Coming soon..preparing for baby

You've been to the antenatal classes, you've read the books and looked at the websites on pregnancy and childbirth but are you ready for parenthood? I am currently preparing a workshop day for expectant parents on 'what to expect after you've delivered'. Topics to be covered will include 'the first few days', feeding, Mum's body and how to look after it, the phases of babyhood, crying, routines and other baby management methods, becoming parents and staying a couple, father's role and equipment, what you really need. In fact, it may need a weekend! A follow up day for the group will be arranged for 6-8 weeks after birth.

If you have strong sense of what would be really useful to include please let me know on this page.

Dads do babies

This is a fun session for Dads and an opportunity to be introduced to baby massage and compare notes with other new fathers. Sessions last 1, 1/2 hours, split between learning massage and exploring the role of fathers in bringing up babies. Dad sessions can be arranged for a group of up to 6 fathers and babies on Saturdays and can be held at my home or your home or at the Ninesprings clinic in Yeovil. Tea, coffee and cakes provided.

To arrange a session please call Henrietta on 07976 336646 or email hl@babymentoring.com

Looking after you when you've just had baby..some tips...

Nearly all of the information you hear or take in about the period after birth will about baby, so let's think about you for a moment. You are your baby's source, where it will go for all its nourishment and comfort in it early days. So to look after baby you need to look after you. Here are a few tips on how to do so properly.

Whether you've had a vaginal birth or a caesarian, you will do well not expect to be able to do anything but exist and look after baby in the first few weeks after baby is born. It may be hard to imagine now but there will be days when getting dressed will be an achievement! Be prepared to drop your standards..housework, washing, phone calls etc will all have to wait, everyone understands what it's like. If you're prepared to absorb yourself in baby you'll have a much more enjoyable time than if you have unrealistic expectations of yourself. Everybody's experience varies and some people, yes, have a much easier time than others. But it's realistic to say that in general its a time of great joy and varying degrees of pain so here's some tips for avoiding the aches and pains and tiredness post childbirth.

• Giving birth is probably the most exhausting thing you'll ever experience, you will need all the peace and quiet you can get. Work out how to turn the ringer on the phone off, so that when baby is asleep or with someone else during the day you can get some rest. It's so exciting having a baby that it's often hard to sleep during the day, but practice the art of resting even if you're not sleeping; it will stand you in good stead in the months to come.
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• If you've had a vaginal delivery its fair to say that your soft furnishings (i.e your vagina or fanny) will be a bit, to very sore after delivery. You may even have a tear and/or had stitches. Here's a few things you can do to look after soft furnishings post delivery....
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• When you wee the acid in the urine will sting so keep a jug of water by the toilet and pour the water between your legs as you wee to dilute the urine. Sounds strange but believe me it's a relief!
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• A rubber donut or even a blow up child's ring to sit on takes the pressure off your sore bits and prevents rubbing as you move.
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• There are herbal baths you can soak your bottom in that really help and can be purchased from the active birth centre.
  
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• Keep some fragrance free wipes by the toilet as they will feel softer than toilet roll on a very sensitive fanny.
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• On the subject of vaginas...you'll probably know that after a vaginal delivery you will bleed for some time (like weeks even). Be stocked with ST's. The midwives will ask you questions about this and make sure everything's normal.
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• Get hydrated and stay hydrated. Keep jugs of water by your bed and near you , (moving around won't be so easy at first, either because you'll be sore or because you'll be feeding baby, so water needs to be on hand). You may well be dehydrated after labour so tank up. You will eventually need to do a poo and its a lot easier if your emissions are soft!
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• Your anus being close to to the vagina, and having also gone through a big experience, may well be sore and you have even have piles. Piles feel like little grapes of flesh that are usually on the inside but because of the pressure of the baby's body as it was on it way out, these little grapes have popped out. Don't worry these are quite normal and will get better especially if you're good about doing your pelvic floor exercises. Spots of blood afterwards a poo are also normal. If you are sore 'down there' you may feel a little anxious about your first post delivery poo. When the time comes, try to relax into it. Tell yourself what comes in must come out...let go and breathe...its not as bad as you fear. And providing you stay hydrated it all gets back to normal pretty quickly.
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• Have some really comfy soft clothes around that you feel nice wearing, so you've got something comforting for your weary body to put on after the birth. If you plan to breastfeed make sure access to boobs is easy too.
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• Boobs also, can suffer from breastfeeding. Sore breasts are very common at first. There are various remedies but cold savoy cabbage leaves (keep it in the fridge) tucked inside your feeding bra over the nipple do help.
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• If you're the hyperactive type then the following sound advice will be wasted on you..give yourself as long a holiday from normal life for as long as you need/or can. If you possibly can stay in your pyjamas or tracksuit or whatever you feel comfortable wearing for at least a few days after childbirth Once you put normal clothes on you will have normal expectations of yourself, i.e to rush around getting things done and you risk exhausting yourself and ending up frustrated and tearful.
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• To this end, if you can get ahead on admin', bills, forms, letters etc before the baby's born, do so you can forget about all until you feel ready.
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• Learn the art of online shopping, so that you and your partner (if you have one) can stay snuggled up at home with your new baby.
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• If this is not your first birth, you may not know that painful contractions can continue after delivery. Be prepared with painkillers on hand. Check with your midwife how much and how often to take them so you know what the maximum is should they be particularly painful.
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• Finally, remember you have just performed a miracle. Your body has grown and delivered a new human being. Give that miracle and that body some respect and look after yourself...

For more information on what its like to have your first baby have a look at www.channel4.com/health/microsites/F/family/baby/first.html.

For organisations and websites to support parents there's a good list on this web page www.channel4.com/health/microsites/F/family/baby/first_more.html

For more information on breastfeeding try www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/breastfeeding/problemsandsolutions/breastpain/

Good luck and if you have any other top tips to share please let me know.