When babies are first born, and in those early weeks, it is very common for them to bring up milk – their digestive system is still getting used to working in the world!
Why does it happen? In the first year of life the muscle at the top of your baby’s stomach is still developing and may allow milk and acid to come back up in the form of a ‘posset’ or ‘spit up’. It is common in the first three months and normally stops by the time they are one year old.
In most babies, sick is nothing to worry about (as long as they are healthy and gaining weight as expected) although you may be finding it quite a large laundry problem!
Some babies may cry or seem irritable, or have hiccups/coughs – while it is hard for us as parents to see this, sick still generally doesn’t need medical investigation. Sometimes positioning and attachment support with breast/bottle feeding can be helpful.
In some rare cases a baby will be diagnosed with GORD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease). If you feel like your baby is being sick very often, is in pain and unsettled after feeding and is not gaining weight as expected contact your GP.
For many reasons, some breast/chestfeeding parents need or want to provide milk for their babies in a bottle.
Babies that haven’t done this before, need some time to adjust! Even those who have been receiving milk this way regularly (e.g. every morning feed), may suddenly change their preference as time goes on.
This can bring up a lot of emotions – worry about how baby will cope when you are separated, a feeling of losing your rest time…even rejection if a partner or supporter had been regularly feeding this way.
Feeding at the breast/chest is much more than food – it provides comfort, security, connection and even a way to fall asleep. It’s worth remembering this as you begin to introduce (or re-introduce) a bottle feed.
Some tips that may help:
Get skin to skin, snuggle in and hold baby in their usual at breast/chest feeding position. You could even switch sides mid way through a feed.
In complete opposite to the above, try a very different position, or even location – a garden feed?
Pay attention to how baby is attaching to the bottle in the same way you would at the breast/chest – a short teat and wide base can support effective attachment. Look for feeding cues and try to offer before baby is very hungry.
Take some deep breaths, and relax before offering. Work out ways to reduce any worry you have, so baby doesn’t notice. Singing, chatting, or even moving around can help both of you to feel calm.
And for all parents using bottles to give their baby milk, remember: – paced feeding – responsive feeding – other options beside bottles – expressing and storing human milk – safer formula preparation
On Thursdays, 10-11am, our friendly trained peer supporters are ready and waiting to meet you at the Lighthouse Centre in Dudley. They can offer support with infant feeding, listen to your experiences and connect you with other families at the group. You do need to book a space, but don’t worry – booking is open right up until the groups has ended so if you remember at 10am, you can book and arrive at 10.30! Here is the booking link:
We also have a New Baby Course and other pop up events happening there so do follow us on EventBrite to get notifications of upcoming sessions.
“I was really impressed with this group. Well organised and welcoming, just what mums/parents of newborns need”
– Group attendee, April 2021
Once you have booked on, you’ll receive a confirmation email, then a reminder 2 days before, and then one on the morning of group naming your volunteers and small changes/details you need to know.
How to find the group
The Lighthouse Centre is located at 24-36 Salop Street, Dudley, DY1 3AT. Here is a video that shows you how to find our groups:
Once you get into the car park, on one side you will see the community cafe, and on the other side a sign saying “Dudley Community Church”. There are two sets of doors, we use the set on the left hand side as you face the Community Church sign. Once inside, you’ll see a kitchen where we can make hot drinks with lidded mugs on your right hand side. Turn left and you’ll be in our lovely spacious room! We have hand sanitiser available as you arrive.
There is an accessible toilet and baby changing station. For now, we ask that you take nappies home with you (we have nappy bags to use). You are welcome to change your baby wherever you feel comfortable.
We space out the chairs but you are welcome to have your supporter sit with you. You can choose which chairs would be most comfortable for you. There are soft, wipeable mats for you to put your baby down if you would like to.
This room is available if you need a little more privacy, or a separate space where there are no men or boys. Sometimes, coming to group can be a bit overwhelming (for adults and children alike) and so you are also welcome to use this room for sensory regulation, quiet time or to have a bit of a cry.
Don’t worry if you arrive after the group start time, or you need to leave before the end. You don’t need to be from any particular area, or have given birth under a specific hospital. Everyone is welcome! Got more questions? Let us know – infantfeeding@newbabynetwork.co.uk
After group finishes, or whenever you need to get out, meet a friend or have a coffee you didn’t make yourself, we really encourage you to head over to the fantastic Lighthouse Cafe. The motive behind the Cafe is to equip, enable and empower young offenders and young people not in employment or education by offering volunteer and work experience opportunities where they can learn new skills in catering and cafe service, food handling, health and hygiene, customer service, money handling and following recipes.
Did you know that it’s estimated 8 in 10 women will develop stretch marks during pregnancy? They are very common, but can be a source of worry.
They can be pink, red, silver, black, brown or purple, depending on your skin colour, and many find that they are darker to begin with and then gradually fade over time. During pregnancy they are most often found on your tummy, hips and thighs and some get them on their breasts.
There are many creams that claim to reduce the appearance of stretch marks but there isn’t much evidence to support this. Similarly there isn’t much evidence showing that creams and oils can prevent them.
What there definitely is, is a huge media campaign making women feel self conscious about this natural result of skin stretching. This can lead women to feel that this VERY common result is abnormal and should be hidden away. It can lead to feelings of shame. You may have heard stretch marks being referred to as ‘tiger stripes’. This is the beginning of the fight back against this and a ‘rebranding’ of stretch marks as the physical evidence of the incredible journey into parenthood.
It can be tough to get on board with this, especially if there has been a lifetime of negative feelings about these types of marks on skin. If you aren’t there yet, that’s ok. Bodies change a lot during pregnancy and afterwards. It can take time to adjust to our new body. Our new normal. But it is a normal that you share with many others.
On Tuesdays, 10-11am, our friendly trained peer supporters are ready and waiting to meet you at Cotteridge Friends Meeting House. They can offer support with infant feeding, listen to your experiences and connect you with other families at the group. You do need to book a space, but don’t worry – booking is open right up until the groups has ended so if you remember at 10am, you can book and arrive at 10.30! Here is the booking link:
We also have an antenatal course, and other pop up events happening there so do follow us on EventBrite to get notifications of upcoming sessions.
“I was really impressed with this group. Well organised and welcoming, just what mums/parents of newborns need”
– Group attendee, April 2021
Once you have booked on, you’ll receive a confirmation email, then a reminder 2 days before, and then one on the morning of group naming your volunteers and small changes/details you need to know.
How to find the group
The Cotteridge meeting house is at 23a Watford Road, opposite Savers. It’s set back a bit from the road, and you need to drive over the pavement and through the gates to get in. There is a large car park, and Kings Norton train station is a short walk away. There are many bus routes too.
There is a main door, and a side door to the right of the building as you look at it. You will go in through the main door on a Tuesday and you’ll see all the group attendees! On a Saturday, we will be through the side door. Once you’re in, we have hand sanitiser available for you.
There is an accessible toilet and baby changing station. For now, we ask that you take nappies home with you (we have nappy bags to use). You are welcome to change your baby wherever you feel comfortable.
Here’s what group looks like – we are spaced out but you are welcome to have your supporter sit with you. You can choose which chairs would be most comfortable for you. There are soft, wipeable mats for you to put your baby down if you would like to.
This is the other side of the room, which is a handy space for parking pushchairs etc. There are some covered over resources that belong to the food bank who also use the space.
Don’t worry if you arrive after the group start time, or you need to leave before the end. You don’t need to be from any particular area, or have given birth under a specific hospital. Everyone is welcome! Got more questions? Let us know – infantfeeding@newbabynetwork.co.uk
Did you know that one in two women leak urine up to THREE MONTHS after giving birth to their first child? Leaking urine after giving birth is common, but it is not normal. Many women keep quiet about it because they are embarrassed, but you are not alone and you don’t have to live with it.
Pelvic floor muscle exercises (sometimes called Kegel exercises) have been shown to help urinary incontinence by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor exercises combined with correct posture and spinal alignment will improve your core strength and stability. The Squeezy app has visual guides to pelvic floor exercises, a guided programme and gives you daily reminders: @squeezyapp
If you experience urgency urinary incontinence it is recommended that you avoid drinking fluids that can irritate or make symptoms worse, such as caffeine, alcohol or carbonated drinks. Remember to drink the recommended amount of water (1.5 litres per day) every day to help prevent constipation and keep the urine more dilute so it doesn’t irritate the bladder
Contact your GP for a referral to a women’s health physiotherapist if you have any concerns.
Looking after yourself in the early days after having a baby can feel impossible, and when you do take a moment to yourself there might even be feelings of guilt. However, self care is absolutely essential for being able to meet the needs of your baby.
In the early days, acts of self-care aren’t necessarily big, time-consuming activities. Self-care can be small acts done when you have a few minutes to yourself.
It can be making sure that you have a decent lunch, that you drink a hot cuppa, that you brush your teeth twice a day. Maybe you do that youtube yoga video or you meet up for that walk in the park and make time for a favourite hobby.
It could be taking a minute to close your eyes and take three deep breaths, emptying your mind and noticing how your body feels before you answer the 100th ‘muuuuuum’ of the day.
Taking these moments to prioritise yourself and meet your needs builds resilience. It’s like pressing your ‘reset’ button.
❤ Self-care is NOT selfish 💜 Self-care is ESSENTIAL
