All posts filed under: Latest Posts

What have the biggest challenges been for you as a mum?

Published by

The Being Mum project is about capturing the reality of life for mums after pregnancy, birth and with a baby. Breastfeeding – I had to combi feed because I couldn’t produce enough milk The loneliness of motherhood is crippling when you feel so vulnerable Just how hard I found pregnancy Sleep deprivation Baby illness Feeding and the impact this can have on relationships with other people Loss of identity Letting other people be involved Not being able to do everything I used to do The impact on my relationship and the strain it has put on us Coping with an unsettled baby My partner’s anxieties around parenting and parenting style The work/life balance Overcoming a non-typical child Lacking confidence in my being a parent and trusting my ability to do it well My dad died unexpectedly three days before I was being induced – navigating grief while learning to be a mam was the most challenging experience for me Injury, illness, allergies, long term ongoing conditions Letting go of control, balancing my needs and dealing …

What is…safer co-sleeping?

Published by

Co-sleeping is when your baby sleeps in your bed with you rather than in a cot or Moses Basket. Parents do this out of choice, to keep their baby close or because their baby will not settle away from them – for many parents it is about getting some sleep. And every family does this differently – many babies will be in their cot at the start of the night but they later move into their parent’s bed Studies have found that around 50% of all UK babies have bed-shared by the time they are 3 months old. And 91% of those parents had not planned to co-sleep. Good preparation makes such a difference to your options and to understanding how to make sleep as safe as possible for your baby. The evidence demonstrates that co-sleeping is safer when it is planned for and when the bed is prepared. It becomes riskier when bed sharing happens by accident, out of exhaustion and desperation for sleep. How do you make co-sleeping safer? To make co-sleeping safe, …

What has surprised you about being a mum?

Published by

The Being Mum project is about capturing the reality of life for mums after pregnancy, birth and with a baby. How tired you can be and how you’ll still carry on The emotional toll, as well as the physical. The loss of identity and friendships How easy it felt, all the worry and anxiety from pregnancy disappeared as soon as he was here. It just felt simple, he was mine and I was his and I knew we’d get through this together How hard it really is. I used to think maternity leave was just a long holiday but it really is so hard! How all encompassing it is and how selfless I am willing to be The loss of control The feeling of fierce protection I have towards my baby. Nothing else matters The resilience of parents. I completely underestimated what other parents were going through and I didn’t appreciate how difficult it could be The loss of friends, mainly those who do not have children How little people understand about what it tales …

pregnant woman sitting on bed and reading book

What is…a Braxton Hicks contraction?

Published by

Braxton Hicks contractions are really normal and many women experience them throughout their second and third trimesters. Braxton Hicks contractions is simply your uterus contracting and relaxing and some women experience these more at the end of pregnancy. These contractions can be uncomfortable but not painful, they don’t grow in intensity or get closer together and they will just stop, which is how they are different from labour contractions. Braxton Hicks can also be triggered when you have sex, when you have a full bladder, if you are dehydrated and if you have been on your feet a lot that day. If you are at the end of your pregnancy and unsure if labour is starting, it’s often a time of watchful waiting to see what these contractions do – if they just stop they are Braxton Hicks but if they keep coming you could be in labour. You can contact your pregnancy assessment unit if you are unsure and feel in need of some reassurance. If your Braxton Hicks are uncomfortable… Braxton Hicks contractions …

What impact did the birth of your children have on you?

Published by

The Being Mum project is about capturing the reality of life for mums after pregnancy, birth and with a baby. It fundamentally changed me as a person, proved my inner strength and determination Birth has made me more passionate about women’s and maternity rights. It has also made me more selfless and family focused Life is so much better now It taught me about owning my decisions and trusting my instincts I learnt about needing support and the importance of being patient I learnt the impact a planned caesarean can have on feeding – this wasn’t communicated so I discovered why communication is critical That there isn’t a right way to birth – a caesarean can be really positive and not as daunting or as scary as I though I have strength I never knew I had I am no longer scared of needles and operations! Changed everything. I lost myself and then I found joy I have an appreciation for everyone who has ever birthed and a new found understanding for my mum, knowing …