Tell us: Laura from lesfactoryfemmes

Dear Laura, tell us a little about yourself. Who are you, what do you do?

I'm Laura, 36, and I'm self-employed in the field of content creation and social media, where I actually ended up by chance because I studied something completely different. But when I founded our blog Les Factory Femmes with my best friend Deea in 2013, which is about fashion, interior and beauty, I took this path. I've also had a new job for 3 months now because I've become a mother.

How are you doing as a new mom?

Very good. I tried to make the most of the magical early days at home and to let myself be open to all the feelings that came up. Luckily, I had my fiancé by my side during the postpartum period, who took a lot of the burden off me. But our family and friends also supported us. This meant I was able to recover well and settle into my new role as a mother. It was a great experience for us as a small new family.

Have you settled into your new life yet? What does your everyday life look like?

I am now much more confident in dealing with our little Aava, but we do not yet have a clear routine with set times. When she wakes up in the morning, we breastfeed her in bed, then we cuddle and "talk" to her, because she has now learned to make lots of different sounds that she is keen to use to communicate. Then we get dressed and start the day. When she is awake, we usually "play" a bit before it is time to go back to sleep. When she is sleeping during the day, I try to work, do the housework, or do some exercise. Sometimes that works better, sometimes worse, because she is not sleeping particularly well at the moment. But that could also be because of her jump.

“Of course a lot has changed, but we knew that before we made the decision.”

What has been the biggest change for you personally and for you as a family since the birth of your daughter?

The biggest and most beautiful change for me was "becoming a mother". At first it is not so easy to understand that the little miracle that has grown inside you is now in the world and depends on you 24/7. Luckily, a lot of things come quite intuitively and this bond between mother and child is something very special.
For my fiancé and me, the feeling of being a small family now is the biggest change. This pure form of love for this little miracle that connects us as a couple forever. That has brought us even closer together.

What advice was given to you during pregnancy that is now completely useless in life with a baby?

Not advice, but something we've heard a lot. That our life as it was before will be over. Of course, a lot has changed, but we knew that before we made the decision and I don't think statements like that are particularly helpful.

And which one might have been helpful?

You have to sleep when the baby sleeps 😀 But I only managed that in the first few weeks, now I try to use the free time for myself and everything that needs to be done.

Can you prepare for life with a newborn? What are your essentials?

I think that's quite difficult with the first baby because you don't know exactly what to expect. But it's definitely helpful if you think about things like breastfeeding, baby sleep, infant care, postpartum care, etc. beforehand. Then you're not too overwhelmed by everything at the beginning. I didn't buy too many things for the baby beforehand because I wanted to see what we really needed. Every baby is different. For me, essentials are definitely a stroller. I chose the Lux from Naturkind and I'm so happy with the decision because she falls asleep in it very quickly when we're out and about and it's great to use. Good muslin cloths are also very important because you really need them for everything and you can't keep up with washing them. The carrier or sling have also proven to be very helpful, so I have them close to me and my hands free sometimes. Baby nests and side beds also work very well for us, but as I said, it all depends on how you want to handle life with a baby and what makes the baby tick.

You and your partner Deea run a successful fashion blog at www.lesfactoryfemmes.com . How much fashion is compatible with a baby 😉 or to put it another way, how often do you have to change clothes a day?

I've actually felt a change in style over the last year. I've started to build up a wardrobe of good basics and classics. I prefer to invest a little more in items that I know will be worn often and for longer.
However, my beloved high heels are currently gathering dust in the closet because they don't fit in well with my everyday life. And to answer the question of how often I change, I can only say that on some days I don't manage to get properly dressed until around midday. Often I only have to change if I'm spat on. 😉

Do you have any practical outfit tips for moms with babies?

I have found it helpful to think of a few outfits when I have a quiet moment. I then fall back on them when I need to be quick. I also breastfeed Aava and so I always have to make sure that the clothes I wear are breastfeeding-friendly when I'm out and about. I love combining sneakers or flip-flops with dresses; it's quick and looks cool. I also like wearing biker shorts with an oversized T-shirt or shirt at the moment and when the weather is changeable again, I start layering again.

Thank you very much, dear Laura!

If you want to read more about Laura & her fashion blog, visit www.lesfactoryfemmes.com . You can find her on Instagram at: @lesfactoryfemmes