In my previous blog, I discussed how pregnancy disrupted my outdoor adventures due to Hyperemesis, leaving me unable to do much (if any) adventuring for nearly the entire nine months.
Fast forward to postpartum, and once again, I had grand ideas of what life would look like. Before my baby arrived, we invested in the Ergo Baby Omni Breeze 360 and the Little Life Adventurer S2 for when she was a bit older. I imagined long pram walks while she slept peacefully or scenic strolls using the carrier. I’m fortunate to have several beautiful walks right from my doorstep. I even expected that by October, when she was six months old, we’d be back exploring the Lakes with her in the Little Life. Clearly, I had no clue what motherhood was really about when I pictured my postpartum journey so perfectly.
A Rocky Start: The Reality of Recovery
I ended up having an emergency C-section after a long, unmedicated labor—not by choice but due to a very unhelpful midwife. I genuinely think people downplay C-sections! Medical professionals discuss it as if it’s no big deal because it’s a common procedure, but let me be clear—it’s a huge deal. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
My postpartum journey veered off course the moment she was born. Because of the C-section, I missed seeing my husband cut the cord, I couldn’t have immediate skin-to-skin contact, and I was unable to stand up to dress her or pick her up when needed. Beyond those emotional moments, the recovery was far more challenging than I anticipated. It hurt—a lot. I don’t understand why people sugarcoat it.
I spent about 24 hours in the hospital after the C-section and was sent home with strong painkillers. Although they helped, they made me incredibly sleepy—a terrible combination with the exhaustion from childbirth and three days in the hospital. I could barely get up the stairs, let alone consider walks! I managed a very slow pram walk around the block five days in. The only thing that went smoothly was breastfeeding. My milk came in quickly, and my little girl latched immediately, so we were lucky to avoid any major feeding issues.
The Baby Who Hated the Pram
Once I recovered, I thought, Bring on the walks! But my baby had other ideas. She used her bassinet for about three weeks before deciding she hated lying on her back. She was the definition of a “Velcro baby,” suffering badly from gas and needing to be held almost constantly. She wouldn’t sleep in her crib or bassinet and screamed every time she was in the pram.
We ended up visiting the sling library in Pudsey, where we learned how to use the Ergo Baby. We also hired the Close Caboo sling, which I absolutely loved! I used it for short walks, trips to town, and baby groups, while the Ergo Baby was for more “off-trail” adventures. We had to time all our walks with her naps because she only slept well in the carriers. Between two to six months, I did a lot of short walks just to get her to sleep.
While the carriers were a lifesaver, car journeys were a nightmare. She hated the car seat (and still does), which meant we couldn’t drive more than 10-20 minutes away. No trips to the Yorkshire Dales or Lake District for us!
Summer Struggles and Sling Libraries
One thing I didn’t anticipate was carrying a baby in the heat. With constant warnings about babies overheating and the need to keep their skin covered before six months, anxiety kicked in. I spent ages figuring out the best layering system, especially since the Caboo counted as two layers. I avoided long walks because I worried about her overheating.
For those unfamiliar, sling libraries are fantastic! They’re non-profit organizations dotted around the country where you can try different baby carriers, learn how to use them correctly, and hire them to see what works best for you. It’s a great way to test out carriers before spending a lot of money, especially since some babies don’t like certain styles.
Adapting Expectations
To summarize: my baby hated the pram, would only sleep in the carrier, hated the car seat, and was born in April, meaning most of our babywearing happened during the summer heat. I was constantly anxious about her overheating. It might sound dramatic, but being a new mum is scary enough, and when they’re that small, it’s hard to know if they’re too hot or too cold.
Fast forward a few months—my baby is nearly 10 months old and has just started taking her first steps. She now prefers the pram to the carrier unless she’s ready for a nap. She still hates the car seat and being confined, so pram usage is short-lived. If she’s awake, she cries in the carrier because she wants to move around. And so far, every attempt to put her in the Little Life S2 has ended in tears.
She’s always been quick with motor skills—crawling, standing, and now walking very early. I think once she masters walking, we’ll be able to take her out of the carrier to stretch her legs, making hiking more feasible.
Reflecting on the Journey
Over the past 18 months, I’ve learned that every pregnancy and baby is completely different. In trying to maintain my outdoor lifestyle, I’ve had to take a bit of a hiatus and learn to go with the flow. I know it won’t be forever, and we still enjoy little countryside walks, so I’m grateful for that.
Despite the challenges, we’ve had successes, like breastfeeding and hitting developmental milestones. Every parent and baby faces their own set of difficulties, and we’re all just learning to do our best. Now that she’s on the move, I know a new, exciting, and challenging chapter is about to begin.
Final Thoughts
While my outdoor adventures are still on hold, this chapter of life is teaching me patience, flexibility, and resilience. I look forward to the day when we can fully embrace the trails again—but for now, we’re taking it one step at a time, quite literally!
Amy’s Journey 