Latest / Twin Mom Life / Creating Community, Body Positivity and the Shift From PCOS to PMOS with Lauren Love
Transcript
- Jessielee Sittig: Hello and welcome to the Twin Mom Life podcast. I'm your host, Jess. I created this podcast to help build community, connection, and most importantly, friendships among moms of multiples. Being a twin mom can be amazing and magical. That twin bond is unlike anything I've ever witnessed, but it can also be isolating and overwhelming. I'll be chatting with other twin moms, diving deep into the twin experience. This episode is brought to you by Thrive Market. Looking for healthy snacks delivered straight to your door? I got you. As a mom of three littles, I'm always trying to find ways to make my life easier. I've really been enjoying Thrive Market. They carry all of my favorite organic brands I don't feel guilty giving my kids. it's not just a market for food. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy twin mom life to listen along. I hope this podcast shed some light on a topic that's been on your heart and gave you more confidence as a twin mama. If you know a twin mom, please send this her way. If you like what you heard today, please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review. Check out the show notes to be connected with today's guest and get discount codes for brands I love. See you next Thursday. Until then. thank you so much for coming on the podcast today. Today we have Lauren Love. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Lauren: Thanks so much for having me and starting this podcast. ⁓ listened all the time on my evening walks. ⁓ so it's nice hearing twin mom share their experience and like while I'm walking, I'm constantly thinking, like, yeah, me too. I totally get that. So ⁓ so nice that it resonates with So ⁓ like just said I'm Lauren. I live Connecticut. ⁓ I have beautiful children, ⁓ all girls. I'm girl mom ⁓ and Jessielee Sittig: I recently ordered a mineral sunscreen stick and fragrance-free bath bomb for my kids. Use my link in the show notes to get $20 off your first three orders and a free gift. Yay. giving advice on what works for us so you don't have to learn the hard way. Juggling two babies at the same time is challenging, but I'm confident we can learn from each other and figure out how to raise these babies together. You are made for this. Lauren: I have an eight-year-old, a five-year-old, and eight-month-old twin girls. So a very busy, ⁓ beautiful, time. I was saying this morning, it's actually finally sunny here in New England today. And after such a cold, cold, rainy holiday weekend, our weather has been so wacky wacky lately. It's like AC heat, ⁓ no one knows to do. ⁓ My daughter loves, ⁓ loves wearing shorts to school. Like, I don't know what it is, she loves shorts. ⁓ So I was like, guess what? It's a shorts day, and she was like, ⁓ it's gonna be a good day today. Jessielee Sittig: Same. so cute a girl after my own heart and like who likes pants they're so restricting ⁓ Lauren: was like, yeah. ⁓ Yeah. ⁓ I know, who wants to wear those pants an anymore? So I was like, you know what? It is gonna be a really good day. I like those positive affirmations. You got this. Jessielee Sittig: Yes, yes. I love that. But if she can wear shorts, then that equals good day. Love it. The simplicity. It's fantastic. And you filled your cup today far? Or do you have any plans to do so? ⁓ Lauren: Right? ⁓ I am, well I filled a little bit this morning. I say I'm halfway full. I filled by ⁓ I did get dressed, I put on some makeup, I did my hair. I was like, my husband's like, it's a podcast. I was like, it's the fact of feeling good in your body. You wanna like, you look good, you feel good. So I did that. I got myself a special little coffee this morning as a little treat. ⁓ And I'm gonna fill the rest of it. ⁓ I'm going on the mom walk with some moms later, so it's nice to connect and talk and things. So I'll be totally filled by the end of the day. Jessielee Sittig: love that. Well you look fantastic. I love getting a special treat coffee. What's your go to special coffee order? Lauren: Thank you. So I am definitely an iced coffee girl. Love my iced coffee. And I love all the like foams now. Like the, you know, you could get like a like a foam on top. I was like, it just elevates my iced coffee in a way that I can't do at home. So I love a little bit of foam on top. I'm not a sugar person, but the foam is enough to get me through my day, and it was delicious ⁓ Jessielee Sittig: Yes. Mm-hmm. fun. I love that. So is your mom walk just mom's? Lauren: Yeah, so it's usually just moms. after this weekend, I feel like everybody was cooped up inside with their kids and we're kinda like, we gotta walk, we gotta do something. so yeah, we usually go, it's lot of moms. Some moms have older kids and just come to walk, some have strollers, some have kids. so we usually will go for a little walk, kind of just talk, resonate for a while, get some steps in. So it's a experience. ⁓ Jessielee Sittig: Yeah, that's so great. And so nice to be able to talk and move your body at the same time. So I love that. All of that, like just what a great day. And I love that you have multiple little things throughout the day that will just keep filling your cup. So that's great. Lauren: Yeah, it's so great. Great. Yeah, and it's like, you know, with your kids all day you gotta find things that will fill your cup with your kids too. You know, there's the me time, there's the kid time, that's that nice balance. Jessielee Sittig: Yes. Yeah, absolutely. I feel the same way. So, you know, I was just telling you off air, we're on summer break ⁓ it's been really ⁓ so far. I mean, we're only a couple of days in. but I am trying to ⁓ figure how to fill my cup, like you said, while everyone is still here. ⁓ So been trying to wake up a little bit earlier before everybody. So I can try to have a little bit of coffee and peace and start the day. ⁓ Just like in a calm way before everyone is up and chaotic and ready to play. this so random, but this filled my cup in like a nostalgic way. So have you ever had a food or a smell or something that brings you back to a memory? ⁓ isn't that okay? So this morning ⁓ I I bought ⁓ Dave's bread, but it's raisin flavor. And I haven't bought that in forever. ⁓ Lauren: Yeah, it's so yeah. Jessielee Sittig: But when I was pumping with the boys, I always had a midnight snack, literally, because that's when I would do a pumping session. And I always made that bread, two pieces of toast, and I made it like a bagel. So I did it with cream cheese and then like slices of strawberry. And I was obsessed with it. I had this every night at midnight for months. I was hyper fixated on it. And then I got over it. I've had this a hundred times. Lauren: Mm. Jessielee Sittig: So I haven't bought it in forever, but I made that for breakfast and it was so good. And I don't know. I just was reflecting like, you know, my boys are gonna be three in two weeks, and I can't really believe that. And I'm like, look how far, ⁓ how far we've come. So I that was just a kind of a random moment. I don't know if it necessarily filled my cup, but it was fun to reflect on and kind of nostalgic and delicious. So that was good. And I try to go to yoga once a week. And we have been in, I would say the last five weeks have just been very chaotic. All three of my children have had a trip to urgent care or ER in the past five weeks. So I feel like my time to fill my cup outside of my family has been really minimal. And I have not gone to yoga in a while. So I am going to yoga tonight. Lauren: Yeah. ⁓ my god. ⁓ yeah, you definitely you need that yoga. ⁓ Jessielee Sittig: Yes. Yeah, I'm really excited about that. So so that's how I'm gonna fill my cup later and then the little things that have kind of filled my cup this morning. So Lauren: that. I love that. Yeah, that nostalgia is so real. I do it with sometimes like when you make ⁓ like my grandmother had a recipe of like an Easter pie and like I make it every year on Easter and it's like once you like taste it, smell it, it like brings you right back. It's never as good. It never is good. But it's like that memory you're like, ⁓ this brings back such a time where I, you know, felt this way or things this way. It's it's it's so funny how your body like does that with senses and things. Jessielee Sittig: Yes. Yeah. It was like I wasn't even thinking about that when I bought the bread. I was just like, ⁓ that sounds good. And then it brought me back to this time and I wasn't expecting that. And it was pretty cool. Okay, what's Easter pie? Like what flavor is it? Lauren: It's like a rice pie. So we're Italian and it's like a like a regatta a rice pie and it's like so basic. It's like white rice, regatta, eggs, like you just put it all together and bake it. But they call it like Italian Easter pie. It's delicious. yeah, it's like so it nostalgic for me of like she always made it every year and it's just brings me right back. ⁓ Jessielee Sittig: Yeah mm. that sounds so good. Lauren: Yeah. Jessielee Sittig: Fun and different. I've never heard of a rice pie before. Okay, so can you tell us a little bit about your family and like finding out you're pregnant with twins and how that pregnancy and delivery went? Lauren: ⁓ Yeah. ⁓ Yeah, so I like I said I have two older girls. They are eight and five. really thought that I was kind of done having children. I, know, was a little bit more up there in some maternal age. And ⁓ you my husband and I were kind of like, if a third happens, it happens. my husband I have been it's crazy, we're gonna be married ten years ⁓ this August. I had a really long time. ⁓ Jessielee Sittig: We are celebrating ten years too in July. I can't believe it. Mm-hmm. Lauren: ⁓ my gosh, I know, right? It's like crazy. I actually had to think about it the other day. Like sometimes like when somebody asked me my age too the other day, I had to think about it. I don't know why, but ⁓ had to think about it and same thing with the wedding. And the first year, I was like, ⁓ my god, that's 10 years. Jessielee Sittig: Same. Mm-hmm. Lauren: So yes, so I never honestly ever expected to be a twin mom, to you know, have twins. I you know, I love it, but it's changed me and blessed me in so many ways. when found out I was pregnant, I was by myself in the appointment. ⁓ you know, it's my third pregnancy. it's kind of routine, things like that. My husband was like, ⁓ you know, it's during pickup, let me grab the girls, you go, and you know, we'll chat later. ⁓ Great chat later. they did the ultrasound ⁓ there's ⁓ you know, have my little hyperventilation on the table. ⁓ but ⁓ you was able to walk out calmly, got all the way to the car, all the way to the car, ⁓ and called him ⁓ and either he just couldn't speak for a really long time or dropped the phone, not really sure, ⁓ but was very composed that I got all the way to the car first, and then I told him, and ⁓ you know, I keep saying like I walked into that appointment thinking like I had such a plan, like I'm a planner, I like things, and I left realizing I have no plan at all. I've just lost complete plans. But like I had an overall like very great pregnancy and I'm so grateful for that. I mean it's a 36 weeks. I work on a Friday, ⁓ my broke Saturday night, and my twins were born Sunday morning. ⁓ so was very like ⁓ one, three, ⁓ you know, like I said, plus pregnancy, ⁓ and were growth restricted ⁓ during my but ⁓ they came ⁓ I did have a C-section ⁓ and Jessielee Sittig: Great. Lauren: And it ended up being a really great decision at the time. you know, there was only one doctor who would do the vaginal trans or ⁓ and he had didn't happen to be there the night I went in. So it was a you know quick pivot of decisions ⁓ and ended up being fine and great. Both girls came out. twin A Eleanor came out first. she was four ten. ⁓ And a couple minutes later, ⁓ excruciating but Claire came out second, twin B, ⁓ and was four ⁓ twelve. ⁓ So were both tiny, but I was very fortunate. just NICU for observation ⁓ for their sugars. so I was very blessed and very fortunate. ⁓ you know, especially I feel like having the other two ⁓ kids at home you know, not have. Have that experience on. So I thank you know God every day for that. ⁓ have to say, my OB was great, my anesthesiologist was like a send from an angel. Like everything was ⁓ it really was a great I was pumping in the hospital, were getting Formula 2, ⁓ how to keep those blood sugars stable you know how to get ⁓ fed, and the best way to do that was. Was to give them formula, so that's what they got. And ⁓ we stayed in the hospital and then we came home. they were very they're like identical almost in weight, ounces, ⁓ everything. my ⁓ twin A, has ⁓ homangioma on her head. ⁓ And I like that was the only way I could kind of tell them apart at first. ⁓ they were you know, like not one bigger than the other. I was like, let's leave the hospital bracelets on just for like ⁓ one, two I was like, I need to get that mom sense or something to be able to tell them apart. but we came home ⁓ and everything I like I said it was it was I was blessed. I really was Jessielee Sittig: That's great. That sounds like it was such a good experience. And it's so nice to be able to have a good medical team that you feel comfortable with and supported by and all of that. So that's great. And I had a very similar situation with my boys. They were one ounce different. And I was so afraid of mixing them up. So my son, baby B has a birthmark on his leg, but it's on his upper thigh. And you know, newborns are always wearing like little pajamas. So If we really mix them up, we could like look, but we we had a difficult time telling them apart also, especially in the beginning. I feel like all newborns kind of look the same. And then when they're almost the exact weight and the exact height, you have no other real real markers to tell. So I feel you on that so much. Lauren: I know. I felt ⁓ almost embarrassed. I was like, I'm their mother. I should be able to tell them apart. I should be able to do this. But yes, and then eventually Eleanor's ⁓ has become a little bit bigger. So like other people now are like instantly tell them apart. My two girls are technically fraternal, die die fraternal. but I am very tempted, like I said, I think I was I don't know who I was talking to. I think I was messaging you and I was like, yeah, yeah. And I was like, you know what? I'm really tempted to order one of those kits off Amazon because I really think they might be identical. Jessielee Sittig: I think yes, I think we were talking about it. You totally should okay, I've talked about this before on the podcast, but we were told that our boys were fraternal because they're die die, different sacs different placentas. So we were like, okay. And then we did do the NIPT testing and then found out that they were identical boys. And we were like mind blown. So I know so many moms who think their twins are fraternal because they're die die, but end up being identical. So ⁓ Lauren: Yeah. Jessielee Sittig: You should totally do it because you know, you can just do a cheek swab. it's non-invasive. It's not like you're having to do a blood test or anything. So ⁓ my gosh. ⁓ am so curious to know if they're identical or not. Cause you know, now I feel like once our boys were like honestly more like six months, we could really tell them apart. But those newborn stages, the first three months, it was honestly like iny meeny miny mo. I don't know. ⁓ even now look back. Like baby pictures, and I'm like, okay, I can tell them apart. But our newborn pictures, the only reason I know is because Wyatt had a little bit thicker hair. So if he wasn't wearing like a beanie, which they were a lot of the times, but if they weren't, I could tell him, ⁓ I only know that's Wyatt because his hair's thicker. ⁓ Lauren: I know it's so yeah, when we had the newborn pictures and it was like, ⁓ it's like I really want to get one of each one of them, you know, printed things. I'm like, I really can't tell. To be honest, it's like when I couldn't see it was like, I mean, I think this is great. They're both together in this picture, that's what we're gonna print. Jessielee Sittig: Mm-hmm. Yes. Well, okay. And this is maybe like a a what not to do. So I don't think I've shared this on the podcast, maybe on my Instagram, but I'll I'll say this quickly: like maybe don't do this to ⁓ to not mix up your twins. So my son's names are Waylon and Wyatt. So alphabetical order, W-A-Waylon, W-Y, Wyatt. I always put them that way in their bassinet. And Wyatt already had a little bit of tortocolis, like neck tightness, because he was baby A, and I mean they were both squished, right? Like baby A was head down, but baby B was transverse, like they were really squished in there. But because I always put them in the same spots in the bassinet, Wyatt always was turning towards his brother. ⁓ he ended up having to have a cranial helmet because he had. gosh, I forgot the, I don't want to say the technical term wrong, but he had a flat spot. And we tried so hard. We did physical therapy, we did chiropractor, ⁓ and was able, like his was more minimal, so he didn't need a helmet, but Wyatt needed a helmet. So ⁓ maybe do what I did to not mix them up and make sure that you're moving their spots in the bassinet so they don't get a flat spot on their head and need a cranial helmet. ⁓ my goodness. Lauren: Yeah. Yeah. ⁓ my yeah, I know. We I always did that too. And I still I mean with our cribs now too. It's like this one goes here, this one goes here, and I did that. And my doctor literally said to me, because one was getting a little bit of a flat spot, they were like, you know, you gotta switch it up, you know, maybe with this. And I was like, Well how do you switch up? So like switch the sides of the bassinet. And I was like, I couldn't have thought of that. So I was like, but yes, it was a real thing. So I agree. Jessielee Sittig: Mm-hmm. Yes. So just be cautious about that and learn from my expensive mistake. It was so funny, it was not covered by our health insurance. I think our letter said, We recognize that your son has a misshapen head. That was like the phrasing, but not enough. Yes, but not enough for medical intervention or something. And we were like, we have to do this. Because I was also reading, and you know, we can move on from this, but Lauren: ⁓ my god. Jessielee Sittig: I was also reading that like it's not just cosmetic, it's can affect the shape of your sinuses if things are are not symmetric. So and my husband was like, Can't we just get a helmet from Walmart? And I'm like, Sweetie, no, I wish, but this is like they measure their head and it's specific and it is not a bicycle helmet that you can buy from Amazon. ⁓ It's a very Lauren: Yeah, yeah. I know. That makes sense though, that like yeah, very expensive helmet that ⁓ my gosh. It's always keep you on your toes, right? Always something. Jessielee Sittig: Yes, yeah. And we were very lucky too to have no NICU time. We were at the hospital for a couple of days. So we've had some things happen after the hospital, but it's all been minimal, like the cranial helmet and and things like that. So thankful for that as well. can you tell us a little bit about your postpartum experience? I know we were talking about feel like all moms in general experience postpartum brain frog. I keep saying Brain frog. Maybe I have some brain fog, but I feel like it is definitely worse with twins. So can you tell us about your experience with that? Lauren: Yeah. Yeah, I yeah, I think, you know, everything is magnified with twins. ⁓ to a new way. I felt like my so I had two maternity leaves previously with my other two daughters. I only took twelve weeks each time, ⁓ and I went back to work. this time I felt like it looked very different for me. I had planned to take off the whole year ahead of time. ⁓ things were just feeling different to start. I had, ⁓ know, the other two ⁓ other one was born during COVID. That was a different time. Your first maternity leave is so different. So this Jessielee Sittig: Mm-hmm. Lauren: This one was yes a seasoned mom but totally different feel for maternity leave. and it is such like a super special bonding time. And I would never take it for granted and I was very fortunate. But I feel like especially with twins, it could feel a little isolating. ⁓ you know, I'm a little more introverted, I would say. So sometimes it's easy for me to just kind of lean into that. ⁓ and you know, getting out felt like an operation of like, what do I bring? Two other kids, packing for weekend trips to go to ⁓ library. So it was just like some times it just kind of felt like that little lonely bit of like I wasn't going back to work for a time. I didn't have necessarily like scheduled events in my days. kind of started to feel like my groundhog day ⁓ over over again. ⁓ so kind of pushed me to start connecting more, even though it felt uncomfortable. ⁓ going for walks, you know, going to the library, eventually trying to build you know, a group of moms that I could connect. with and creating opportunities for the community and it just brought moms together in a way that ⁓ I didn't feel the first times around. And so I felt like I I needed this sense of community in a different way. And I had to create it almost. it was such, ⁓ know, kind of an important message that if something doesn't exist or you're not looking for it, you have to step out and build it or create it. And you're not helping yourself, but you might be helping other moms who need it too. so that's ⁓ w it was big piece of my ⁓ maternity leave and feel like I'm still, you know. ⁓ learning each day what that connection feels like and what it feels like to you, you know, we moved into our house three years ago. So we're we're new to the community. Like I said, I had older mom friends, but this was a way to connect in a different way and kind of fill up my time and feel like I had purpose and, you know, past just being a mom. Jessielee Sittig: Yeah, absolutely. I think that is so huge. So my daughter was also born in COVID. So she had a I had a very weird postpartum experience. We weren't out a lot. And then as she got older, we are doing all of the activities. we are doing mommy and me dance. We are doing all of the things that we were really deprived of during COVID. So I feel like I was able to take her out having only one kid and do all of these activities. And then the boys were born. And getting out of the house just to go on a walk was like, okay, have they have they fed? Have have I changed their diapers? Is my toddler good? When do I need a pump next? And there were all of these logistics where getting out of the house and simply going on a walk or like going to get coffee with a friend was a logistical nightmare. And ⁓ had, I'm kind of over it now, but I feel like I had a lot of guilt. Like I never did a mommy and me class with my boys. It was like, How I I would need my mom or my husband to come with me or something to be able to manage two babies. So I feel like I had to mourn that a little bit. And just slowly building community is so important because being a twin mom, especially in the beginning, can feel really isolating. So how exactly did you build that community? And is that referring to like the moms and that you guys are going on a walk tonight? Like is that the community that you've built? Lauren: Yeah, yeah. I think that originally I had we have like some town like ⁓ you know, Facebook groups or different things where people post and you know I posted saying like is there any type of groups for like, you know, not just necessarily like a music and me moms maybe who just go for walks or meet up or talk and so many people responded back saying like I don't know but I would love to do this or let me know if that's what you do. and at first I like Jessielee Sittig: ⁓ Lauren: had it in my drafts to post for like a really long time being like ⁓ my gosh do I do this? Like I'm a little nervous like if people think that's so like you don't have any Jessielee Sittig: It's hard to put yourself out Lauren: Yeah, and like they're gonna be like, She has no friends, she does them, you know. So I I finally did it and it was like, Wow, so many people wanted it and so we went into like a little chat at first where we would do definitely walks. We met up at a couple playgroup places, library, all sorts of different type of little things. We tried for like once a week. when the weather's been nicer, we've been able to do a couple different things. We've done a couple ⁓ happy hours. like just we'll get together even without the kids. and then it turned into now we have like a bigger group. I think we have like ⁓ over a hundred moms in it. yeah ⁓ Jessielee Sittig: Amazing. ⁓ my gosh. Lauren: So it turned into something really quick and big, kind of ⁓ even, ⁓ know, thinking that's not what my intention was. That wasn't it was just to kinda ⁓ this for myself too, because I needed this for my little mental well-being as well. and it turns out so many other people felt like they needed it too, I guess. ⁓ And so yeah, now ⁓ we a big group ⁓ and we do, you know, people have even branched off from there and made more friendships and things. So it's been really nice to see. And I never would have in a million years my other self would have been like, you would never do that. So I think twins gives you some kind of superpower eventually. You start to feel this within your body, and you're like, I can do this. I had twins. I can do anything. I can put myself out there. so I did, and it's been such a positive experience. think twins gives you some of superpower eventually. You start to feel this within your body, and you're like, I can do this. I had twins. I can do anything. I can put myself out there. so I did, and it's been such a positive experience. met so many women, twins, singletons, you know, everything. It's just been so cup-filling for day. ⁓ Jessielee Sittig: That's amazing. And what I mean, over a hundred moms. That is so incredible. And just shows that there was a major need. And I love that you guys do playdates, walks, and also happy hours and stuff like that with just moms. I started doing twin play dates and we're gonna have our third one on Friday. I'm really excited about it, but we haven't done anything. ⁓ Like outside of that, with a happy hour or something where just moms can connect. And I think that's a really great idea because I love getting our kids together and being able to chat that way. But you know, when you're at a play date, you can connect and your kids can connect, but there are so many interruptions ⁓ you're like, ⁓ we got to talk about this ⁓ thing for three minutes and then got interrupted. So I love that you can just have focused mom time. ⁓ Lauren: Hm. Jessielee Sittig: And that is so incredible. So this was all just stemmed from a Facebook post. Lauren: Yeah, just from a Facebook post. and we're having a Mom's Night Out ⁓ coming up in June, a sip and shop. so just different ways to get the community involved too. And ⁓ yeah, it just started from a Facebook post and it just kind of took off from there. ⁓ Jessielee Sittig: That's incredible. so if someone is listening and wanted to connect, if they're in like a similar area, how would they do that? And can you also say how to connect with you like on Instagram and stuff? Lauren: Yeah, sure. So if we're even in a similar area, we have a Facebook group ⁓ and it's ⁓ Moms it's through I can help you get in through my Instagram. My Instagram is Lauren.j.love. and it's just if you're local and you're in the area, we'd love to have you join us ⁓ and or if are not local in the area, ⁓ be your little of motivation to maybe reach out and do it in your area because I'm sure that there's so many other moms who would love it. And it's just a secret, not like a secret society at this point, but like a different way of like connecting that I didn't know. And even when I was like, my mom was like, Yeah, I used to go to play groups back then. We used to have tons of playgroups. I was like, I know, but this is like you know, play groups and things to connect. We talk, you know, people, ⁓ just it is nice, it is so nice. And like you said, it's more than three minutes sometimes when we're out without kids about conversations and just ⁓ talking, ⁓ and just kind of I need to be in that like what it feels like to be out with your kids, not with your kids for a second too. Jessielee Sittig: Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's really incredible. And I'm just imp really impressed by the growth. And like I said, it just shows there was like a major need and a lot of moms wanted that type of community also. I know this isn't twin specific, but how many out of hundred moms, how many would you say have twins? Just out of curiosity. Lauren: So crazy that there are at least five or six that have twins in our in our community, which has been so nice because we all live in I it's not a huge town, but we all live in this town, and we're like, ⁓ wow, we have a whole little twin bomb group going on in a bigger group of a town. and they're all varying ages. but it's really it's really nice to especially the twin moms I think have connected even ⁓ outside of to be like ⁓ a lot them have twins that they're like 15, ⁓ 16. ⁓ months so they're in a different you know phase than I'm in versus you know someone else so it's that piece has been nice to ⁓ to not feel so isolated in that twin world. Jessielee Sittig: Yeah. Well, and I think it's so important in regard to twin mom friends. Like it's of course, like I kind of see it as three tiers. Like it is so great to have twin moms who have the same age kids as you because you're in the same stage and your kids can play together and things like that. And I think it's so nice to have a twin mom friend who has twins older than your twins. So you can like spitball, like, ⁓ my gosh, this is happening. What did you do in this scenario? And then on the opposite end. To have twin mom friends with twins who are younger than yours so that you can be give that mentorship that you have received from other twin moms. So I love that. And I think all three of those friendships and twin different ages are so beneficial. So how exciting that that just like has me all pumped up too. And that makes me it makes me want to expand our twin group more to just go going beyond just having. Lauren: Ha ha ha. Jessielee Sittig: the twin play dates. So thank you for inspiring me. Lauren: Yeah. Yeah, I think it's such a need there. Yeah. I inspire anybody who yeah, I think it's such a need and it it's so funny how you know, it I like I said, never expected, but it was such a I think so many people even said, I'd been thinking about it, I'd been thinking about it and I was like, Yeah, it's really hard to act on it sometimes 'cause it took me a really long time. But ⁓ like I said, it has been this such a shift in my mindset, my everything to just look forward to having these events, connecting with these moms and really i it's it's been amazing. Jessielee Sittig: That's so great. And I know we were talking earlier about just how postpartum can be a really difficult time, not even just that fourth trimester, but but on. postpartum isn't just the six weeks you have twins or a baby. It I think postpartum is like after you have kids, you're, you know, in that in that phase of life. Lauren: Yeah. Jessielee Sittig: So what else do you feel like you have done to help to help in that postpartum phase? Lauren: Yeah, I like I so agree. I feel like, you know, so many people are like, you go to your postpartum, six week checkup or eight week checkup, okay, you're on your way, you know. I feel like, you know, postpartum can be as long as you want your body to feel it. I mean, as long as you feel it's postpartum. ⁓ you know, a year, five years, you know, six months. It just really your body, your space, and what that postpartum can feel like. ⁓ I have ⁓ Jessielee Sittig: Mm-hmm. Lauren: PCOS, which is now PMOS. so my whole I've had it my whole entire life, since was sixteen. So ⁓ lived ups, those downs. you know, I did not have ⁓ Some of the there's so many a range of symptoms or different ⁓ things you can feel anywhere from, you know, hormonal imbalance, insulin resistance, some infertility. I was very fortunate that my end I did not have ⁓ the infertility, but that is a big ⁓ you know, people definitely experience that. ⁓ You the weight, the fatigue, inflammation, you know, so many ⁓ pieces of irregular periods, my whole life. you know, so those pieces I think hit me more ⁓ after my ⁓ Yeah. Twin pregnancy, my body was just all over the place. My hormones were raging in different ways. you know, ⁓ a way that I felt like I need to do something for my body because ⁓ I ⁓ like I was ⁓ being the best mom. Like I wasn't showing up to be the best mom that I could be. I felt like I was a little snappy. And I mean, yes, I was tired. Everybody's ⁓ tired, I feel like I was not showing up to be the best mom that I could be, and I needed to start taking care of myself a little bit from the Inside out to show up to be the mom that I wanted to be for them, for my older girls, my twins, everything. And that started with taking care of myself. And ⁓ ⁓ know, before it's like, you know, we're moms, we put everybody else first. Sometimes we have to be a little selfish and take care of our bodies ⁓ in to take care of everybody else. So ⁓ I started focusing in on my hormone health and taking care of my body ⁓ and really. really looking at those symptoms and those pieces that were contributing to ⁓ these outbreaks I would have or you know these feelings of you know my mood, my fatigue, my breakouts, everything. So I started really looking at it inside out and I dove myself almost down rabbit holes of like reading things, researching, you know, looking at ingredients, doing all these things, and then ⁓ coming to myself, feel like I'd let me just create a nice balance for myself. I want to create a balance. ⁓ want To you know, take care of my ancestors out, but I'm not an extremist on the other end. so ⁓ really focused in on things like my stress, my cortisol, my sleep when I could, you know, very, ⁓ hot topic of things, but my blood sugar, my overall nutrition, ⁓ I feel like going to those root causes of things and going back to basics and supporting my bodies in like simple, ⁓ ways. ⁓ not only supported myself, ⁓ I was able. To feel good in my body again, feel like myself again. And even before I had my twins, I felt like my body, you know, there were definitely things I could have done for my body. And I think it pushed me afterwards to, you know, I had four daughters. I want them to look at me and not say, you know, ⁓ she talked about her weight or she talked about this. I I, you know, I'm I'm there, I have four daughters and I wanna be their role model, but and they're always watching what I'm doing. So I needed to start thinking about what my choices look like and how I could be a healthy version of myself to reflect on them. Jessielee Sittig: Yeah, absolutely. That's so huge. And I feel like it's just crazy how much like your nutrients and what you're putting into your body affects your hormones and your mood. And I feel like the episode that I had with Allegra from Aloha Nutrition was so eye-opening of like how how many moms are under-eating and just how that affects your body. And I don't want to butcher this, I'll have to check. But I think she was saying that like Something crazy, like 93% of moms are nutrient depleted. I need to check to make sure, but I was like, that is so all of us, that's absolutely wild. And I feel like one thing that I have tried to do recently, especially as my kids are becoming a little bit more self-sufficient, this is not easy to do when you have babies, especially twin babies. But a lot of times during meals. Lauren: Easy. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Jessielee Sittig: I would stand. And if someone needs something, I'm like, I'm not really eating. I'm like filling up people's water bottles. And ⁓ someone wants their fruit cut differently. I'm I'm not sitting and eating. I'm like assisting others, which I'm happy to do as a mom. But like you said, there are some instances where you need to put yourself first. So what I've been saying now is I'm gonna finish my food and then I'll be happy to refill your water or get you more strawberries or whatever. But letting them know that me eating and taking care of my body is also important. And I feel like I really didn't start doing that until recently. And I feel like it really hit home when you are talking about wanting to be a good role model for your daughters. I have a daughter and I just completely understand that. And I feel like, you know, we grew up in a time where there were magazines shaming people in bathing suits and The diet culture. Yes, it was wild. And all the diet culture, like, you know, no carbs, carbs are bad, you know, Adkins diet, special K diet, eat cereal three times a day and lose weight. I mean, it was wild. So I feel like we have to do a lot of that ⁓ ⁓ I try really hard to watch what I say in front of my daughter. Lauren: Mm, that Cosmo in seventeen. Mm-hmm. Jessielee Sittig: Especially about my appearance or my body. Because you're right, like our voice becomes their internal voice. And I always talk about like if I'm going to yoga or I'm working out, I'm doing that to be strong. Where maybe even 10 years ago or maybe less, I would have like, ⁓ I'm doing this to be skinny. ⁓ just having to like switch that mind shift of what we were growing up with. and how different that is now. So I think it's a good thing that it's becoming more common to ⁓ sure that you are eating enough. Like I feel like there are a lot more accounts talking about like, you know, your macros and your protein should be high and so should your fats and carbohydrates. there isn't a lot of pushing diet culture anymore. ⁓ And I'm for that because it was really overwhelming growing up with that. Lauren: Yeah, that diet culture and that like I have to be skinny you know, not strong but just skinny is it was so real. ⁓ you know, like calorie depletion, like don't eat, like you were saying, all these crazy fad diets. ⁓ I had to really switch my mindset and be like, I this I can't do another fad diet. I think I tried ev I mean, Atkins, keto, ⁓ you know, de counter, whatever, you know, things that it just I started really looking at it through the root cause and being like, What do we need to like nourish Our bodies, like what can we do from a very basic level? You know, hydration, proteins, all those things that we were taught to do in natural, but you know, we're so long for so many years, fat fatted out, like by this culture, and you know, and then it really sunk in with my daughters, like how I talk about my body, how do I react to it? Exactly, like saying I'm going to work out to like feel good in my body and I want to be strong. Jessielee Sittig: Mm. Lauren: And it matters so much to me. And I just don't want them hearing, you know, even just like the love wearing shorts today. You go girl, you wear those shorts, like those positive affirmations. And I want them to see a mom who takes care of herself because, you know, she loves herself. She's not trying to punish or shrink herself. ⁓ she chooses balance and confidence and strength and respect for herself. So ⁓ the message I always wanted to send to them. And I think that really came out ⁓ you know, I'm ⁓ not any more children, the trends are my Jessielee Sittig: Same. Lauren: So it's like it all really s yes, it all really sunk in and just was like this is this becomes part of the voice. You're right, that they hear every day and they carry, ⁓ you know, I can still think of my things my mom said all the time and it really does stick with you. And I just had to make that mindset switch and I think as it I show up as a better mom now and ⁓ that's what I really want for them, you know. Jessielee Sittig: Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah. And it's I feel like it's something hard to do. I feel like especially after having twins, my body has changed a lot and there's a lot of loose skin, a lot of places. And I feel like when well, like yesterday we were in the pool a lot. And I'm just like, okay, this is what my my body looks like now. And I have had three babies, two at the same time, and that changed my body. And I'm thankful for what my body was able to do. even though it looks different now. But that is something I feel like I'm constantly working on because the loose skin is hard. Lauren: Yeah, it's so hard. Jessielee Sittig: Yeah. Lauren: It is yeah, it's there and your It just went through this experience and ⁓ there is gonna be loose skin, but it doesn't reflect you feel in your body or healthy or not healthy you are and it's just, you know, they're almost like our nostalgias, like our reminders, right? Of ⁓ what we what we endured and what we went through. ⁓ Jessielee Sittig: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I think that's such a good conversation and a good reminder, especially as we're like nearing summer where a lot of us are going to be wearing shorts and bathing suits, to have body positivity, especially in front of your children. So I think it's a good reminder. And yeah, especially with four daughters. And I I feel that way with just my one and my sons. You know, they have always been kind of on the small side. So kind of like on the opposite spectrum, kind of struggling with that. just talking about body positivity in general ⁓ so key. ⁓ yeah, having to unlearn a lot of what we saw in the media. ⁓ were brutal. ⁓ Lauren: Really brutal. I you know, somebody said about the magazine things, I was like, You're so right. I was like, I looked at like an old Cosmo thing you see in seventeen and all these things, they were like, Wow, they we were horrible to young girls, like telling them what they should and shouldn't do. So, so fortunate it's switched, it's I think it's really switching in this diet fad and I'm so hopeful and for this generation of girls, you know, being s confident in their bodies. ⁓ Jessielee Sittig: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And this conversation is really timely because they just changed the name ⁓ from PCOS to PMOS. So what were your thoughts on that? Lauren: Mm-hmm. Yeah. So yes, so it always had been PCOS, which is ovarian syndrome, and they just switched it to PMOS, which is polyendocrine melabolic ovarian syndrome. and know, I think for years and years it's been a very miss ⁓ it's ⁓ it's hard to diagnose as this, you know, your labs look normal, but all these things are happening to you. Good luck, you know, here, take some, you know, ⁓ birth or things like that. ⁓ And could be a solution for someone. but you know, I feel like it is a whole melabolic ⁓ of not just ⁓ ovaries. ⁓ there are so many things happening with your blood sugars, your glucose, your insulins, ⁓ ⁓ body is not functioning correctly, which is then creating all these ⁓ and things to come out. ⁓ it's just really hard sometimes to manage without the proper supports. And I think a lot of people get diagnosed ⁓ happen to be diagnosed very early on. ⁓ I had a really great endocrine. Who was like on top of it and like has been supporting me through my whole time, but as especially older later on, maybe through infertility or things, people are getting diagnosed, and it's a really hard thing to just take on all of a sudden and realize like for all these years, like it's not my body just like hating me, like I just can't lose the weight, or I just am so inflamed. It's actually something going on hormonally in your body, it's an imbalance, and it causes those things. ⁓ and it can feel so frustrating. I think that the new diagnosis really encompasses all of Of the symptoms people may feel, you know, on a range. It's definitely a spectrum. People feel ⁓ some people have terrible hormonal the acne, some people feel nothing or see nothing. ⁓ know, some people don't deal with the issues, other people do. so I think it's such a spectrum of feelings and ⁓ how you're doing in your body, but ⁓ really to that root cause and ⁓ doing research and finding out what works, not body's gonna react. Jessielee Sittig: Mm-hmm. Lauren: And do the same thing, but finding what works for you can really make a difference in feeling those, you know, symptoms. And you know, so many people after the name change people have ⁓ been, you know, very ⁓ happy feel validated almost like things I've been feeling for all these years have some ⁓ connection. ⁓ Jessielee Sittig: Mm-hmm. And you said that you were diagnosed when you were sixteen. And how exactly like what did that look like? Lauren: So I happen to have an amazing, well, pediatrician at that time almost who referred me to endocrinologist because I wasn't getting my cycles. They I just hadn't gotten them. ⁓ I was definitely had ⁓ some overweight issues. I had really bad acne. there were definitely when they did my labs, I did have higher testosterone than I did estrogen. ⁓ my insulin and my glucose levels were a little off. So there were ⁓ signs that led to ⁓ Jessielee Sittig: Okay. Lauren: see an endocrinologist and he was like, Yes, this is, you know, PCOS, these are what you might be feeling. and it always was a big fear factor for me as I got older and thought about having children because of such, you know, this infertility and things that can come with it. I was very ⁓ blessed that I didn't you know, have that infertility, but I know so many people who have, you know, struggled with that piece of it and the frustration of, you know, these symptoms and how it comes out in your body and especially ⁓ Jessielee Sittig: Mm. Lauren: the struggle to lose weight and different pieces like that. So ⁓ yeah, so I've been dealing with it, but it's it's definitely something that is still I think needs more research and needs more attention. You know, a lot of things in women's health we need to, you know, bring attention to and I think it's slowly starting to come that way. Like our diet culture, like our this, it's it's coming back to women's health and kind of how to feel supported in your body and not necessarily just saying like, ⁓ here you go, this this is your fix. Jessielee Sittig: Mm-hmm. Yeah. I feel like this conversation is making me also feel or making me also think about like endometriosis. And there are so many other women's issues that just we don't have a lot of information about in general. So hopefully that continues to change and we continue to learn more and have more research and and data on all of this stuff. And I know you were talking a lot about like wellness and nutrition and Lauren: Yeah. Jessielee Sittig: Is that how you're able to manage your PMOS now? ⁓ Lauren: Yeah. Yes. So I do a lot. Yes. And I I'm managing it well now because I like I said, I went down my rabbit hole of researching and I've actually taken a couple hormonal health classes now to kinda educate myself and learn ⁓ about So that has been ⁓ very eye opening. Very eye opening. so yeah, managing it through, you know, ⁓ basic things my body. I'm hydrating, I'm, you know, trying to get my protein in when I can. I'm definitely trying not be that mom who's Jessielee Sittig: ⁓ cool. Lauren: Eating the leftover mac and cheese and chicken nuggets at the counter because I can't sit down to the dinner. So I'm just trying to make myself aware of those things. you know, just daily steps. Like the workouts I was doing in my 20s are, you know, I could never do that now. And I had to accept that like my body's not where it was 20 years ago. So I gotta do things that support me now. I do some like Pilates and some strength very light, daily walks, ⁓ crazy, but something that's actually supporting my body. and ⁓ getting to you know the root cause I you I try to use products that are non-toxic and EDC free ⁓ just for my body and for my well being all about balance definitely not perfect ⁓ in those respects but I definitely ⁓ and become more aware for sure. Jessielee Sittig: okay, well, what a great discussion. I've being able to talk about body image how we portray that with our kids and the name change from PCOS to PMOS and what that means and how nutrition affects our body and our hormones. I think it's been such a good discussion. So I so appreciate it. ⁓ And you know, my ⁓ My closing question is always if you could have a heart to heart with a twin mom or give her a piece of advice, what would you tell her? Lauren: so this was so great. I was ⁓ our discussion and loved our ⁓ I I have kind of ⁓ two ⁓ One like baby and one for moms like yourself. I think for the babies, ⁓ you definitely, know, you you create your routines but ⁓ hold on them very loosely. You know, structure can definitely help your days feel like more manageable and in your control. ⁓ I love I love structure. that teacher in me that I love those things, but ⁓ I also have two older kids and life is gonna happen. Somebody's doctor's appointments gonna happen during nap time ⁓ and sports events gonna be through bedtime almost. ⁓ So a nap gets missed or you know you have a meltdown, plans are changing, it's not you're failing at all, ⁓ your there to kind of like support you and not stress you out. ⁓ I to learn that. I really had to ⁓ try learn that and like Jessielee Sittig: Mm-hmm. Lauren: go some of my control. I said, I like ⁓ I it. ⁓ And this experience has let me ⁓ let control go a little bit, which is like I was so to the point where it's like I was yelling at my husband like the first week I was like, you put the bottles on wrong or something. And he was I don't think you can put them on wrong, Lauren. Like there's sh like ⁓ I like I was like well that one doesn't go with that piece and that one and he was like okay. ⁓ So Jessielee Sittig: Like right. Does it does it really matter? Lauren: Exactly. It didn't matter. I was just, you know, the control had to be let go. And I finally it's taken a long time but it it's getting there. ⁓ and I think for moms it's like it's so hard, but try not to lose so much of yourself in the process. Like try to create those small moments for yourself. A coffee without your kids in the morning, a walk, a few quiet minutes. ⁓ you know, I've learned so much I can be a better mom for my kids when I show up and take care of myself too. And we put so much pressure on ourselves to do everything perfect or your house, ⁓ everything, and you just can't compare. ⁓ know, find your people ⁓ create them like you create them if they don't exist. because the twin motherhood can feel the ice late and give yourself grace. ⁓ you don't have to do it perfectly. You just keep showing up every day, and that's all your kids are gonna remember and ask for. ⁓ you know, ⁓ so my daughter said the other day, my middle ⁓ one, five-year-old, we all we did was go, my husband had to work ⁓ on a weekend and we I took them to the park, I took everybody to the park and it was like and then we went in to got the smoothie of Panera. That's what they wanted. And she came home, she was like, This was the best day ever, Mom. I'm like, Jessielee Sittig: No Lauren: Yeah, like it doesn't take going to Disney World sometimes. Like you just we went to the park in Panera and you were so happy and I was like, Yeah, it doesn't because you just want to be with your mom it all has gone so fast I feel like too. I it's so long in the blur and my groundhog day, but ⁓ it's so chaotic half the time at my especially if you're here ⁓ from school off or school dropout and it's become ⁓ chaotic, but I cherish it ⁓ and And I almost like the twins the other night, like I said, they are my last kids and they didn't want to like they always contacted that on me. I was that person I was like, I let them contact. It was the only way anybody got sleep, but we were rocking in the chair and they were like, you know, squirming, they're eight months, they want to move, and I was like, ⁓ just lay on me, just want to be on me. And I was like, wow, that's so quick already. And so I know it's like a blur and you're totally like, I'm never even gonna watch a TV show again, and you will. And so it's just like Jessielee Sittig: Mm-hmm. Lauren: try to cherish those moments and I think I thought about it a little bit differently knowing these were my last ones. but yes, those moments are like I would take them I've made on me on the couch right now. Jessielee Sittig: Hmm, I love all of that. And it's so true. Like I am absolutely a recovering perfectionist. Like with my daughter, I was unhinged. nap time started at 12. If it is 12:03 and she is not sleeping, it would almost bring me to tears. Like it was not a healthy level of control ⁓ was going on. And then with the boys, it's like after you have twins or multiple children, I feel like you are almost forced to be like, I cannot. Lauren: Mm-hmm. Jessielee Sittig: control all of this. I don't have the brain capacity. And it is not worth having like a Menti B over how someone loaded the dishwasher or how someone put bottles together. Like I was the exact same way. And it took a long time and having twins to kind of change that. And it really has helped for the better to just like let some things go. Like I can't control everything. And I love the piece of advice of like, Lauren: Mm. Jessielee Sittig: Try to hold on to a little bit of yourself through all of this. It's like, I know you have a lot of kids, there's a lot going on, but it's you don't want to lose yourself in the process. Like we're talking about like telling your kids and saying, hey, I will gladly get you a glass of water or milk or cut your strawberries in five minutes when I'm done with my lunch, because we are important too and our needs are important too. ⁓ I agree, there's something about the last babies that have just ⁓ Lauren: Yeah. Yeah. Jessielee Sittig: I've just like cherished things a little bit more that seemed really, really hard with my daughter because I know they're my last babies. even potty training, like we've kind of been potty training. My boys are almost three. And I would say now they're almost a hundred percent potty trained, but it's been like months of like, ⁓ we're kind of gonna do it. ⁓ we're not gonna do it. ⁓ I just have ⁓ are I guess my point is there are some things I haven't taken as seriously because. ⁓ Lauren: Mm-hmm. Jessielee Sittig: They're my babies. I know that they will eventually be potty trained and I'm kind of just trying to enjoy it more. Like the cuddles and the yeah. So I agree. That was Lauren: Yeah. Yeah, nobody goes on that kindergarten bus, not potty trained or with their bottles and took me a long time too. They'll let that let that resonate and let that go. But you know, twins have that funny way of doing that to you. Jessielee Sittig: Yes. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely. Well, that was really that was really good advice and a really good conversation. So I so appreciate your time. And especially I feel like coming from a mom who has twins that are only eight months old, I'm just impressed because I feel like, you know, you're slowly, you're still very much in the thick of it, but you're like just getting out of that like infant state. I mean, still. And I'm just impressed that like you're here and all of the tips you have were so great. So Lauren: No, thank you. And ⁓ yes, we're getting out of it and I so appreciate our conversation and this was so awesome to, you know, t have like conversation with another twin mom. Jessielee Sittig: Thank you so much, Lauren. Yes, absolutely. Well, thank you so much.