Prepare for a Positive Birth with THE BIRTH CLASS
What is infertility?
The Two Week Wait
Thoughtful Christmas Gifts for your Pregnant Friend.
What is Pre-eclampsia?
Positions for labour and birth
What is Shoulder Dystocia?
Cracked Nipples: Causes, Treatment and Prevention
5 Tips for Travelling With Kids
Here’s three things that may come as a rude shock but rest assured, they’re really normal:
Oh. My. Gosh! I will never forget my concern, angst, anxiety and worry when my firstborn went 10 whole days without pooing. Little did I know that it can be quite common with exclusively breastfed babies who are a few months old. I did a lot of googling and I tried all the tricks (bicycle legs, massage, warm baths). I even made an appointment with my GP who reassured me that it was expected but to return as soon as he showed signs of discomfort or pain or developed a fever. I went away from that appointment feeling relatively calm because honestly, my baby was pretty chill. And then the next day? The most gigantic poo I have ever witnessed, oozing over, through and beside his nappy. Of course I was out of the house and I had very limited nappy wipes left in the car boot. Needless to say, I was not prepared because I never imagined poo could travel that far.
Before I had babies I knew they spewed but I didn’t know that there was a spectrum of baby spews; everything from a hiccup-gone-too-far to a projectile vomit that covered an unimaginable distance. And why didn’t anyone tell me that the reason your washing pile explodes in parenthood is because the baby spew can cover the baby, the baby clothes, your clothes, the wraps and the blankets. It. Is. Never. Ending. Baby spews – in all manner of quantities – really baffled me in the first few months of parenthood for the simple fact that I couldn’t keep up with the washing disaster left in their wake. No one ever mentioned that as soon as you become a parent you need to up your washing game to at least one load (ideally two) a day. And before long? You are absolutely living out of the washing basket because folding and putting away clean clothes is a chore from the past.
Baby acne is a really common occurrence in baby’s at about four-weeks and is thought to be a direct response to the maternal hormones in their body. It can appear as little red dots and white heads (don’t pop them!) and if your baby is upset or agitated, the acne can look a lot angrier – red and blotchy. Expect it to arise on their forehead, cheeks and neck but it’s not uncommon for it to spread to the chest and back, too. Generally it doesn’t bother your baby at all but if it looks redder than normal and doesn’t seem to be clearing, it may be best to check-in with your GP or local community nurse.
Our friends at Bonds have got all these crazy baby quirks covered. Bonds Baby Cover is a comprehensive ‘poo-licy’ for new parents that compensates parents for the first-time parent experience with free Bonds babywear. There’s cover for ‘natural disaster’ we’re talking grade 5 Poonamis here, ‘Vandalism’ – wilful texta damage to walls and clothing – and ‘Third Party for when ‘it’ goes everywhere and on everyone. Even accidental-probably-on-purpose damage is covered. If my three boys are proof, little cuties can be massive liabilities. Parents simply sign up to make a claim and be compensated with Bonds Babywear. To be clear, that’s free product, parentals!
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postpartum
Sore, cracked and irritated nipples are a common symptom in the early days of breastfeeding. However, cracked nipples are usually a sign that your baby isn’t latching correctly. Because your baby will feed frequently in the first few days and weeks (expect to feed 8-12 times in a 24 hour period), sore nipples will get progressively worse unless you seek expert advice and guidance. This is vital as nipple pain is one of the reasons why new mothers stop breastfeeding earlier than they intended.
Travel is a priority for my Australian/Fijian family. We try to get back to Fiji once a year so the boys can better understand and have a strong sense of pride in their cultural heritage. I’m also partial to a margarita by the pool.
If you’re recovering from a caesarean birth (c-section) it’s helpful to remember that your body needs to heal after major abdominal surgery. Caesarean births are common (roughly one in three in Australia) but significant surgery requires adequate recovery time. Here's what you can expect in your caesarean recovery.
There is so much talk about baby sleep - ‘is he a good sleeper?’ ‘How many naps does he have during the day?’ ‘Is she sleeping through the night?’ but we’re missing the conversations about maternal sleep.
If you had a caesarean birth and you’ve noticed an overhang or a bulge over your scar, we want you to know that it’s completely normal and a natural part of birth recovery. It’s not dependent on whether you had a planned or emergency caesarean nor is it a result of a bad incision or hindered healing process; it’s simply a common side-effect of wound healing.
If you’re in the third trimester you’re no doubt thinking about all that’s to come; labour, birth, and a precious newborn baby. There is so much to look forward to and prepare for. But often, we spend so much time thinking of what our baby needs that we rarely think about ourselves. So, we’re here to gently encourage you (read: implore you!) to start thinking about your post-birth recovery. It’s generally quite a slow process and for many women, especially first-time mothers, it can be quite confronting. We don’t want to scare you but research shows that realistic expectations pave the way for a positive postpartum experience
Engorged breasts are normal and expected in early postpartum. If you’ve just birthed your first baby and you're shocked at the firmness and fullness of your breasts, don’t be alarmed. This is your body doing its job; making and storing breastmilk after birth.
You may have heard some nightmarish stories about mastitis and frankly, it’s not something you want to contend with at any stage of your breastfeeding journey. It’s most common in the first three months postpartum but it can strike at any time, particularly if your baby has reduced their feeds, is starting to sleep for longer periods at night or you’re weaning.