Live life on the wild side

 Hey guys,  Jess here with a short blog around parent groups!  Before becoming a mum I was never really sure around going to a parent group or mum and baby group as most are named but during the first few weeks I checked in with the Abingdon Breastfeeding cafe to get some support around breast feeding, particularly around latching and my concerns around feeding, since then I have been going weekly, sometimes for additional support but mostly just to catch up, have coffee and cake and meet other parents.  This importance around parent groups really came to me as hubby returned to work and I had my first few days home alone, it takes time to re-adjust to a new routine of being on your own, suddenly the extra hands are gone, you have to rethink how your taking time to shower, you get use to taking your newborn with you to pee and your pretty much doing all the changing and feeding, throw in a few days of bad reflux and not napping and you end up with one very emotional ...

Hey guys, Jessie here, todays blog is a look back over our short adventure in the park for a coffee date with my little man!  Living in the flat the first challenge was getting out, not an issue with the use of the sling but with the pushchair it is a whole different ball game. Hubby was on hand but as he is due back at work soon I needed to trial getting me, baby, bag and pushchair all down two flights of stairs. Cue comedic tunes.  With a bit of trial and error for where to place the front wheel that needs to come off to fully fold it down and trialling the best way to carry him and it we made it down in one peice! (And following the coffee date back up in one peice)  We headed out for a walk around the park followed by a stop in the shade to enjoy some time outside, I picked up this handy little travel picnic blanket on amazon for camping and wanted to test it, it's good for what it is and I can't complain for the size and price.  Whilst he rested in the pushchair...

Hey guys Jess here!  Today I want to share with you a short blog post about my first event post birth!  On the 6th May I took on the Roger Bannister community mile, a 1 mile event through the city of oxford to celebrate 70 years of the 4 minute mile held by Roger Bannister. We went up as a family and Owain watched the race along with his dad and grandparents whilst I ran the event, all before a wander around town and some lunch out and about.  At 6 weeks postpartum and breastfeeding getting ready for a race was a little different this time around, you take your usual pre race checks of shoes, toilet breaks, number, and watch charged- and add in feed the baby, nappy changed, express some milk, plan the next feed and express, who's baby sitting, oh and charge the watch!  It makes a huge difference having people around to support and help especially with feeding but as a breastfeeding/expressing mum I also have to consider expressing before and after the race for comfor...

  Hey guys Jess here!  Today I want to share with you a quick post about post-birth fitness!  First of all a little about where I am, I am currently 6 weeks post birth, we did a forceps delivery with about 6 days in hospital with some complications for me and jaundice for the boy, since getting home my focus has been getting in sleep, eating plenty, getting outside at least once a day and keeping moving. Since then I have managed to get back to running very short distances, been on longer walks and taken on my first post birth event! (more about that in a  future blog)  Here are a few tips for you to take on board for fitness post birth Listen to the advice of your midwife, GP or health visitor, they will be able to give you the best advice based on where you are with your health.  Everybody is at a different level with their recovery and fitness, comparing yourself to other people who are further along with their postpartum recovery or even had a different...

Hey guys!  Welcome back to the blog! Today I want to chat to you to build confidence in getting out post birth. Getting out for the first time can be a bit daunting, thinking about everything you are going to need, planning around feeds, expressing, fitting pushchairs etc.  I'm here today to share a bit of insight and some tips!  First of all, you just have to do it, plan as best you can and just get out, and whatever happens find a way to deal with it, it won't always go to plan, but the sooner you do it the quicker you will build confidence.  Top tips to get you out the door.  -Have a baby go bag- This can have everything in that you might ever need, mine contains the following; Nappies, wipes, change of clothes, muslin clothes, blanket, cardigan, hats, mittens, socks, bibs, ready made formula feeds and a bottle (this is added just before we leave so it can be sterilised). All these items live in there (except the bottle) and are replaced once we return home i...

 Hey Guys,  Jess here and today I want to chat to you about Perinatal Mental Health. This week (29th April -5th May 2024) is Maternal Mental Health week where a week long campaign is running to raise awareness around mental health before, during and after birth. You can find out more about the campaign here: Maternal Mental Health Alliance Perinatal mental health is all around advocating for and recognising symptoms of mental health around pregnancy, this could be feelings of uncertainty or anxiousness around the pregnancy itself,  being worried or concerned about the birthing process or feelings of low mood and depression post birth. Perinatal mental health most commonly affects the pregnant partner however they are not the only ones who are affected as the non pregnant partner can also go through mental health issues. Whilst the pregnant partner has to carry birth and feed (if exclusively breastfed) the baby the non pregnant partner has to watch the whole birth process,...