No two weeks are the same and there has been a range of antenatal and postnatal questions, comments and conversations this week.
Here’s a brief round-up of what we talked about:
- Second Babies – no two babies are ever the same and they will most probably sleep differently, settle differently, feed differently. The things you did with your first maybe might not be relevant with your next.
- Going Back To Work – this is another period of adjustment with being organised, juggling work and home and managing childcare.
- Tiredness – this can feel like it goes hand in hand with being a parent. And it’s not just the lack of sleep, it’s the relentlessness of being on demand as well as dealing with any worries and trying to figure out solutions for any challenges.
- Confidence – having a baby can knock your confidence as you find your feet and get to know your baby and adjust to life with your baby. Talking it through, with loads of reassurance can help – alot!
- Childcare – find it, choosing it, paying for it, working it all out can mean thinking it through, talking it through and making plans that work for your family.
- Tummy Time – this comes up alot can cause so much angst because parents can feel under pressure to do it. Truth it carrying your baby around it tummy time, using a sling is tummy time, cuddling your baby is tummy time. This all strengthens your baby’s neck and your baby isn’t leaning back against anything.
- Baby Sleep – the biggest conversation I have with parents because it can be one of the toughest challenges however normal it is for babies to wake at night. Tired parents need good information to better understand why their baby might be sleeping as expected or needed, along with support and reassurance.
- Birth Again – it should never be assumed that because you have done birth once, you are ready to do it again or that it will be the same experience. It might be useful to talk through your previous birth experience and it is definitely worth thinking about birth again – your options, what you would like, what you need. You might want a caesarean or to plan a vbac or you may be preparing for labour and birth once more, which could be faster than your first labour.
- Baby Weight – some babies gain weight gradually, some babies are solid and baby weight can be a cause of concern for many parents.
- Night-Weaning – stopping milk feeds in the night with older babies comes up a lot in conversations because parents need some sleep.
- Slings – a must to help babies settle, to keep your baby close and to keep your hands free.
- Day Naps – as babies get older their naps can change, babies can be a bit whingy and mums wonder about how to manage this transition.
- Overwhelmed By Birth – even when labour and birth is straightforward, it really helps to talk it through if you feel shocked and in need to make sense of what you experienced.
- Weaning & Dropping Milk Feeds – this is one of the most frequent questions I get about weaning and there isn’t a clear answer because their need for milk and the comfort of those feeds can vary.
It really does help to talk it all through, to plan and to focus on what would help you most. My job is to build you up, to give you the space to talk, discuss and ask questions and to have more knowledge and confidence.
You can come along to Mother Cuppa, read & use a digital guide or book a conversation with me.
Based in the North East and working with parents everywhere