was in and out of the hospital a lot with my first. I wanted to narrow down on the essentials I knew I would need, but also over pack just slightly in case I needed a c-section and ended up staying longer.

Everything that I packed in my bag:
- Nursing bras: The ballet and The original nursing bra both from Bravado. I wanted soft bras, as you never know how quickly your milk will come in and how swollen you will be. The original nursing bra is my absolute favourite at the moment, as it has clips for easy access and it is made of cotton making it super comfortable.
- Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, deodorant. Trust me when I say you will need it all, as you will for sure want to take a shower after birth!
- Nasal spray, as my nose gets stuffy very easily and hospital rooms are always really dry.
- Tissue for both my nose and eyes!
- Lip balm
- Hand sanitizer
- Slippers and fuzzy grip socks
- Nipple fix nipple cream from Matraea: in case babies have a hard time latching and I get any scabs while nursing
- Nursing Tea from Matraea and an infuser to have right after delivery
- Super Maxi pads. Although the hospital does provide pads, the nurse I had with my first was very stingy and I wanted to ensure that I had enough just in case.
- Breast Pump - With my first I wasn’t able to nurse right away because my daughter needed time in the NICU and I wasn’t prepared when the nurses told me to start pumping. I highly recommend a double pump, as it saves so much time and helps to increase your milk supply faster than a single or a hand pump. The double pump from Lansinoh is amazing and super easy to use. I love that it has a timer and you can adjust both the suction and cycles.
- Going home outfit: Long nursing tee from Ripe Maternity, button up flannel from Old Navy, loose joggers from Lolë and a button up sweater from Lolë  as well.
- Two shirts for my fiancé for if he wants to change in the middle of the night or if his shirt gets dirty while helping me care for our babies.

I hope that this post helps anyone who is unsure of what to pack in their bag or is just starting to getting ready to pack their hospital bag.

For other experienced mamas, what did you include in your hospital bag?

As always thank you for your reading and be sure to follow me on Instagram for more frequent updates on both me and my littles, as well as a sneak peak into my everyday life!!!

xoxo
annpaige

Maternity Style

Hello Lovelies!

Maintaining my style during pregnancy is something that has always been important to me. During my first pregnancy I was unable to wear maternity clothes and this time around, I wanted to find clothing that fits my growing bump without sacrificing my own fashion sense.

Below are some of my favourite outfits that I have worn through out my pregnancy, with links on where you can find the same or similar items. I hope you enjoy them and find them resourceful if you yourself are pregnant!

Wrap dresses are great for everyday wear from early on in pregnancy and after to use for nursing, so of course I had to show one of them!

Dress: Carry Maternity

Overcoat: Vince

I LOVE wearing high-waisted skirts during pregnancy. This one from Mendocino is a skirt that I have had since before pregnancy, but works perfectly as an over the bump skirt for during.

Top: Gebe (sold out find similar here)

Skirt: Room Service from M for Mendocino (similar)

Shoes: Justfab

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I have always loved my jeans and especially early on in my pregnancy, I would wear them as much as possible (knowing that they would only fit for so long). This top from Jules & Jim is a soft stretch knit, that I am still able to wear now, while I am huge and it has continued to keep it's shape.

Top: Jules & Jim (similar)

Jeans: Old Navy (similar)

Cardigan: Lole

Shoes: Lole (similar)

When the time came, I went straight for maternity jeans. Having maternity jeans during pregnancy makes you feel like you again. Paige jeans are made with a blend of rayon that make them comfortable and super stretchy and they also sit under the bump, which is my personal preference.

Top: Ripe Maternity

Cardigan: John + Jenn

Jeans: Paige (Maternity)

I love this outfit! When I wear this outfit, I feel fashionable, comfortable and the top has ruching on the sides, so it fits my growing bump perfectly. And, let's talk about this vest! I got this vest from Dynamite last year and I had been waiting forever for Fall to start so I could wear it.

Faux fur vest: Dynamite (similar)

Top: Jules & Jim (similar)

Leggings: Dynamite

Boots: Justfab (similar)

My everyday go to staples even before pregnancy have always been jeans and a boyfriend blazer. Not giving up my style during my pregnancy was what I said was very important to me, so finding the right styles that work with my new shape, was super important to me.

Jeans: J Brand

Sweater: Similar

Blazer: Similar

If you are pregnant or just love Fall fashion, comment below and let me know which looks were your favourite. Also let me know if there are any other pregnancy related posts that you would like to see me do. 

If you are not yet be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook for all of my latest blog updates, as well as a sneak peak into my everyday life!!! You can also subscribe to my post updates on the right hand side of this post, so you never miss a new post!

As always thank you for reading and...

xoxo

annpaige

Updated What's in My Purse

Hello lovelies,

It has been a long while since my last What's in my purse post and I always find these posts to be one of the most interesting. Finding out what others deem as essential must have items to keep with them everyday. It's a personal post and also fun to read. So, without further ado, let's get to what is in my purse.

Outfit:
Top: Gebe Maternity
Skirt: M for Mendocino
Shoes: Justfab
Necklace: Ricki's 

Items I must have with me at all times include pretty much everything that you see here and it is the main reason why I can never carry a small purse. 

Purse: Coach

Wallet: Coach

Mints, for both a breath refresher and nausea killer, while pregnant.

Lotion, because I hate having dry hands.

EOS lip balm.

Hand sanitizer, because I can be a total germaphobe, especially while pregnant.

Earphones from Sony.

My current fav lipstick in Affluent from Younique.

Sunnies from H&M.

My rosary, because I am Catholic and I pray daily.

My agenda and organizer. My agenda is from Bando and it is my favourite. It is a monthly and daily planner with a lot of room for notes and it comes with stickers!! They have so many prints and designs and this one was my fav!

A pen, of course, to use for writing in my planner and because you never know when something will either need to be signed and/or filled out.

Clear polish for those pesky times when my nail polish chips or my actual nail chips while out.

And, that is everything I carry with me on a daily basis. I also ensure to always have water and snacks in my purse everywhere I go, typically both for myself and for daughter.

What are your purse must haves?? Let me know in the comments below and as always thanks for reading!

To stay up to date with my posts, subscribe by email and also be sure to follow me on instagram!

xoxo

annpaige