Parent stories and expert advice
Finding confidence
Sam has started making cute noises like he is trying to talk. I melt when he looks at me and smiles. He is playing with his hands and sucks on his fist. I think this helps him go to sleep because when I put him to bed I can hear him sucking before he goes to sleep.
How quickly things have changed
My life has changed so much in the last 3 months and I am loving being a mother but never thought I would be so tired. In my mother’s group there is such a range of experiences, some are having trouble with feeding, others don’t have any family nearby, and one friend is getting sleep, having no trouble with feeding her baby and has her family around.
Born in the USA
My partner and I are both from Melbourne, but we moved to New York a few years ago for work. There are lots of crazy things about the American health system, which has affected our birth experience in several ways.
Ground rules for first time grandparents
Before baby arrives, it's helpful to set some 'grandparent ground rules' ...
Things I cannot believe
L is 4 weeks old today.
One step forward, two steps back
I never thought sleep would rule my life so much. Sam is now 12 weeks old and is back to waking up twice overnight again.
Breastfeeding
After Abigail was born a midwife told me that I have a huge amount of milk which was positive. Abigail loves to try and suck as much milk as she can which leaves her coughing or gulping a lot of air.
I am so tired
After much crying from both Sam and myself there is finally an improvement in his sleep now he is 11 weeks old. From birth Sam would only go to sleep when I fed or cuddled him and when I put him in his cot asleep he woke after 20 minutes.
Taking time out together while baby sleeps
Jess learns that it's important to nurture her relationship just as much as her new baby ...
A positive change
It’s hard to believe six weeks have already passed since our precious Abigail arrived. Not to mention I've now been off work for over two months and Robert's back at work after three weeks leave.
My wonderful supports
Bless my support system, Rob my husband, both families including extended, friends that I met while working out in Mornington, as well as friends who have children and friends who don't. I want to especially thank my sister Lisa who had her first child 20 weeks before Abigail arrived.
Reflections on preparation and the birth
A fear that I had leading up to Abigail's arrival and even prior to coming off the pill was in fact the birth. Nothing could prepare me enough for this event.