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It’s true to say that some babies are more noisy than others. Some babies are happy to stay in their own little bubble, quietly cooing and babbling away to themselves. Crying, squealing and grunting are common languages for babies who don’t seem to have a volume control.
Contraception can be started from around 3 weeks after birth. Couples have choices about what contraception is right for them – there are a range of options. No contraception is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy. Some forms of contraception should be avoided if you are breastfeeding.
An epidural is an anaesthetic procedure, where a local anaesthetic is injected into the epidural space near the spinal cord. An epidural anaesthetic numbs the nerves so pain cannot be felt in certain areas of the body. There are both benefits and side effects to having of anaesthesia during labour.
To help manage the changes to your body, health and lifestyle, many new parents turn to antenatal classes. Antenatal classes are dedicated to expecting parents. Complementing your hospital class with an online antenatal class is also a great option as you can continue to replay the videos throughout your pregnancy.
Going back to work means having to transition to bottle feeding, finding childcare and negotiating new arrangements with your boss. Those things can all seem daunting, but if we break it down into a few individual tasks, it gets much easier to handle the transition.
Balancing these things becomes all the more challenging when you consider that your baby’s first 12 months is the most important part of their life. The habits your baby is exposed to during that first year can have long-lasting effects on their life and their ability to form meaningful, healthy relationships with othe
An induced labour is a process where labour is started artificially. There are a few reasons why induction can be recommended. Generally, an induction is recommended when there are risks to a mother’s or her baby’s health by continuing with the pregnancy. An induction of labour is not recommended for all women however.
There’s a lot of information about the importance of parents bonding with their baby and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Try not to worry if you don’t feel as close to your young baby as you’d like to. Most parents find that with time and a few gentle tips, a close bond happens without trying too much.
Each year, SIDS and fatal sleeping accidents claim the lives of many infants as a result of unsafe sleeping environments. It is essential that parents ensure their young infants and toddlers sleep safely at all times and that the research-based guidelines are followed.
It can be a good idea for some women to express colostrum during the later stages of pregnancy and freeze it so you can feed it to your newborn baby. It is important to note however, that it’s not essential or necessary for all women. Learn more about when it might be helpful.
It’s true to say that at some stage, all babies get sick. Apart from needing to manage their symptoms, there are often changes in a baby’s sleep, feeding and awake routine when they’re sick. Learn more about what to do and how best to cope when they’re just not themselves.
A birth plan is a written record of how you’d like to be supported in labour and when you’re having your baby. How much detail you go into is entirely your choice – some mothers prefer to have a very comprehensive plan covering every possibility, others just bullet point what’s really important to them.
Becoming a parent comes with a host of changes that can be daunting, especially for first time parents. Antenatal classes offer expectant parents what they need to make informed decisions, look after their bodies and care for their newborns.
Many FIFO (fly in/fly out) families describe themselves as being similar to single parents, in terms of needing to make independent parenting decisions. But unlike single parenting, being a FIFO worker brings unique challenges to family life.
What do my baby's movements mean? One of the joys of pregnancy is to feel our baby’s movements, though it can seem like a long wait until those first little flutters make themselves clear. Learn more about fetal movements and what to look out for here.
Food safety is important at all ages but for babies and young children it’s particularly wise for parents to be careful about their food. Babies have immature digestion and immune systems and can become sick very easily if they eat contaminated food. Babies can also take longer to recover than adults.
Many women and men with grown up children have forged long term friendships with others they met in their new parent’s group. If asked if they could have predicted such close connections after so many years, it’s unlikely they would have. New mothers especially, benefit from the emotional support from others.
Expecting twins or multiples can be a very different experience than a ‘normal’ pregnancy when carrying one baby. Apart from the obvious, like increased size and movements, there’s also more stress on the mother’s body and settling multiples can be a challenge in itself. Read our top 10 tips for settling multiples.
It’s normal for expectant parents to focus keenly on their baby’s due date, though it’s estimated only around 5% of women give birth on the date they are due. When that day comes and goes, expectant women can be forgiven for wondering what they can do to safely induce labour at home.
Acid reflux or simply ‘reflux’ is a common condition in babies. Around 40% of healthy, thriving babies will have reflux to some degree. Reflux generally begins before eight weeks of age and peaks at four months before gradually improving. Read our top tips on how to ease acid reflux in your baby.
You cannot harm your baby by touching their fontanelle. As long as you are gentle, it’s fine to stroke their head, wash their hair and even pat their head. The membrane which covers the fontanelles is very tough and difficult to penetrate. Although they are often called the soft-spots, the fontanelles are strong.
Measuring your baby’s weight at regular intervals will help give you reassurance that they are growing as they need to. An increase in weight from birth is a sign that they are feeding well and will help you to recognise if they have an underlying health or development issue.
Rashes are common in childhood and it can be hard to know what may be the cause. Most of the time, rashes tend to go away as quickly as they appear and don’t need any special treatment. But sometimes rashes are a symptom of illness and a sign that a doctor’s check is necessary.
Regular health checks are recommended for all babies, from birth right up until they start school. Monitoring their growth and checking their development are important ways to make sure children are growing as they need to. Regular health checks, may also help with early detection of problem.
Research into drug and alcohol use during pregnancy and when breastfeeding is constantly evolving. And although the specifics change, the essential message remains the same. We don’t truly know what a safe level of drug or alcohol use is.
You have lots of choices about where to birth your baby and deciding what’s right for you. Like making any other decision, there are many factors which need to be considered - personal choice, your health during pregnancy, how your baby is growing, previous birth experiences and your budget.
Once a baby has their first birthday, a pattern tends to emerge amongst babies of a similar age. Even those who’ve always loved to eat and have never hesitated at mealtimes, can begin to lose interest in food. This can be concerning for parents, especially if there’s no obvious reason for the change.
Paced bottle feeding aims to mimic the flow of milk from the breast. By doing this, baby is exposed to a more ‘natural’ method of feeding, is more relaxed and in control of their feeds. With time and practice, baby learns to ‘pace’ their feed, and take their own sucking breaks and pauses before returning to sucking.
A doula is a birth companion who has had training in assisting women when they are pregnant, birthing and after they’ve had their baby. A doula is also an advocate for the birthing mother and her partner and acts as a mediator or ‘go-between’ the expectant parents and their maternity care providers.
Birth trauma does not mean the same thing to every woman. Like many other life events, the impact of trauma is unique to every individual. Some women experience birth trauma as a result of their physical experience, others from the psychological effects of giving birth - each is equally important.
Breastfeeding can be a tough skill to learn, let alone navigating breastfeeding twins. But, with the right support, it’s a challenge that is definitely do-able. When a mum finds out she’s pregnant with twins, her first thought may be ‘will I have enough milk for two babies?’ and the answer is a resounding 'yes'!
Some new parents find the idea of visitors after giving birth a welcome distraction from their day. Others find the concept more than a little overwhelming. Wherever you sit on enjoying the company of others, read our top 10 tips on how to handle visitors after having your baby.
Pregnancy is not a time when women need to stop having vaccinations. In fact, during pregnancy there are a range of changes to a woman’s immune function, making them more vulnerable to severe infections. As well as protecting the pregnant mother, vaccinations also provide protective antibodies for the unborn baby.
Many women and their partners worry about having sex in pregnancy. Concerns are often centred around potential harm to the baby or themselves. Unless they have been advised not to have sex it’s generally safe to do so. Babies are protected by the amniotic fluid and muscles which make up the uterus and mother's abdomen.
One sided breastfeeding is not uncommon, particularly for newborns and when babies are almost ready to stop breastfeeding. This has a lot to do with the volume of milk they obtain from one breast and simply developing a preference for one side over the other. But is one sided feeding a problem?