It isn’t out of the ordinary for us to hang on to Zoë Foster Blake’s every word. However, it is rare for the Go-To founder and best-selling author to do a deep dive on a topic outside of beauty or heartbreak.
But, as a mum-of-two, Zoë has earned herself both the authority and experience to speak on the incredibly popular and always interesting topic: motherhood.
Feeling inspired after appearing as a guest on the podcast Australian Birth Stories, Zoë took to her Instagram to keep the conversation going, revealing 10 things she wishes she had known before giving birth to her two kids Sonny and Rudy.
The entertaining, informative and invaluable gift to all expecting mums includes advice on how your diet can prevent gestational diabetes and the importance of asking for help.
So get ready to screenshot, bookmark or write down Zoë’s 10 motherhood lessons, which she filed under “Things I Wish I’d Known”:
- Once you give birth, your baby needs feeding every two hours. (I genuinely did not know this.) Also getting them back to sleep post-feed can take an hour. (Mine were soooo gassssy)
- Preparing your hips, glutes, pelvis and core for pregnancy, birth and baby-holdin’ with pilates will pay ENORMOUS DIVIDENDS.
- Flu symptoms while [breastfeeding]? Assume mastitis until proven otherwise.
- A birthing class will teach you a LOT about the physicality and physiology and pace of labour and birth. Soo much shit I didn’t know.
- Gestational diabetes isn’t great fun, but it makes you eat healthier. And! You won’t automatically have it the next pregnancy.
- If you have pubic, groin or back pain, see someone ASAP! (While pregnant or post-natal.) Osteopathy fixed me, and prepped me for my second. The pic above shows all the gear I used at home each day to stay strong. (Mostly from fear following a fractured pubis first pregnancy.)
- Ask for help. Don’t be polite at the cost of sanity. Take the offer of a nap or some dang meatballs.
- The role of your birth partner or support role is to protect the energy of the room (and you.)
- Baby clothes with flounce or buttons are a no. Just zips. Just stretch.
- Reading too many books, forums and posts like this will confuse and exasperate the shit out of you. Do what YOU feel is best, and if you are struggling, get professional doula/lactation/midwife help.
And in one more bonus tip, Zoë stresses the importance of resting. “Mother Nature wants it that way, that cheeky, gorgeous witch” she wrote.
Main image credit: @zotheysay
Do you have any motherhood tips of your own? If so, what are they?
Motherhood!! I always recommend that you listen to what everybody is telling you and then do what suits you best. It is different for everyone.
Totally that is such good advice
Lots of people will feel they need to give you advice. Some of it will help, some will not. Everyone has a different experience.
Yes so true. Some are helpful, some are not helpful.
I agree. People are so quick to offer advice. Sometimes unwanted.
One time, I was asked if I am hungry because she was constantly hungry and she went on and on.
And in my head I thought I have morning sickness all day, all night for the entire pregnancy.
My 2 children were very different babies. Polar opposites. What I did with my first didn’t work for my 2nd. It was like being a first time mum all over again and leaning from scratch.
My 1st didn’t like dummies or being wrapped and my 2nd loved being wrapped and was obsessed with dummies so for me I just took each day as it came and you just really have to do what works best for you.
Each baby is so different and each pregnancy is so different!
wow, feed every 2 hours! Congrats to all mums =)
Yeah that was the toughest bit – My first one was like that but thankfully my next two were much easier.
My daughter was like a vampire compared to m6 son and the feeding was constant!
Argh! So demanding!
I think for me, it was every 2.5 to 3 hours. Isn’t it 3 hour cycles, other mums??
I found that motherhood doesn’t just influence that part of your life when you’re pregnant or have little kids/babies – it actually goes on forever – like eternity, for the rest of life on earth (and maybe even heaven – do the kids/grandkids etc become eternal friends? I don’t know that bit yet, but….) – even when they are all grown up, I am still Mum!!! haha this is good though because they all become responsible for themselves and their own decisions and I can just sigh a relief when they make the good ones! : D so pregnancy and life with littlies is just the start of a very, very different life that goes on forever!
aka Big Picture
Not a mother but this sounds pretty accurate. My mother would agree.
Yes and it is wonderful when you get older and look back at the wonderful people you helped on the way
Hopefully that will be me one day.
Cant say I was happy to be pregnant, it was summer and so hot and my big tummy sat on top of my legs when sitting down. But how happy I was to see the little girl who appeared after the 9 months. Love her and the next one so much.
Neither was I, some people love it and enjoy it. I didn’t at all.
So much for me to look forward to!
My daughter got gestational diabetes both times even though she followed a strict diet and did her best – She has two wonderful children though so was worth it.
It is so hard!
Zoe always gives great advice.
Wow so many things to worry about!
Parenting is a tough gig. I don’t have any kids but I do have step children and that has been a hard road to follow.
I think step children are different and harder in some ways.
Always love reading things written by Zoe! Very insightful.
I cant wait to be a mum one day!
There is never a dull moment!
Never dull. Always different and chaotic!
It is amazing! Hard work but the best!
OMG – a fractured pubis!
[Eyes shut, hands over ears – La, la, la, la, la …]
I know- that sounds terrifying!
I’ve always had a phobia about pregnancy & childbirth – this doesn’t help!
No, sometimes we shouldn’t share these things because it deters other women from wanting to have children.
I am saying no, in the context of, we shouldn’t share as it is too much information sometimes.
Oh my comment above is awaiting for moderation anyway. Perhaps it will be readable for everyone else.
🤣
Yep, amongst other things…and it takes months to repair and I think for some people, we never get back to our pre pregnancy bodies.
Agree with it all!
Definitely do whatever makes you comfortable, and accept help if offered. Running a business and trying to navigate the needs of a baby who wanted to be fed constantly and didn’t believe in sleeping was a huge challenge. Luckily I had a lot of support.
Yes! Accepting help should be ok, I feel so guilty when I accept it.
It is like I can’t manage it myself.
How hard parenthood is. It never gets easier. I have a teenage girl and a tween boy. The teenage girl is bloody hard work. If you think a three year old is hard. Wait till they are a teen. I’m at my wits end.
Totally agree with this.
Oh gosh! No girls for me! I really wanted a girl too.
Oh gosh, is it the attitude?
I always tell new mums to listen to the advice, and ignore what doesn’t feel right for them – no-one ever checks to see if you followed their advice!
Zoe didn’t know that a baby needs feeding every two hours??? I reminds me of a lady I used to work with who had her 1st baby @ 40yo & didn’t know birthing would hurt.
😆
That would have been a bit of a shock then.
Oh gosh, she didn’t know birthing would hurt??
No tips from me as I don’t have kids but I admire Mums, they must have the toughest job in the world.
Number 7 saved my bacon many a time.
Number 10 is particularly good, down to earth and rational advice 🙂
Enjoy motherhood; your little treasure soon grows up
I agree! Gosh, the things we go through for our babies!
Listen to other mums
yes buttons are such a pain
Great advice!!!
I strongly agree with no 10.Do what is best for you and family.
yes everyone has differing opinions
My biggest advice would be keep your mental health in check. PND is so common
That is a big one as well!
Cute write up- there’s always things you don’t know about when you become a mother – you learn along the way and hope for the best.
I really would add that reading a lot helps to be informed about what can happen during the whole birth thing and thereafter – that way you can slowly make up your own mind of what will suit.
If we knew everything we’d never do it!
Exactly! So true! Sometimes the details are a little too much, especially scarring others from even trying.
I enjoyed reading this article. Motherhood is the best.
This is a great list. We need constant reminders of these!
I’m not a mother, but I can appreciate how much hard work is involved!
I’m not a mother – it sounds exhausting!
This is an excellent article and a good read.