Because every mother is a superwoman, we've been getting to know Mums from all over New Zealand and Australia and the one thing we've learned is that no two journeys through motherhood are the same! Here is a serie of SuperMums who shared their story with us.
Meet Millie Thompson, Supermum to Indie, 1yo
About you
Kia Ora! I am Millie! Mum to Indie & fiancé to Josh. I became a mother on the 14th of April 2018.... the day we got our positive pregnancy test!! My pregnancy was the pregnancy from absolute hell. I was in and out of hospital from 5 weeks pregnant up until 2 days after I gave birth, suffering from a condition called Hyperemesis Gravidarum (this is what Princess Kate Middleton had in her pregnancies). I lost 12kgs in 2 weeks and couldn’t keep any food or water down. Iv fluids, iv anti nausea, 2 x types of anti nausea pills every 8 hours for 8months. It was horrible. I decided to start a blog to share my story - Raising Her Barefoot. It has connected me with so many amazing mothers who share the same hopes and dreams as me. I have a very natural approach at parenting and want Indie to have a “run wild my child” kind of childhood. I give her the opportunities + environment she needs to flourish and let her run free. I plan to homeschool Indie right throughout education (if all goes to plan). We have a lot of plans. We are so happy to have Indie here with us. We really are living the dream.
How do you feel being a young mother?
I’m often greeted with shocked faces and “wooooow you’re so young” comments when people find out my age. I gave birth to Indie in the last few months of being 18 years old. Most people are stuck in the stereotype that young parents weren’t having safe sex and now have a child as a result of that. That was not that case at all for Josh and I. We both come from large families and both wanted to have children, so when we fell in love we knew that we’d love to start our own family quite soon. Josh and I had been together for a short 7 months before getting engaged and trying for a baby. We sadly lost a child at 6 weeks pregnant (we’d known for about 10 days after getting a positive test). I got pregnant with Indie the very next month. I am very passionate talking to other parents about how my age does not effect my parenting. We all make mistakes as parents (even as humans!), so if my child falls over, it’s not because I was being a lousy teen mum and not watching her, it was because she tripped and fell. I think a lot of teenage parents are looked down on which really isn’t fair, as there are some really amazing mothers and fathers out there who are still in their teenage years. I have not 1 regret about getting pregnant early on in my life. We could have waiting 5 more years but that’s 5 years we’ve missed out on parenting. We see it as, now we can travel the world and make memories with our daughter while we are still young and healthy!
Is it important to feed your little one organic food?
Yes 100%. A child’s immune system is built on what you put into their bodies; so feeding them top quality food is so important. We absolutely love the Only Organic baby food range for many reasons. 1. Indie loves it and actually enjoys eating it 2. It’s full of organic goodness, so we know she’s eating the best & 3. It is super affordable for all families.
What is your #1 feeding tip?
Follow your child’s lead. After all, they’re the ones eating it! I have tried Indie on quite a few baby food brands and Only Organic is definitely up there in the top 3! It tastes like REAL food, unlike some of the other options out there ugh! Find what they like! Fruity, savoury, mashed consistency? Try them all!
What's your favourite things about being a mum?
Follow your child’s lead. After all, they’re the ones eating it! I have tried Indie on quite a few baby food brands and Only Organic is definitely up there in the top 3! It tastes like REAL food, unlike some of the other options out there ugh! Find what they like! Fruity, savoury, mashed consistency? Try them all!
Any advice to another young mum to be?
Pick and choose what advice you actually take in from others. You’ll receive A LOT of advice (unwanted most of the time!), so make sure you only take note of the advice that YOU want to. People will think you need extra help (which sometimes you will), but just remember you are just as capable as any other mother out there. Just because you’re younger, doesn’t mean you’ll love less. Your motherly instincts will be just as good don’t you worry!
