I felt like I was neglecting my baby by going to the office every day. I quit a job I loved and felt better almost immediately.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sarah Hollingsworth. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I was living in San Antonio, working for an IT company, and leading their global trade show teams. I had two promotions in four years and got to travel the world. I loved my job so much.
Then I got pregnant with my first baby.
By May 2019, I gave birth to my first daughter, AJ. Just after she was born, my husband got a job that relocated our family to Austin, a little over an hour away from the city I had lived in for nine years.
I thought I would intrinsically know what to do with a baby, but it wasn't like that. I quickly discovered there were so many things I wasn't prepared for. Like when I brought AJ home for the first time, I was frantically crying and hysterical because I didn't have any newborn clothes. I didn't even know they existed.
I want back to work after 3 months of maternity leave
My husband took paternity leave, and my mother came to town to help me with the baby, but I was still struggling. Breastfeeding was very painful, and AJ was a horrible sleeper. My hormones were out of whack, my world had shifted, I was isolated in a new city, and small things would set me over the edge. Everything scared me. I don't remember feeling any joy as a new mom until AJ was 1.
At the time, I convinced myself that how I was feeling was normal, but looking back, I was depressed.
Looking back, I wish I had done this to identify that something was wrong. I wasn't even meeting my own self-care and basic needs. I had literally stopped brushing my teeth — that wasn't normal; it was a red flag.
After three months of maternity leave, I went back to work. Remote working wasn't a thing at the time. I was expected to work from the office in San Antonio.
I would wake up at 6 a.m. to get on the road by 7 a.m. in order to be at the shuttle stop by 7:35 a.m. I'd be at the office from 8:30 a.m., working all day until 3 p.m. I often pumped breast milk on the shuttle and at work. On the way home, I collected my daughter from day care and would have 30 minutes with her before putting her to sleep.
I felt like I was neglecting my kid.
Please help BI improve our Business, Tech, and Innovation coverage by sharing a bit about your role — it will help us tailor content that matters most to people like you.
What is your job title? (1 of 2)
Entry level position
Project manager
Management
Senior management
Executive management
Student
Self-employed
Retired
Other
Continue
By providing this information, you agree that Business Insider may use this data to improve your site experience and for targeted advertising. By continuing you agree that you accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .
I was afraid to tell people how I was feeling
My body started to show signs of stress. I broke out in bumps and blisters all over my hands, melasma, and had severe Perioral Dermatitis on my face. It was humiliating to go to work.
At my lowest point, in January 2020, I remember driving to work, because I had missed the shuttle, wondering what would happen if I hit the car in front of me. I didn't necessarily want to die, but I couldn't see a way out of the situation I was in. I felt desperate.
No one at work knew what I was going through. One of my bosses didn't have kids, and my other boss had kids in high school. I had no idea how to broach that topic with either of them.
I was afraid to tell my husband, friends, and family how I felt. I didn't want people to distrust me when I was around AJ.
But after a week, I found the courage to tell my husband. His initial reaction was: "How can I help?"
He found me a therapist, and we started having discussions about continuing to work in the corporate world. I literally felt like I was dying, going back and forth to the office every day.
At the end of January 2020, I quit my job. Within three weeks, all of my postpartum symptoms and depression were alleviated.
As I started to get better, I imagined a business I'd like to run — a baby registry complemented by content to support new mothers. When you're not in a good head space after having a baby, this platform could be a simplified destination where you could find information about preparing your mind and body to welcome a new baby into the house. I wanted to help women avoid getting caught off guard like I was. I desperately needed something like this, so I wanted to see if I could create it. I went on to create Poppylist.
As much as I loved my corporate job, it just wasn't sustainable as a new mother. I wanted to have it all, but I came to realize I couldn't, not all at once.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
GOP's health care plan: We're all going to die, so whatever
If death and taxes are the only certainties, Joni Ernst is here to cut one and fast-track the other. 'We all are going to die," she said. You might think that's a line from a nihilistic French play. Or something a teenage goth said in Hot Topic. Or an epiphany from your stoner college roommate after he watched Interstellar at 3 a.m. But that was actually the Iowa Senator's God-honest response to concerns that slashing Medicaid to achieve President Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' would lead to more preventable deaths. The full exchange at a May 30 town hall included one audience member shouting at the stage, 'People will die!' And Ernst responding, 'People are not — well, we all are going to die, so for heaven's sake.' That's not a health care policy — that's a horoscope for the terminally screwed. As you can imagine, the internet didn't love it, because losing your health should not trigger the equivalent of a shrug emoji from someone elected to serve the public good. But rather than walking it back, Ernst leaned in, filming a mock apology in a graveyard because nothing says, 'I care about your future,' like filming next to people who don't have one. Opinion: Nurses are drowning while Braun ignores Indiana's health care crisis Ernst's comments aren't just philosophical musings. She's justifying policy choices that cause real harm. If passed, this bill would, according to the Congressional Budget Office, remove health coverage for up to 7.6 million Americans. That's not just 'we all die someday' territory. That's 'some people will die soon and needlessly.' What makes this even more galling is that the people pushing these cuts have access to high-quality, taxpayer-subsidized healthcare. Congress gets the AAA, platinum, concierge-level government plan. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are told to try their luck with essential oils or YouTube acupuncture tutorials. Honestly, it felt more like performance art than policy: 'Sorry about your grandma getting kicked out of her assisted living facility. Please enjoy this scenic view of her future! LOL!' We're not asking you to defeat death, senator. Death is both inevitable and bipartisan. But there is a broad chasm between dying peacefully at 85 and dying in your 40's because your Medicaid plan disappeared and your GoFundMe didn't meet its goal. Fundamentally, governing is about priorities. A budget is a moral document. When a lawmaker tells you 'we're all going to die' in response to a policy choice, they're telling you 'I've made peace with your suffering as collateral damage.' And if a U.S. Senator can stand in a cemetery and joke about it, you have to wonder — who do our federal legislators think those graves are for? Opinion: Indiana DCS cut foster care in half — and now claims children are safer This isn't just about one comment or one bill. It's about a mindset that treats healthcare as a luxury rather than a right. If death is inevitable, then access to healthcare you can afford is what helps determine how long you have, how comfortably you live, and whether you get to watch your kids grow up. Healthcare isn't about escaping death. It's about dignity and quality of life while we are here. Ernst got one thing right: death will come for us all. But leadership, real leadership, is about helping people live as long and as well as they can before that day comes. You want to make jokes, Senator? Fine. But if your punchline is 'You're all going to die anyway,' don't be surprised when your constituents realize the joke's on them. Kristin Brey is the "My Take" columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Joni Ernst films graveyard video after telling sick people "we all die" | Opinion
Business Insider
5 hours ago
- Business Insider
Millennials are embracing compression socks — and trying to make them cool
Hot girls wear…compression socks? Designed to help reduce inflammation and increase blood flow, the once-niche, medical-grade product is frequently spotted in nursing homes and hospitals. Now, compression socks are becoming increasingly popular among millennials and Gen Zers. It shouldn't surprise anyone who has been paying attention to the former's shopping habits. Millennials are big fans of products that promote longevity and help them be proactive about their health. They sport Apple watches, bring earplugs to concerts, and track their VO2 max when they work out. Sock brands are capitalizing on consumer interest with stylish new designs that are far from your grandma's compression socks, combining the benefits of compression with fashion cute enough for TikTok. Here's why younger audiences can't get enough. Compression socks go mainstream Kate Garfield, the 38-year-old co-owner of Violet Hour Pilates in Brooklyn, told Business Insider she's been regularly wearing compression socks to teach Pilates since she sprained her ankle a few years ago. She also pulls the socks out for long-haul flights. "When I was barefoot and teaching, I kept twinging my ankle, so I started wearing them," Garfield said. "It definitely helped in that recovery, but then I noticed I was also just feeling a lot more energized through my day." Wearing compression socks, Garfield said she doesn't feel the urge to clench and roll her feet, which helps her feel more stable. She can leave a full day of teaching without feeling sore. So, how do they work? Standing, sitting, or lying down for a long time can cause blood to pool in the feet and lower legs, creating swelling and discomfort. Compression socks encourage the blood to get moving again by putting pressure near the foot and ankle and gentler pressure up the leg, squeezing the blood back toward the heart. They're often recommended for expectant mothers, people with varicose veins, post-op patients, and older people, who may need extra help with healthy blood flow. The feeling of pain relief you might get from wearing compression socks can be a result of better circulation in your legs, lower inflammation, and less stress on your muscles, Dr. Anahita Dua, a vascular surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, told BI. A younger consumer base Like Garfield, Sam Sarabi, a 25-year-old nurse from Temple, Texas, told BI she started experimenting with compression socks in 2023. She was searching for a way to help ease the pain she experienced in her thighs and calves, which popped up in the middle of her shifts and persisted when she got home. She didn't find a compression product that worked for her until Julia Gretars, a nursing student she connected with online and the founder of Juy Compression, sent her a pair of the brand's compression sleeves in November 2024. The sleeves are like compression socks, but they don't have feet. She said the sleeves leave her pain-free and with more energy. "I noticed a difference within the first day," Sarabi said. There's not much evidence that compression socks are good for already-healthy people who aren't struggling with swelling or circulation problems, but there's little downside as long as the socks fit well. Signs that you might benefit from compression socks include a feeling of tightness in the legs and feet, your shoes not fitting properly, and visible swelling (if you poke your leg with a finger, you'll see an imprint). There's still a good reason people in their 20s and 30s are stocking up on compression socks: they can be a game changer if you're pregnant or do a lot of exercise. For exercise, the evidence is growing that compression socks might have a small benefit for easing soreness after a workout, although they may not improve performance, according to Dua. The socks' squeezing effect on your legs mimics how your muscles naturally help to pump blood during active recovery, like walking, flushing out by-products of hard exercise like lactate to ease soreness and get you back to the gym faster. "It definitely wouldn't hurt if someone has low-grade inflammation after a run," physical therapist Jessica Chellsen said. Compression socks got a glow-up The compression sock renaissance is, in part, driven by new brands that appeal to younger consumers. For instance, in 2016, then-30-year-old Andrew Ferenci founded Comrad, a popular compression socks company, because he couldn't find an aesthetically pleasing version. The socks helped with his aches from travel and working out, but the plain black and beige pairs he found at Duane Reade left something to be desired. Ferenci said he created Comrad to offer a "compression sock that has all the benefits of a medical product and meets all the requirements, but is stylish and functional and has all the benefits of a lifestyle or athletic sock that you would wear." Ferenci told BI that millennials make up most of Comrad's customer base, but its products are also gaining popularity with Gen Z shoppers. The other major player is Bombas. Some of its socks are designed for everyday wear, and others for health or exercise support. Bombas offers new colors and patterns every season. Tam Conlin, Bombas' senior vice president of merchandising and design, told BI its compression products, which were first introduced in 2019, have grown 231% in the past three years, and the category is plus 31% for 2025 alone. BI couldn't independently confirm those percentages. Conlin also said millennial shoppers make up Bombas' biggest growth market. Conlin thinks compression socks are resonating with younger consumers because they are interested in "products that help you live more healthfully." "I think that mindset and consumer behavior is something that's really been taken on by the millennial generation and Gen Z, where there's specific products for specific needs that can really help you, and it's kind of like a life hack," she said. Garfield, who wears Bombas' compression socks, said the look is a game changer. "I think I used to hide them or want to not have them as visible, but they just look like socks. And they're cute," she said. Sarabi is also excited that more compression products are on the market, particularly in cuter styles. "In the majority of healthcare systems, you can only wear one color," she said. "I think if you could bring in a little bit of personality to design, it makes things fun." How to pick the right compression socks for you Here are some tips if you want to get in on the trend: Find the right fit and pressure. Look for socks that are snug but don't completely cut off your circulation. Avoid compression if you have difficulties with wound healing, and ask your doctor if you're unsure whether compression socks are right for you. Don't scrunch them up. Make sure they're aligned with your foot and aren't too long or too short so they can work as designed.
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business Insider
Forget 'biological age' tests — longevity experts are using an $800 under-the-radar blood test to measure aging in real-time
Doctors and scientists are using a blood plasma test to study longevity. The test measures proteins and can tell you about your organ health. This field of proteomics could one day help detect diseases like cancer before they start. Should you have that second cup of coffee? How about a little wine with dinner? And, is yogurt really your superfood? Scientists are getting closer to offering consumers a blood test that could help people make daily decisions about how to eat, drink, and sleep that are more perfectly tailored to their unique biology. The forthcoming tests could also help shape what are arguably far more important health decisions, assessing whether your brain is aging too fast, if your kidneys are OK, or if that supplement or drug you're taking is actually doing any good. It's called an organ age test, more officially (and scientifically) known as "proteomics" — and it's the next hot " biological age" marker that researchers are arguing could be better than all the rest. "If I could just get one clock right now, I'd want to get that clock, and I'd like to see it clinically available in older adults," cardiologist Eric Topol, author of the recent bestseller "Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity," told Business Insider. Topol said armed with organ age test results, people could become more proactive stewards of their own health, before it's too late. "When we have all these layers of data, it's a whole new day for preventing the disease," Topol said. "You see the relationship with women's hormones. You see the relationship with food and alcohol. You don't ever get that with genes." A test like this isn't available to consumers just yet, but it's already being used by researchers at elite universities and high-end longevity clinics. They hope it can become a tool any doctor could use to assess patient health in the next few years. A startup called Vero, which was spun out of some foundational proteomics research at Stanford University, is hoping to beta test a proteomics product for consumers this year. "Knowing your oldest organ isn't the point; changing the trajectory is," Vero co-founder and CEO Paul Coletta told a crowd gathered at the Near Future Summit in Malibu, California, last month. Coletta told Business Insider Vero's not interested in doing "wealthcare." The company plans to make its test available to consumers for around $200 a pop, at scale. Their draw only requires one vial of blood. Why measuring proteins could be the key to better personalized medicine The big promise of proteomics is that it could be a more precise real-time tool for tracking important but subtle changes that emerge inside each of us as we age. Genetic testing can measure how our bodies are built, spotting vulnerabilities in a person's DNA that might predispose them to health issues. Standard clinical measurements like a person's weight, blood pressure, or cholesterol readings are a useful proxy for potential health issues. Then there are the increasingly popular "biological age" tests available to consumers at home. Most of those look at "epigenetic changes" — how environmental factors affect our gene expression. Proteomics does something different and new. It measures the product that our bodies make based on all those genetic and environmental inputs: proteins. It offers a live assessment of how your body is running, not just how it's programmed. If validated in the next few years, these tests could become key in early disease detection and prevention. They could help influence all kinds of medical decisions, from big ones like "What drugs should I take?" to little ones like "How does my body respond to caffeine or alcohol?" Elite longevity clinics already use proteomics Some high-end longevity clinics are already forging ahead using proteomics to guide clinical recommendations, albeit cautiously. Dr. Evelyne Bischof, a longevity physician who treats patients worldwide, said she uses proteomic information to guide some of the lifestyle interventions she recommends to her patients. She may suggest a more polyphenol-rich diet to someone who seems to have high inflammation and neuroinflammation based on proteomic test results, or may even suggest they do a little more cognitive training, based on what proteomics says about how their brain is aging. Dr. Andrea Maier, a professor of medicine and functional aging at the National University of Singapore, told BI she uses this measurement all the time in her longevity clinics. For her, it's just a research tool, but if the results of her ongoing studies are decent, she hopes to be able to use it clinically in a few years' time. "We want to know what kind of 'ageotype' a person is, so what type of aging personality are you, not from a mental perspective, but from a physical perspective," Maier said. "It's really discovery at this moment in time, and at the edge of being clinically meaningful." "Once we have that validated tool, we will just add it to our routine testing and we can just tick the box and say, 'I also want to know if this person is a cardiac ager, or a brain ager, or a muscle ager' because now we have a sensitive parameter — protein — which can be added," Maier said. The two big-name proteomics tests are Olink and SOMAscan. For now, their high-end screening costs around $400-$800 per patient. "I'm losing lots of money at the moment because of proteomics for clinical research!" Maier said. Proteomics could soon help predict who's most likely to get certain cancers, fast-tracking both prevention and treatment Top aging researchers at Stanford and Harvard are pushing the field forward, racing to publish more novel insights about the human proteome. The latest findings from Harvard aging researcher Vadim Gladyshev's lab, published earlier this year, suggest that as we age, each person may even stand to benefit from a slightly different antiaging grocery list. To research this idea, Gladyshev looked at proteins in the blood of more than 50,000 people in the UK, all participants in the UK Biobank who are being regularly tested and studied to learn more about their long-term health. He tracked their daily habits and self-reported routines like diet, occupation, and prescriptions, comparing those details to how each patient's organs were aging. He discovered some surprising connections. Yogurt eating, generally speaking, tended to be associated with better intestinal aging but had relatively no benefit to the arteries. White wine drinking, on the other hand, seemed to potentially confer some small benefit to the arteries while wreaking havoc on the gut. "The main point is that people age in different ways in different organs, and therefore we need to find personalized interventions that would fit that particular person," Gladyshev told BI. "Through measuring proteins, you assess the age of different organs and you say, 'OK, this person is old in this artery.'" For now, there's too much noise in the data to do more. Dr. Pal Pacher, a senior investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism who studies organ aging and injuries, told BI that proteomics is simply not ready for clinical use yet. There's just too much noise in the data. But he imagines a future where a more sophisticated protein clock could help link up which people may be most vulnerable to diseases like early cancer, kidney disease, and more. (A California-based proteomics company called Seer announced last weekend that it is partnering with Korea University to study whether proteomics can help more quickly diagnose cancer in young people in their 20s and 30s.) "How beautiful could it be in the future?" Maier said. "Instead of three hours of clinical investigation, I would have a tool which guides me much, much better, with more validity towards interventions."
