What should go in your baby bag, for you and your baby.

Libby Cain.
Libby is a nurse, midwife, lactation consultant and childbirth educator.

The early stage of labour is called the latent phase, this is the preparation phase and it is important to let it unfold at its own pace, trust your body, it knows how to do this.

By Libby Cain.
Libby is a nurse, midwife, lactation consultant and childbirth educator.

A newborn baby's skin is very fragile and delicate, as it can take up to a year to form the protective acid mantle of healthy adult skin. Baby's skin is also 20-30% thinner so is particularly sensitive to drying, rashes, and reactions to skincare products.

Libby is a nurse, midwife, lactation consultant and childbirth educator.

For breastfeeding women who suffer from blocked/plugged ducts or recurrent episodes of mastitis are often advised by their midwife or lactation consultant to increase their intake of lecithin.

By Libby Cain. Libby is a nurse, midwife, lactation consultant and childbirth educator.

Thrush can be present in your nipple or your breast and is due to an overgrowth of one type of fungus. It is hard to grow on a swab so diagnosis is often just after considering a mum's symptoms. Unfortunately it is one of the major reasons woman often give up feeding.

By Libby Cain. Libby is a nurse, midwife, lactation consultant and childbirth educator.

Although colostrum is produced from as early as 16-22 weeks it may not be visible until 28 weeks. From this time it is possible to gently squeeze around the areola and see this yellow early, concentrated milk or you may see signs of colostrum-yellow flakes on your nipple.

By Libby Cain. Libby is a nurse, midwife, lactation consultant and childbirth educator.

In those precious first moments, after your body left mine, a hazy cloud shifted instantly. One I didn’t realise was smothering me.

By Lacey Owen.

She walks slowly toward labour and delivery cradling her tight swollen belly. A loving gesture she doesn’t even realise she’s making and soon it’ll be gone.

By Lacey Owen.

THEY SAID, you're helping him too much, you'll regret that,  they said. They denied us of our rods, and filled our hearts with dread.

We hang onto the looseness, cry over the leakage and break ourselves over what we ‘should be’.
But they know of no comparison, only the you of yesterday and the you of today.

Today I'm tired, you have been on me since 5am and it doesn't seem like you will be moving anytime soon. So instead of getting angry or upset I just sat here thinking how special this actually is...

There will come a time where all of this is a distant memory. But in the beginning...There will be waves, joy, despair, Anxiety.

You don’t have a long way to go till your back to normal.

THIS is normal.

The year of not leaving your side

For more than an hour

And feeling revived

From a two minute shower

It's ok to not love the scars that gave you your daughter. It's ok to not feel grateful for them in spite of the women who pray for them.It's ok to look in the mirror and not recognize this body and wonder if these negative thoughts you'll overcome.

One day I will look you in the eye and tell you the honest truth.

I'll let you in on a little secret.

Want to know?

I didn't love being pregnant but I loved knowing we shared the same body as you grew for 40 weeks, your heart right next to mine. I didn't love my leaking, swollen, stretched, slow, heavy and sore postpartum body. But I loved knowing it had carried you here safely, earth-side.

I wanted to conceive quickly & easily.
It took 2 years, surgery & many failed pregnancy tests.
I wanted a fit active, pregnancy.
I could barely walk, gained nearly 30kgs.

Your loving arms have picked up, put down, carried, cuddled, hugged, comforted, jigged.
They’ve remained welcoming through all life’s trials and when open, provide the most perfect comfort your child will ever know.

I don't think I've ever seen you more beautiful.
You may have forgotten this amongst the throws of motherhood and find it hard to see it through the blur of these early days, but I see you.

‘Birth Choices.
Make it for yourself.
Not to impress anyone.
Not to belittle anyone.
Not to prove a point to anyone.
Do not fear people’s judgement because they’re the ones making the error, not you.’

By @jessie.juggles.two

'A moment in time that captured me at my weakest but also my strongest.

By HannaH Findlay.

When you became a Mother, along with that squishy warm bundle, you also acquired a voice, not only for yourself but one for your child until they grow big enough for this world to sit down and listen. Never be afraid to stand up and be heard. You are your child's advocate.

By Lacey Owen

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