I’ve become a new mum three times over and have just emerged from the newborn fog.
(For the final time. Equal parts YAY! and BOOHOOOO!)
Those first few weeks after welcoming a new life into the world are some crazy amazing sleep-deprived and hormone-fuelled days.
There were a few things that my friends did during this period that had me eternally grateful so I thought I’d share them. (The ideas. Not my friends.)
Here are 21 ways to help a new mum. In no particular order and you don’t have to do all 21. Obvs.
However if you do all 21 you’ll basically be a Super Rad Legend in the eyes of any new mum.
When my firstborn started solids, I lovingly prepared her meals and snacks containing high-quality organic produce picked under a full moon during months only containing two-syllables.
When the second-born started solids, I still tried to prepare meals containing organic produce but they were not as lovingly nor painstakingly prepared. I was trying to throw meals and snacks together whilst preventing the toddler from loving her new brother hard (read: smothering.)
I spend large parts of my days conversing with an almost 4-year-old and a 2-year-old, whilst cooing at a newborn.
Conversations with the almost 4-year-old can be epic. “No. I’m not sure why there aren’t footpaths in the clouds.” “You want your apples cut into see-saws? Right-O.”
Conversations with the 2-year-old involve a fair bit of grunting (on his part) and guessing (on my part. I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT!)
To remind myself that I am an adult, capable of adult thought and communication, I’ve been delving into podcasts. I listen when I’m doing the dishes or when everybody is napping.
I really dig being inspired by Seth Godin whilst standing at my kitchen sink.
Here are 6 podcasts to download.
It seemed a bit ironic to be writing a post on what to pack in your labour bag in the lead-up to a planned home birth with Babe #3.
Babe #1 was born in hospital. Babe #2, like #3, was a planned home birth.
With both home births, the midwives strongly recommended having a labour bag packed in case of transfer to hospital. And because I would have made an awesome Girl Guide, I made sure I had a bag packed for “just in case” purposes.
We’re entering that uncertain period of pregnancy where the baby could arrive ANY DAY.
If I look back at my 2 previous pregnancies, I have a familiar behavioural pattern.
At about 35 weeks, I’m possessed by this insane nesting instinct to COOK ALL THE THINGS and stock up on freezer-friendly family meals. (more…)
Here are 11 creative ways to entertain the kids when pregnant and refuse to bend down to pick things up/ can’t move too quickly/ want to just sit in the one spot for an extended period (aka Being A Billion Weeks Pregnant.)
Okay, so I’m partial to a bit of exaggeration and I’m sitting at 35 weeks pregnant.
But that’s just a few shy of a billion, right?
3 pregnancies in three-and-a-half years means that this old body is protesting with a crazy combo of aches and pains.
Coupled with this insane heatwave and we’ve been sticking close to home of late.
(A polite way of saying that the motivation and energy required to organise and shepherd a toddler and preschooler out of the house is fairly non-existent.)
Apparently these little people expect to be entertained on a daily basis. What’s with that?
I’ve become a new mum three times over and have just emerged from the newborn fog.
