Midwife & Me

Hello all. I have written a book (finally!) about your first days of having a newborn baby! I would LOVE if you could download a copy and feel free to pop in a star rating! Feel free to share with anyone having a bubba!!! 🤗🤗🤗

Newborn: A midwife's guide to the early days Newborn is a humorous, yet practical account of what to expect during those early days with your precious, new baby. From birth, to breastfeeding, expressing, and normal newborn behaviour, this guide will ensure you know what is happening, why, and how you can navigate this beautiful time, with t...

Throughout covid, hospital and community services for new mums and babies have been limited, so I wanted to share a couple of quick small tips for making sure your baby is going ok at home during that first week.

If you have digital scales that you stand on, you can hop on them and write down that number. Then, with your baby in only a nappy, hop back on the scales holding your baby, and write down that number. See what the difference is. Is Bub going up 20-30grams a day since you left hospital? If not, maybe look at increasing feeds.

Your baby, from Day 5 after birth, should be having 5-6 wet nappies in 24 hours. Are they? If not, you may need to increase feeds.

Your baby should be feeding at least 6 times in 24 hours.

Is your baby looking really yellow? Are they very tired and seem lethargic? Are they only feeding for a very short amount of time and are their nappies more dry then wet? They might have jaundice. Go back to the hospital or your local doctor for a check.

Whether you’re breastfeeding, expressing, or formula feeding, the most important thing is that your baby is feeding and has good output xx

♥️

This is just so beautiful. I think so many new Mums will resonate with this 💜

Dear friend,

It’s still me.

Well sort of.

I’m here, but another version entirely.
I’m in a bubble of longing and love.

I know you messaged me this morning, or was it yesterday? It’s all a bit of a blur and my phones buried somewhere on my bedside that has never felt so small.

I so badly want to reconnect with you but I’m trying to reconnect with me too.

I’m cancelling a lot and it’s hard to say why, the anxiety has held me prisoner here a bit and I want to talk about nothing, and everything. I want to pour a wine and laugh with you. But I don’t know how to be the girl of yesterday.

I also want to try and get some sleep, but even when I’m able to I’m scrolling through photos or checking if he’s breathing in his cot.

I’ve never had such fulfilment but I feel a bit empty right now, even though the room is full, even though my heart is too.

I’m still accepting that my milestones now are first smiles, the way he now looks at me in true focus, I told my husband he must definitely know I’m his mother by now.

I wonder if there will be anything else I can talk about. I think some days I’m still truly waiting for this to all hit me.

I’m a mother now.

My nights aren’t popping bottles, they’re pouring milk into them or figuring out the latch. I’m trying to find time to eat a full meal, or shower, can you believe I plan that stuff now?
I’m not waking up with a hangover and txting you straight away about last nights antics. I still feel hungover, but I’m not the one who’s been drinking all night.

My bones ache my heart aches and I also have a headache, I think from this constant mum bun my hair just stays in.

I’m not sure I can hold it all together, I know I don’t have to with you, but right now I just need to try.

This is my life right now, nap schedules, dressing gowns at 2pm, google searches, doctors appointments and a constant reminder that my phone storage is full.
It’s hard to swallow but I want to inhale it all.

Oh it’s a whirlwind friend, but one I’m glad to be caught up in.
Please keep checking in.
Please keep inviting me.
It means more than you know.

I’ll be back.
In some shape or form.

................................................

Words: ‘All I See Is You’ 📚 https://www.jessicaurlichs.com/shop

Artwork: This Mama Doodles

During this time, there are so many questions pregnant mums, and new mums, have regarding Covid. It’s always important to get your information from the best sources. The World Health Organisation has some answers regarding Covid in pregnancy, protecting yourself, transmission, breastfeeding postnatally, and contact with your baby if you are positive. Sending much love to you all ♥️

Q&A on COVID-19, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding Research is currently underway to understand the impacts of COVID 19 infection on pregnant women. Data are limited, but at present there is no evidence that they are at higher risk of severe illness than the general population.

It’s so nice for nurses and midwives to receive recognition for their hard work. It’s often unspoken the work that we do. And even when we try to talk about how hard it can be, it is very difficult for many to really comprehend. Here’s a lovely letter to you all from the Duchess of Cambridge as we move into 2020- The year of the nurse and midwife ♥️

An Open Letter from The Duchess of Cambridge to Midwives Ahead of 2020's International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, The Duchess of Cambridge has written an open letter to midwives across the country.

As I get older, and busier, being in nature has become more and more important for my mental health. Stress, anxiety, and depression can all be helped by being in nature every day. Take your shoes off, stand on the grass, or the sand, and take a few moments. Teach your babies, and kids, about the healing, calming, and comforting peace of nature. And put the phone away for a few minutes. It really does work ♥️

20 Minute Contact with Nature Reduces Stress Hormone Cortisol - Neuroscience News Taking a 'nature pill' of spending twenty minutes a day outdoors can help to lower cortisol levels.

Some words about being somewhat prepared for your new addition!! xx

If you're having a baby soon, read on! | Midwife and me | Midwife advice It is SO, SO important to be somewhat prepared for the upcoming arrival of your new baby, and I'm not talking about reading a billion books on labour and birth

I was reminded recently that mums need to be informed of the signs to look out for when bubs may be sick, because sometimes the signs are easy to miss.

Signs that your baby may be sick...or not getting enough milk... | Midwife and me | Midwife advice No one wants to see their baby sick. The most important thing to do, when this happens, is to get onto it quickly, before they get really sick. Colds for babies...

Some advice for you wonderful, brave mums, who have a baby in the nursery...

To the mum who has a baby in special care... | Midwife and me | Midwife advice Hello mum who has a baby in special care, for whatever reason, Know that I know how hard this is for you. I know how lost you can feel. I know how odd it is, to...

Such an important topic. So many affected midwives xx

Burnout in Midwifery: An Occupational Hazard? Its concerning that mental illness among healthcare professionals is exceptionally high compared to the national average1. A study of suicides over 12 yea

Recently, I was the patient...and it was an absolute eye-opener, and a great reminder for my own practice!

The absolute anxiety of being the patient | Midwife and me | Midwife advice So, I was recently reminded that it's kinda scary being the patient. Always the health care provider, I forgot that it's just a little bit petrifying being on t...

Happy International Midwives day my brilliant midwifery friends. To so many beautiful friends who are retiring, I’ll miss you all so much at work. You’re all like second mothers to me. And to all midwives around the world, far and wide, I send much love to you. Midwives work so hard 💜