Our Baby Club Castle Douglas

07/12/2022

Tiredness is torture and it’s impact on new mum’s mental health is extremely underrated 😞

'So I will be tired for a few months, so what?'

Many women (including me) think this way before they become parents.

They think they have it all worked out and that tiredness will be their biggest challenge.

'I have been tired before and I have survived! No big deal.'

Yes, but 'before' you could rest when you needed to. You did not have to listen to the screaming and crying baby. You did not have to feed and change nappies 24/7. You did not have to be stuck in your own life. You did not have to function 24/7.

All of this - and much more - is what many of us did not realise and, therefore, struggled hard when reality hit.

Was this the case for you too? What surprised you the most when you became a mum? xx

04/12/2022

“Also, you know all those postpartum issues, such as bleeding, sleep deprivation, breastfeeding struggles, baby blues. You still experience them if you’ve had a c-section. You still wake up multiple times a night, change what seems like 1,000 diapers a day, you still Google everything to make sure you’re baby is okay. The way your baby comes into this world has nothing to do with the type of mother one is.

So, c-section mamas, wear those scars with pride. Laboring and birth is just the beginning of this journey we call motherhood."

Credit instagram.com/motherhoods_beautiful_chaos_/

“C sections are the easy way out”.

“You’re not a real mom”.

“You didn’t actually give birth”.

Ridiculous comments that have been made about women who have had c-sections.

First of all, easy?!? Pretty sure there is no easy way to get another human being out of one’s body. It’s all hard.

Also, you know all those postpartum issues, such as bleeding, sleep deprivation, breastfeeding struggles, baby blues. You still experience them if you’ve had a c-section. You still wake up multiple times a night, change what seems like 1,000 diapers a day, you still Google everything to make sure you’re baby is okay. The way your baby comes into this world has nothing to do with the type of mother one is.

A c-section is a MAJOR surgery and the recovery can be a nightmare. You’re told to not lift anything heavier than your baby and to rest and take it easy the weeks following. (Which is absolutely impossible as a mom). It hurts to just about anything. Standing, sneezing, coughing, laughing. Your incision will be swollen and bruised. You’re not allowed to drive. You feel almost helpless at times.

So, c-section mamas, wear those scars with pride. Laboring and birth is just the beginning of this journey we call motherhood."

Credit instagram.com/motherhoods_beautiful_chaos_/

12/11/2022

It’s a balance of saving and surviving 💛

04/11/2022

Great advice on carrying your baby safely this winter 👇🏻

❄️ CARRYING IN THE COLD ❄️

🍂Before you head off to see the bonfire and see the fireworks, let's look at how to keep cozy. So here is a guide and some videos for you.

🍂There are lots of ways that you can keep cosy, but here is some guidance and tips on how.

🍂Rember to be mindful of the activity you are doing, if you are going on a longer walk, you may not need as many layers due to being warmer while carrying. If you are going a shorter slow walk, you may need more layers.

🍂Remember that what sling or carrier you are using also makes a difference.

🍂A buckle carrier would be classed as one layer, but a stretchy or woven would be three.

🍂 HIKING, FRAMED CARRIERS - These do not come under the same category as slings and carriers. Baby is held away from your body so dress them as if they were in a pram. X

Remember this guide....
❄️ NO SNOWSUITS
Snowsuits and pramsuits are not for in slings. These create overheating and poor position.

❄️ LAYER UP
Layer up, remembering that each layer of a sling or carrier is at least one. Woolie cardis are great. Ensure that scarves don't cover babies face.

❄️ COATS OR COVER
Investing in a babywearing coat is great, but an oversized coat or cover is also good.

❄️ COVER EXTREMITIES
If you don't have a coat or cover, concentrate on extremities. Always give baby a hat!

❄️ FOOTWEAR
Beaware of where you are walking, and choose appropriate footwear to prevent slips and falls.

Here are some videos showing options on what you can use and do to keep cozy.

🍁 How to dress babies in the cold
https://youtu.be/BobbAfv4GAQ

🍂 How to dress prewalkers in the cold (front carry)
https://youtu.be/YNn8I5g8grw

🍂 How to dress older kids (back carry) 🍂https://youtu.be/Y2JFu_bM7oM

I hope it helps, let me know if it does and feel free to buy me a coffee to keep me warm! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Cooriein
If you are looking for a babywearing coat or cover, get in touch for a discount code.

Laurna x

22/10/2022

Yep.

Comfort is key 🤣

credit Common Wild

☀️🌷 Our stunning Issue 48 is out now, full of inspiration, tips, advice and real-life experiences to guide you on your journey through pregnancy, birth and motherhood. You can pick up a copy from your local Countdown or selected stockists in NZ, from your local newsagent in Australia, or from WH Smith High Street stores, selected Waitrose & Partners and independent bookstores across the UK!! Plus, it’s available to purchase locally and internationally online here: https://thenaturalparentmagazine.com/product-category/magazine/☀️🌷

14/10/2022

💛HOW TO BECOME AN ANTENATAL TEACHER 💛

Our Baby Club’s antenatal teachers are on a mission to transform how parents prepare for parenthood, not just for their births. We ensure they’re empowered with both knowledge, and confidence in their own abilities, when embarking on their journey through birth and into parenthood.

The Our Baby Club antenatal teacher training focuses on parents’ wellbeing, freeing them from feelings of judgement and ensuring they have the tools and support needed at every stage of the journey.

Read on to find out how you can become an Antental Teacher and what the role involves 🎉

Want to become an antenatal teacher? We are driving a revolution in antenatal preparation, and you can join us, starting now!

13/10/2022

“Birth is also the moment of physical separation of baby, from the birth mother and a moment of profound connection for a partner when baby lands in their arms. Becoming a parent lays us bare to our most vulnerable state.”

Such an important reminder from The Mamma Coach

Birth is also the moment of physical separation of baby, from the birth mother and a moment of profound connection for a partner when baby lands in their arms. Becoming a parent lays us bare to our most vulnerable state.

Bringing a helpless baby into our arms challenges us to step up and be the responsible protector, often without much previous experience if it’s a first baby, or if it’s a subsequent baby, then there are additional complex layers too.

Both parents (if there are 2) will feel this vulnerability in differing ways but it doesn’t mean one is more or less than the other.

Being vulnerable triggers our brain to release the stress hormones so we are alert vans ready to react; useful in rare situations of extreme danger, but mostly redundant in reality. Therefore, being aware of this and managing it with comfort, love and reassurance, serves new parents well as they navigate the minefield of early parenthood.

Q: What does Vulnerability feel like to you?
Q: What steps can you take to allow yourself to be vulnerable and allow it?

🦋Taken from my book: Beyond Birth, A Mindful Guide to Early Parenting.

25/09/2022

💛 NEW ARRIVAL 💛

I opted for an elective c section for baby #2’s arrival for several reasons. One of which being that I would be in control of the situation - something I didn’t feel I was first time round. Plus, logistically with a partner who works 7 hours drive away, it meant we could plan for him to be home the night before.

So when my waters broke 8 days before my due date, I was a little surprised and suddenly felt like I was being thrown into losing control of the process again. Especially as my partner was still at work!

Luckily he had a last minute work change and had decided to come home for the weekend so when I rang and asked where he was he’d just got on the motorway. “I’m going to stop halfway for a nap” he said and my reply was “My waters have broken and I’m on my way to hospital so probably best you don’t nap!”

After calling the hospital, I made my way in for an assessment feeling pretty sure I wouldn’t be going home that night. I said goodbye to my toddler suddenly feeling like I was abandoning her having not spent enough time just me and her, knowing next time I saw her she’d be my oldest child rather than only child.

At first we thought I’d labour slowly and have the section done the following morning but to avoid the chances of an emergency section late at night, as things started to progress, we decided not to wait until the morning. My partner arrived just as they were prepping me for theatre!

This little lady arrived 8 days early, surprising us all but simultaneously slotting in like she’s always been here.

Being able to make choices about my birth and what worked best for me and for our family was empowering. It allowed me to feel confident in the decisions I made as things changed so that they didn’t spiral out of my control.

This birth was a totally different experience to last time 💛

👉🏻 The beautiful flowers are from the lovely ladies at HQ 😍

07/09/2022

Have a peek at this free download of the best photos to take in your baby’s first 48 hours! 💛

FRESH 48 = The first 48 hours of your babies life🥰. When your beautiful newborn baby is still only hours old, the last think you think about is what photos to take📸. We've but a handy list together of moments to capture in those first 48 hours, so you can do less think and more cuddling and staring at this beautiful human that just joined your family🥰.

📸 - proud parents - give someone else the camera/phone and let them take the pic. Don't worry about what you look like this is a moment and part of your new family story.
📸 - your baby awake - this is a tricky one to get, but if you can it's a beautiful one, as their eyes will most likely change.

There are 7 more essential photos for you to capture listed on our FREE handy download - '9 Essential Photos To Take During Your Babies First 48 Hours' - print it out and have it ready for when your baby arrives❤️. 👉 https://bit.ly/3BeR6Yq

05/09/2022

My thoughts around visiting friends and their newborns changed as soon as I had my own. Before I thought the mum would appreciate me coming round to coo over their beautiful new bundle of joy. Now I know to ask if it’s ok, if they’d like someone to visit, if there’s anything I can bring, if I can do anything to help them. If a get to cuddle the newborn while I’m there making sure my friend is ok, that’s a plus 💛

I don't know who needs to hear this, but just because there is a new little person in the world people aren't entitled to a visit.
⠀
With that new little person is a new mother who may or may not have had some serious s**t go down and folks need to honor that. ⠀
⠀
We don’t bust in like the Koolaid man if someone just had major surgery or car accident so we need to check ourselves before high kicking into the room of a woman who just had a person exit her body.⠀
⠀
She may feel great and welcome one and all, but if she doesn't, we need to respect it regardless of whether or not we like it.

**tweshouldknowseries

23/08/2022

"I held you long before my arms did, in my dreams and thoughts. I whispered to you the lullabies that would later send you off to sleep.⁣
⁣
I knew you long before I met you, I would talk of your personality made up of elbows and knees, “ready to keep me on my toes”, I would say.⁣
⁣
I loved you long before I saw you, tracing black and white prints of your lips, knowing soon enough I’d be kissing them with my own.⁣
⁣
I heard you long before your cry into the world. That first heart beat, the one that echoed love and relief, a quick rhythm that made time slow down.⁣
⁣
I wanted you long before I needed you, as I sat there willing tests to show me the lines that would change my life.⁣
⁣
I felt you long before I touched you, the stretches of my belly proudly growing you. The pain that sometimes comes with being made of eachother, the worry, that I couldn’t be without you now.⁣
⁣
I shared with you my heart before you’d steal it completely. I’ve shared stories, ones of how I met your father, books already sitting on your shelf. I’ve shared unspoken emotions with you that I know you can feel.⁣
I’ve shared my body, I am your land and you are my guide.⁣
When it’s dark at night I wonder, will it be tonight?⁣
⁣
I’m nervous⁣
There’s so much I don’t know.⁣
But I know I love you.⁣
I’m ready⁣
when you are.⁣
See you soon,⁣
love, Mum."⁣

Words: Ulrichs, Writer
📸: This Mama Doodles

16/08/2022

“All that matters is that your baby is fed”

You were planning to breastfeed, you wanted to 𝘴𝘰 badly, but like a lot of things in motherhood, it didn't go as planned.

BUT as disappointed as you are—⁣

It’s okay.⁣
⁣
To the mama crying with sore nipples,⁣
had a rough labor that has made everything painful,⁣
or is not producing enough milk⁣
and decides to switch to formula,⁣
⁣
fed is best, and you're still a good mom⁣
⁣
To the mama pumping at all hours of the day and night and bottle feeding because her baby couldn’t get the perfect latch,⁣
⁣
fed is best, and you're still a good mom.⁣
⁣
To the NICU mama who has only watched her baby feed through a tube,⁣
⁣
fed is best, and you're still a good mom.⁣
⁣
To the mama returning to work sooner than expected and doesn’t want to deal with leaky breasts during meetings or taking pump breaks multiple times a day,⁣
⁣
fed is best, and you're still a good mom.⁣
⁣
So, to the new mama being so hard on yourself,⁣
I want you to know,⁣
It’s okay if breastfeeding doesn’t work out. ⁣
⁣
You’re 𝘯𝘰𝘵 a failure.
You’re doing what's best for you and your family, and that makes you strong.⁣
⁣
Because all that matters is that your baby’s fed,⁣
and it doesn’t matter how that happens.

📸: Joolsannie Art
....................................................⁣⁣
My Children’s Book 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺: 𝘈𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘛𝘰𝘰 is out everywhere: https://amzn.to/317TvVc