Half Baked is a part-storytelling, part-research, part-thinking-out-loud combo meal.
Personal essays, creative non-fiction, sporadic think pieces and word-vomit stream of consciousness about pregnancy, birth, postpartum, new motherhood, mindfulness and the human experience.
I had the idea to start this newsletter during my pregnancy, back in 2021. Calling it “Half Baked” made sense at the time— as in, my baby is half baked, and so are my thoughts. Well, I didn’t get around to it, and my baby is now, erm, fully baked— but after giving birth and navigating the haze of the postpartum period, my thoughts and emotions were not— they were mushier and gooier than ever before. I really needed a way to process that whole year.
I write to explore my pregnancy, understand my birth, and process this strange jolt into motherhood, which can feel both universal and lonely. I write to get better at writing, and I share it to get more comfortable with being seen. Half Baked is my humble attempt at putting words to the swell of paradoxical emotions and thoughts that accompany new motherhood and an outlet for my newfound fascination with all things pregnancy, birth and babies. I have more questions than answers, most of the time.
My selfish hope in writing this newsletter is that it will help me process my unexpected transition into motherhood, to document the sweetness and the struggles of the early years.
My communal hope is that, in reading this, it may provide some comfort, insight and solace to you. I hope it reminds you that you are not alone in the challenging and joyful aspects of this wild season of life.
I hope someday we can share your stories here, too.
“I often find myself having a hard time expressing my feelings in words, and this has been especially true for the postpartum period when emotions are even more extreme. Hearing your experience has been very healing for me and has helped me to remember that I'm not alone in this motherhood journey. Every musing brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing authentically!”
—L.M.
About Berlin
I’m a yoga teacher, birth doula, breastfeeding counselor, ex-bartender, culinary school drop-out, forever cook, writer, and new-ish mom to one awesome daughter. I’m historically introverted and always have too many pots on the metaphorical stove. My writing has been published by Motherly, Chronogram Magazine, and Rebelle Society. The biggest plot twist of my life so far is that I LOVE BEING A MOM! I live in Maryland, but I left my heart in the Adirondacks.
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I write another newsletter called good space, on yoga philosophy, being human, and orienting ourselves towards goodness. It hosts a class library of over 100 yoga classes, plus meditations, prompts, musings, and more.
Most insignificantly, I have a Poshmark closet where I sell the vintage things that I buy and never wear.
