Pregnancy & Baby 

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25 tips to help a new mum

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• 10. A new born takes time to adjust to the strange new world they've arrived into. They were quite happy in your warm womb! Soothe and settle your baby by gently rocking her in your arms. You'll soon find yourself talking in silly voices, cooing and reciting lullabies and nursery rhymes to entertain your little one.
• 11. Everyone's keen to help a new mum, so don't feel shy to ask for support. Getting out of the house can feel like an ordeal at first, so don't wrestle with your new buggy alone. Ask a friendly neighbour to help you out of the house and then meet you an hour or two later to help you back in again.
12. Don't be alarmed by the colour of your baby's first nappies it's meconium - a dark sticky stool that's been in the bowels of your baby during pregnancy. 'Over the next few days the colour changes from brown to green to yellow and by the third or fourth day it may be quite watery and has a consistency similar to mustard seeds. If the dirty nappies look more like dry pellets this may be a sign that your baby is becoming constipated,' says midwife Sharon Trotter at www.tipslimited.com
• 13. When weaning it's important to introduce your baby to a wide range of tastes, says baby food expert Annabel Karmel. 'Jarred baby food has a shelf-life of two years and minimal flavour and nutrients - even the expensive organic brands. To create a shelf-stable product, commercial baby food is heated to extremely high temperatures and then cooled, eliminating many nutrients and flavour. Many brands also add thickeners and stabilizers.' Baby food is quick and easy to cook. Check out www.annabelkarmel.com for recipes and tips.
• 14. Look after yourself, advises nutritionist and author Amanda Grant: 'You need to eat regular meals to help keep your energy levels high - especially important if you are up in the night feeding! Make something for supper in the morning when you are not too tired to help guarantee that you eat something later in the day'. Healthy Eating for Pregnancy and Healthy Baby & Toddler Food for Mitchell Beazley.
• 15. Baby bulge 'Don't expect to return to your pre-pregnancy shape immediately,' advises Baukjen and Vanessa from designer maternity wear brand Isabella Oliver, 'Wear clothes that flatter the assets you're proud of and don't emphasize the areas you'd rather not draw attention to such as the abdominal area. Don't make the mistake of wearing very baggy clothes as this can make you look bigger.'
• 16. Colic If your baby is drawing up her legs, looking red-faced and crying a high pitched agonising squeal at the same time every day, it sounds like colic. It tends to start at three weeks and no one really understands what it is, whether it's hunger or due to a baby's delicate digestive system. Baby massage can help with colic. Look for local classes in your area.
• 17. 'Expect breastfeeding to take two weeks to become established,' advises Anita O'Neill, midwife at the Zita West Clinic. 'Expect lots of ups and downs during that time. Breastfed babies feed more frequently than bottle-fed babies. Bottle milk takes longer to digest so it is entirely normal for a breastfed baby to feed every two to four hours during the first few weeks.'
• 18. Visitors While you want to show everyone your little cherub, visitors can leave you feeling exhausted. The early days of motherhood are an emotional roller coaster. Don't overload yourself with visitors. There's plenty of time for friends, family and neighbours to meet your baby. Ask them to bring whatever they'd like to eat or drink to cut back on any extra stress or domestic work.
• 19. Pack your nappy bag and keep it by the door Never leave the house without a full change of clothing - baby vest, sleep suit, cardy - and a couple of nappies, wipes and or cotton wool. Babies have a remarkable ability to fire poo up the back of nappies!
• 20. Don't try to be the best Fear of failing is often linked to post-natal depression (PND). This condition is different from the weepiness or baby blues many mums experience in the first few days. Post-natal depression can be a serious and debilitating illness if left undiagnosed and untreated so it's important to get help. Association of Post-natal Illness. www.apni.org

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