When you’ve gone through a long pregnancy and are looking forward to your little one’s arrival, there’s peak excitement when they finally arrive. But it’s also when all of the joys, frustrations and concerns can come to fruition – the realities hit.
When Gemma Mullin was expecting her first child, she did everything she could to prepare for the birth.
Gemma Mullin, pictured with baby Dougie, admits that despite all her preparation, she still found the first few weeks of motherhood very tough
She excitedly devoured books on pregnancy, eagerly took notes at antenatal classes and listened to podcasts when she had a spare moment.
Shortly before her due date, she cooked dozens of meals for the freezer to tide them over the first few weeks and made sure her husband understood his new role as gatekeeper.
To help support your nutrient levels, try Pregnacare New Mum supplements which have been specially formulated for the fourth trimester.
Despite all this, when baby Dougie came along two years ago and unexpected situations arose, the 32-year-old realised there was still a lot she didnt know about the period now being called the fourth trimester.
So how should you prepare for your new arrival? Here Gemma and other new mums give you a heads up!
DONT FEEL PRESSURE TO BE PERFECT
Many new parents feel there is so much pressure put on them nowadays to be perfect. Forget it.
Looking back, I wish I could have told that version of me to relax, says Gemma, who runs The Wedit, wedding content creator service in Essex. Id try to enjoy it more and make the most of the slow days because now I know how quickly it goes.
And Id try not to be a slave to the tracking apps, because whilst they are very helpful, at times I became a bit obsessive and I dont think it was always helpful or reassuring to know how many times wed been up in the night.
EAT AS HEALTHILY AS YOU CAN
Rebecca, who is mum to Mabel, now two months, advises new mums not to stress about what they eat in the first few weeks
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is really important – especially in this postnatal phase, however the demands of being a new parent can make this extra challenging when youre trying to juggle so many things.
Dont put too much pressure you on yourself here – eat when youre hungry and try and seek out nutritious food where possible. The advice from Rebecca Dennigan, mum to two-month-old Mabel is stock up on fruit so you always have something healthy to snack on.
To help support your nutrient levels, try Pregnacare New Mum supplements which have been specially formulated for the fourth trimester.
The comprehensive formula includes vitamin B12 and iron to help with tiredness and fatigue plus biotin and zinc to support your hair and skin health.
MEET OTHER MUMS
Ami Pilkington, who gave birth to her second son Rupert eight months ago (right, with her first son Arthur pictured left), agrees about the importance of support
Support is vital when youve just had a baby – and no one needs to feel alone. One of the best things I did was join an app to connect with other women locally who were expecting babies around a similar time, remembers Gemma, from Colchester, Essex.
I met a couple of lovely mums who I now consider close friends as we navigated that whole life-changing time together.
Ami Pilkington, who gave birth to her second son Rupert eight months ago, agrees.
From the support point of view, you get less second time – the excitement has worn off. So I joined a breast-feeding support group. Its more a social group where you can speak to like-minded people and have a moan.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
Its easy to put yourself second when a newborn demands all your attention, but taking care of yourself will make you feel more human and able to cope.
Have a bath, paint your nails, brush your teeth – its the little things that are really important for how you feel, says Ami, 31.
And buy your favourite body wash, adds Rebecca, 31, from Chipping Sodbury. Youll only get a small amount of time to yourself in the shower so make it luxurious! And moisturise – youll feel so much better.
HIT A SLUMP? GET CHECKED
Ami knew that she needed to see her GP when she repeatedly just didnt want to leave the house
A little tiredness is natural but wanting to hide away isnt. So take action.
When I was breast-feeding, I hit a low point where I didnt want to leave the house, says Ami, who owns campervan building company Moores Coaches. I knew I needed to sort myself out.
So I went to the GP and had all my vitamin levels and iron checked.
I was actually prescribed iron tablets, and now I also make sure to take a multi-vitamin with vitamin D and B12.
Pregnacare Breast-feeding is an expert formula that can help when youre breastfeeding, safeguarding your diet when it matters most.
Pregnacare Breast-feeding provides calcium, vitamins K and D and magnesium as well as vitamins B3 and B6
It can be taken as a general postnatal supplement for 6-9 months following childbirth or longer if required, to replace depleted nutrients and assist the body following pregnancy, even if you are not breast-feeding.
It provides calcium, vitamins K and D and magnesium which support normal bones, as well as vitamins B3 and B6 which contribute to normal energy release.
Pregnacare Breast-feeding also includes a high purity Omega-3 capsule, which provides 300mg DHA. Maternal intake of DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) contributes to the normal brain and eye development of breast-fed infants^.
Its reassuring to know that Vitabiotics Pregnacare is the pregnancy supplement brand trusted most by mums and most recommended by midwives*. Pregnacare provides nutritional support for every stage of pregnancy – before, during and after, so your postnatal nutritional needs are also covered.
YOU DONT HAVE TO DO IT ALL
Gemma advises new mums to accept all the help offered to them, whether from friends, family or partners, in the first weeks and months
Dont be too proud to ask for help and to accept it when offered – motherhood is tough enough as it is.
Id like to think next time round I would accept more help instead of trying to believe I could do it all, says Gemma.
My husband was really keen to be able to feed our son, but I was adamant on breastfeeding exclusively and even though I did express I just thought it was easier to feed him myself. Something I wouldnt do again.
And, accept help from friends and family where you can – be it cleaning, cooking or any other household tasks. You want quality time with the baby, says Ami, so allow others to help you. If you can afford to outsource, you could even get a cleaner, perhaps a meal delivery service, or even a window cleaner, anything to help for those first few months.
SPEAK OUT
Parenthood can be a challenging journey with highs and lows especially at the start, and many new parents can feel like its too much at some point. But if its more than that, seek help.
Speak to a family member, a doctor or whoever you feel ok to speak to before you get to a point where youre sitting indoors, not wanting to leave the house, says Ami. Remember – its ok not to be ok.
NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT FOR BABY
The UK Department of Health recommends that all children aged six months to five years should be given a supplement that contains vitamins A, C and D
Of course, most mums worry more about their baby than themselves – its only natural. And if youre worried about your newborn getting enough nutrients, Wellbaby is there for extra nutritional support.
From birth, the Department of Health recommendation is that babies take a daily supplement containing 8.5-10µg of vitamin D until one year of age. Wellbaby Vitamin D Drops provide this with an easy-to-use dropper format, providing vitamin D which helps support bone development.
For when baby is that little bit older, Wellbaby Multi-vitamin Drops provide vitamin A, C and D, and are suitable from 4 to 24 months. The UK Department of Health also recommends that all children aged six months to five years should be given a supplement that contains vitamins A, C and D.
Wellbaby Multi-vitamin Drops provide vitamins A, C and D for babies from 4-24 months old
Please note that both Department of Health recommendations applies where babies are not drinking 500ml (or approx. 1 pint) of infant formula a day, as infant formula has vitamins added to it.
Pregnacare and Wellbaby provide expert nutritional care for you and your little one, helping you ensure your nutrient support needs are covered.
· Find Pregnacare and Wellbaby at Boots, Superdrug, supermarkets, chemists and online at vitabiotics.com