This guest blog is from the lovely Laura who is the founder of the wonderful The Pregnancy Food Company.

Preparing for baby to arrive often involves the purchasing of many items; clothing, cots, prams, wipes, nappies, changing tables…the list seems to go on and on, and on! But all too often I see mummies who have prepared everything for after the birth, except for one of the most important factors in post birth care - their own nourishment! 

Conceiving, growing and birthing a baby should not be underestimated; it’s a gargantuan task for the female body - and one that uses many nutrients, not just from the foods mum is eating but also from her own nutrient stores. In fact, if the growing foetus doesn’t have enough access to specific nutrients such as calcium it will pinch stores from mum’s bones, and even fat from her brain. Mother Nature is all about providing for the next generation, but since we have moved on a bit now in modern day life, we have the tools and knowledge to successfully look after ourselves at the same time so we can enjoy (for the most part) Motherhood. 

If we think of pregnancy and breastfeeding in terms of a bank account, where nutrient withdrawals are constantly being made, it makes sense to replenish these with an increase in deposits! Sometimes, what mum’s consider a normal part of post birth such as low mood, extreme fatigue, illness and slow healing, may in fact be due to a lack of nutrients. 

A man called  Dr. Oscar Serrallach has even gone so far as to label this as ‘post natal depletion syndrome’ which he says can last many years if not rectified, and presents itself in many of the ways I just mentioned. This syndrome is exacerbated if multiple pregnancies are carried in a short space of time. 


So, how can we look after ourselves and prevent these issues? 
In many eastern cultures they have traditions whereby mum is looked after and fed by her family whilst she gets to know her baby and establish breastfeeding. Unfortunately we don’t seem to have much of that over here, although I do think society is becoming more aware of how we need to treat our new mummies. There are a few things that mum can do for ‘self care’. 

Preparing foods before the birth in the form of batch cooking and freezing is a life saver. Think along the lines of hearty, warming foods such as soups, cottage pie, fish pie, stews - cooking meat for a long time on a low temperature allows the nutrients to be more easily absorbed so something like pulled pork is great too. 

Including a wide variety of different coloured veggies helps boost vitamin intake and fibre, which can help keep your bowels moving after birth. Without talking about poop for too long (!) it’s one of the main ways our bodies detox from chemicals and excess hormones so we need to be going once a day ideally. Adding in chia seeds, prunes and dates can help - as can a magnesium supplement. 

Healthy fats are essential after birth for many functions in the body and are especially useful in the production of breastmilk. Good sources include fatty fish, avocados, nuts & seeds, cold olive oil and butter. 

Wholegrains can help with breastmilk supply and boost energy levels too. I like to use jumbo oats or sourdough bread, staying away mostly from pasta and heavily processed carbohydrates. 

Snack wisely! Snacking in the post partum period is a chance to get even more nutrients in between meals. Choose low sugar snacks such as boiled eggs, carrots & hummus, apple & cheese, nuts&seeds. 

Investing in a good supplement is essential, and, if antibiotics have been taken after the birth its a good idea to take some probiotics too. We love Wild Nutrition supplements for general vitamins/minerals and for probiotics, source an ‘acidophilus’ type with at least 20 billion CFU. 

Breastfeeding health 

Our bodies will produce the best breastmilk it possibly can, no matter what we eat. However, preventing nutrient depletion for mum and boosting certain nutrients in breastmilk for baby can never be a bad thing!

Whilst feeding on demand and regular full draining of the breast is the most effective method of boosting milk supply, we can also support this by having good hydration and including galactagogue foods such as oats, flaxseed, nutritional yeast and fennel. We sell lactation oaties and tea which make a delicious snack for hungry mamas!

There are certain nutrients that can be boosted in breastmilk through mum’s intake and this includes Vitamin A, essential fatty acids and Vitamin D. It’s a good idea to take a breastfeeding and omega 3 supplement to boost these nutrients, especially if vegan or vegetarian as food sources of these come from fatty fish, meats and eggs. 

A few tips for prevent common issues after birth 

Mastitis & blocked ducts 
We can help to prevent the onset of mastitis through choosing foods that contain lecithin: 

• Organ meats, red meat, seafood, eggs 
• Pumpkin and sunflower seeds
• Cooked green vegetables, such as brussels sprout and broccoli 
• Legumes such as kidney beans, and black beans 

Thrush 
Thrush is a common issue when breastfeeding and can be very painful to feed. Certain foods can encourage thrush, so if you believe you have it or are more susceptible to thrush, it’s wise to avoid the following: Sugary foods/drinks. Simple carbohydrates (sweets, white bread etc) Yeast containing foods such as bread, mushrooms, Fruit juice, dairy and artificial sweeteners.
Acidophilus probiotics can help tackle gut bacteria imbalance which often occurs after a treatment of antibiotics. As can consuming prebiotics such as banana, artichoke, garlic, asparagus. 

Urinary tract infections 
Are also very common after birth. Avoid sugar, alcohol, caffeine, aspartame and dried fruits if you think you have one. Increase water intake, vitamin C, unsweetened cranberry juice, and D mannose. 

And finally, our top post partum superfoods!

• Fish 
• Avocado 
• Nuts 
• Offal/Meat 
• Wholegrains 
• Vegetables Berries 
• Dark leafy greens Eggs 
• Vegetable broth

 
So mummies, don’t forget to look after yourself as well as your little family, you are just as important.
to. If you need some support with your pre or postnatal nutrition visit Laura's website to find out more about her services.

This guest blog is from supermum Kate who is mum of six (including two sets of twins) and founder of the amazing Mini First Aid. 

When we get ready for baby to arrive, we often focus on the softer side; the nursery, the change bag, the pram, the first outfit. Why not? Having a baby is an exciting time.  We then start to think about the birth, how we want things to go and how we plan to feed our baby.
 
It is hard not to feel nervous as a new parent.  Everything is unknown. At Mini First Aid we cannot give you all the magic answers about getting your baby to sleep through the night, but we can help you to think about practically equipping yourself for baby, and to think about First Aid. It’s amazing that so many parents do not have the basic first aid knowledge to help save a child’s life. 
 
Here are our my top tips:
 

• Attend a baby first aid class. Knowing what to do in an emergency could literally save a life. 
• Ask the adults (grandparents and carers) who will be spending time with your baby to also attend a first aid class and don’t forget siblings can attend First Aid classes designed for children.
• Make sure you have a first aid kit in your change bag or under your pram and another located at home in the room you spend most of your time in.  Make sure that everyone knows where the first aid kit is kept and replenish supplies regularly.
• Find out which neighbours are at home at particular times of day, so that if you ever need emergency help, you know who you can call on.
• Make sure you know where your nearest Paediatric A & E is located (not all hospitals have one).

 
For many parents weaning their babies, the possibility of them choking is really scary. 
 
Firstly, we show our babies and children that grown-ups eat sitting down, chew properly (!) and that we never put too much in our mouths. Babies mimic so we need to be role models. Never leave a baby or child eating without supervision. Silence is the sign of choking. Make sure you know how to deal with a choking baby.

Book yourself a place on a baby first aid class to gain the practical experience too. Head over to Mini First Aid to have a look at the courses on offer.

This guest blog is from the lovely team at Expect the Best, Chris and Rose. Their consultancy firmly believes in flexible and tailored advice which is individual to the parents they work worth.
 
The first stage of potty training in our eyes starts from the get-go. Creating a positive narrative around all aspects of going to the loo. After all, it’s totally natural and we all do it. When we talk about creating a positive narrative we start by looking at the language we want to promote when changing nappies, we like to encourage parents/caregivers and anyone in between to avoid using words such as ‘dirty, stinky, disgusting’ when we pull faces (even as a joke to make our children laugh) what we are actually teaching them is that their bowel movements are something to be ashamed of. Change it up use language and phrases like “doesn’t your tummy feel good now” or “great work going to the toilet” or “that’s so healthy for your tummy”.
 
Other things to think about are talking to your little one about what you are doing when you are changing their nappy,  keep the conversation open and honest.
 
When it comes to nappy changing, it is a good idea to have everything you need to ready before you begin. There are always long lists of things that people always tell you that you need. 
 
We like to encourage you to keep things as simple as possible. 
 
Have a changing station upstairs and downstairs so you don’t always have to rush up and down the stairs. It’s the same when it comes to potty training later on. Have a spare set of clothes, for nappy changing you’ll need

• A changing mat or towel on the floor
• Nappies
• Nappy barrier cream
• Water wipes (or wipes that are unscented and kind of the skin)
• Nappy bags

 
Optional nappy changing equipment 

• Nappy bin
• Hand sanitiser
• You can use cotton wool and cooled boiled water at the start instead

 
You can choose whether to buy the nappy bins etc, don’t feel pressure to buy all the kit. Just get what you feel comfortable with. 
 
It’s a good idea to have some toys to hand to keep your little one busy. For girls make sure you always wipe front to back.
 
The same things really apply when we talk about potty training, keep calm and trying not to get overwhelmed about the next milestone is really helpful. Try not to over complicate things and buy all the kit before you work out what your plan of action is going to be.
 
Potty training is a subject that we feel can cause a lot of stress and worry for parents. There is always an underlying current of competition to make sure that your child is potty trained the fastest and the easiest. 
 
For some parents it can be an emotional subject, potty training can feel like a step towards real independence from you where before they relied so heavily on you for that particular need. Don’t beat yourself up if you feel like this, try and embrace this new and exciting chapter in the journey of parenting. 
 
It is absolutely vital that you remember that every child is different, every child will go at their own pace with potty training and forcing the matter, because we feel we have to, is not beneficial to anyone. So, relax. We are here to help you move away from the parental guilt that we believe so often governs all aspects of parenting and help you feel more confident to tackle potty training as and when you feel your child is ready.
 
Books are a fantastic resource before you start to properly think about potty training. We love the Princess Polly or Pirate Pete potty books. In this case a gender specific book is helpful because it can be very different, just as it is different from child to child.
 
Also, using a book to make a story bag is another fantastic resource to have. Grab a bag and fill it with lots of different toys that represent potty training. Such as a potty, loo roll, knickers and a favourite doll, or soft toy as props. This way they can learn through imaginative play without feeling pressured.  
 
At around 18 months, or earlier if you think your child is ready you can put a potty in the bathroom. It helps if your child can get used to the idea of a potty before they even sit on it. That way it isn’t a scary foreign object. If you have older children who are already potty trained it’s a great idea to get them to show your little one what to do. Another useful tip is to take their nappies off for different periods during the day in the run up to potty training so that they can get used to the feeling of the air in that area. You can always offer them the opportunity to sit on the potty before bath time as another way to help them get used to it.
 
The signs of potty training are quite straight forward. 

• Pulling at the nappy

• Asking to go the loo
• Being dry for long periods of time.
• When they tell you that they are going in their nappy, or they are able to identify what is in their nappy.

 
When you see these signs, we suggest that you wait for about a week or two, just to make sure that the signs are consistent.
 
When you feel your child is ready; get them to choose some pants and after they have woken up pop the pants off you go. At first, it is a great idea to have timer set for every 20/30 minutes and ask if they need to potty or loo. Alternatively ask them to sit on the potty about 15 minutes after having a big drink. As the days go on then this time is likely to get longer, and you will start to be able to work out if there is a pattern. If you are using a timer, then make sure you explain to them exactly what is going to happen when the timer goes off. It is important that you don’t over ask or become agitated if they refuse to go. What we suggest is that the first day or two you encourage them to go every 30 minutes, but if you can see that most of those 30-minute slots result in nothing you can extend them.  Also, if they refuse to sit on the potty, explain very calmly that it is okay, but we are going to try again in 10 minutes. Some children need to feel the sensation of being wet before they really grasp the concept. Celebrate every wee and poo with a sticker or you could do a marble jar.

It’s a really good idea to have spare pants and clothes in a basket downstairs so you can encourage them to help in getting changed if they have accidents. You can also pop a dirty laundry basket beside as well so that they can pop their wet/dirty clothes away as well. Accidents are completely fine. Just stay calm and never get cross with your child if that happens. If, your child is doing a wee/poo in the middle of the floor, try not to pick them up and rush them over to the potty because the sensation of being picked up and rushed somewhere whilst going for a wee can be really alarming and distressing for children. Just accept that they have had an accident and say “it is okay, next time let’s try on the potty. Why don’t you have a sit down on the potty now and see if there is anything else still to come”. 
 
If you find that they are getting really upset when they wet themselves, don’t be afraid to call potty training off. Often children come back to it themselves but in their own time. At nap and bedtimes move way from nappies and get pull ups and call them sleep time pants. Being dry at night will come much later on.
 
We suggest you find a little song or book that can help keep them on the potty for a bit longer. Also remember that sometimes when they have done a wee, they may need to sit there for a little longer just to make sure they are really finished. 
 
Top tip for training boys to stand is to put a cheerio or something along those lines in the bottom of the loo for them to have something aim for.
 
Remember to be kind to yourselves, celebrate the wins and trust in your instincts

You can find Expect the Best on Instagram @expectthebest.uk or visit their website

As part of World Breastfeeding Week, our co-founder and Midwife, Anneke, teamed up with Elvie to answer all your questions on Antenatal Colostrum Harvesting.

Our doggies are special members of our families so it's important that we make sure they don't feel put out when we have a new baby. Sarah talks you through some tips and advice on how you can make the transition as painless as possible and what worked well for her when introducing her rescue doggie, Yvie, to Monty when he came home from the hospital.