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Life as a new mum   Becoming a mother is arguably the most major life-changing event in a woman’s life; few events are so irreversible and complete. The early weeks and months of parenthood are usually an exciting, happy, and rewarding time, as you and your partner get to know your new baby. However, this period can also be a time of letting go as you say goodbye to perhaps formerly more carefree and spontaneous lifestyles, which were free of responsibilities, for another tiny person. Understandably, this time can [...]

Coping with perineal pain and discomfort following childbirth Is it normal to feel like this? Having a baby is rather like running a marathon… joy and elation at crossing the finishing line… culminating in the safe arrival of your gorgeous new baby as well as, feelings of utter physical and emotional exhaustion including aches and pains in places you’d never believed possible! In the hours immediately following the birth, everything ‘down there’ can feel very different. This is perfectly normal because your muscles and soft tissues have had to [...]

The early weeks of parenthood: coping with sleep deprivation   Newborn babies and sleepless nights tend to go ‘hand-in-hand’ with each other and whilst many mums and dads are prepared for the ’round-the-clock’ care needs of their new baby – many will still say that they were totally unprepared for the levels of exhaustion this incurs. Here we offer you some handy tips to help you combat the effects of sleep deprivation during the early days and weeks following your baby’s birth: Grab the opportunity to catch up on [...]

Coping with ‘After Pains’ What are after pains? ‘After pains’ are contractions of the uterus (womb) following your baby’s birth; they are perfectly normal and there is no reason to feel concerned. In fact, after pains are a positive sign; initially immediately after birth these contractions ensure the small blood vessels that once lead to you placenta (afterbirth) are sealed to prevent an excessive amount of blood being lost from your womb (postpartum haemorrhage). Secondly, they indicate that your body is returning to its pre-pregnant state; this involves your [...]

Caring for yourself and feeling well after you have had your baby   Women vary a lot in how they recover physically and psychologically from their pregnancy and the experience of giving birth to their baby. You may feel that your body has got back to ‘normal’ within a few weeks of having your baby, but it can take much longer to adjust to the emotional changes of being a mother, especially where this is for the first time. Some women find that the physical symptoms they experience after [...]

Blood loss after your baby’s birth   Now that you have had your baby, your body will begin the process of recovering and healing from the experience of pregnancy and childbirth. Just as your body changed during pregnancy to meet the needs of your developing baby, it will now begin to return to its non-pregnant state. An important aspect of this process includes the uterus (womb) contracting down and reducing in size until it sits inside your pelvis again and cannot be felt abdominally. This process is called ‘involution’ [...]

Anaemia after childbirth What is anaemia? Anaemia is a condition where the amount of iron (ie haemoglobin) present in your body’s red blood cells is lower than it should be. Where these iron levels drop below their normal levels, this is called iron-deficiency and it is the most common cause of anaemia in the UK. Your blood is made up of a fluid called ‘plasma’ which contains proteins in the form of red blood cells and white blood cells, as well as other cells that have a range of [...]

‘Grandmothering’ “It's such a grand thing to be a mother of a mother - that's why the world calls her grandmother”. Author Unknown Whether or not this is your first baby, your mother and your partner’s mother will no doubt be very proud and excited at the safe arrival of their grandchild! Grandmothers are usually generous in bringing gifts for the new baby as well as, offering you their advice from their own experiences. Whether this input is welcomed or appropriate can, however, be an entirely different matter. “Becoming [...]

Enjoy your babymoon!   From the information often presented in magazines and the media it would seem that there is often an emphasis, even obligation, on women to get back to their pre-pregnancy routines as soon as possible after childbirth. Yet in the early weeks of motherhood, most new mums are likely to need the same amount of emotional and physical support as they did during pregnancy and birth. While it is better for your overall health to be up and about as you are able, the emphasis placed [...]

Motherhood at 40 plus   Having your first baby and becoming a mother in your 40s has become an increasingly popular choice for many women in the UK. More and more women and their partners are now taking the active decision to delay their fertility and starting a family, instead choosing to pursue successful careers, achieve financial security, and settle into stable relationships before embarking on pregnancy and motherhood. Whereas, back in the 1970s and 80s women often had their first baby while in their mid-20s, recent figures released [...]

Handy hints for Dads   The early days, weeks and months of parenthood are often incredibly fulfilling and joyous times, but can be equally exhausting and challenging as new parents get to know their newborn baby and its care needs, start to lay down new routines, and learn to cope with the many sleepless nights. At this time, attention frequently focuses on the needs of the new mother and her baby, which can often leave new dads feeling totally overlooked and excluded. Research shows however, that fathers’ have a [...]