• Rewards Room
    • You are here
    Home / Mum & Baby / Pregnancy / 9 things all mums-to-be should know about

    9 things all mums-to-be should know about

    4 Sep 2014 6:27 AM | Posted by
    natural beauty nut's picture
    natural beauty nut
    Comment

    Mummy blogger Chantelle Ellem started her blog, Fat Mum Slim, back in 2008, just after the birth of her first child. Since then Fat Mum Slim and her well-known Photo A Day challenge have grown in popularity. Below the lovely Chantelle shares her tips to help mums-to-be and new mums navigate pregnancy and those first few months with ease.

    Being a mum is an exciting journey for everyone, but often it can mean putting everyone else first before you get time to think of yourself. The truth is though, that mamas should come first, at least some of the time. It's important that we look after ourselves so that we can take care of our family and create a caring, loving environment for everyone.

    To help you take the best care of yourself through pregnancy and beyond, I'm sharing some of my favourite things – some things for mama and a few things for making the baby happy, too.

    1. Bio-Oil® 

    As your body grows and streeeeetches during pregnancy, your skin can be the one to suffer. Bio-Oil® to the rescue! Bio-Oil® helps reduce stretchmarks, and helps fade them if they've already appeared. It's good to keep using once baby has arrived, too; apply after a daily shower to help nourish while also keeping itchy skin at bay.

    2. The sneaky massage

    Particularly in those last weeks of pregnancy when you can't even see your feet, let alone touch them, I found a massage deliciously indulgent. It's also nice to take some time out for yourself before having the baby, when life becomes all about a little person (and less about you).

    3. Easy, peasy dinners

    The first thing to go once you have a new baby is often delicious dinners, because it's just too hard. I bought a whole heap of meals from Gourmet Dinner Service and stored them in the freezer so that I didn't even have to think about it. The bonus is that they're healthy, too, so you're still looking after your body. Phew.

    4. Me-time

    This is going to sound silly, but I can't encourage new mamas enough to get a TV series they love watching and have it ready to go after the birth. I loved having something to look forward to each day for the breastfeeding sessions (marathons!) in those first six weeks. For me it was Friends. If you're not into TV shows, then make it a good book, or a podcast or another little treat. I also tried to make time for getting out and about with bub in the pram.

    5. iPhone & Wonder Weeks App

    No matter how many babies you have, you always seem to forget details. I forgot so much between having my daughters, but there was a five-year gap so maybe I'm excused. I loved the Wonder Weeks app on my iPhone, it tells you when your baby will be going through a wonder week (which will mean a pretty unhappy, unsettled baby! Gah!). I found it to be really spot on. I also loved my iPhone during those early months, because I could use the torch feature to check on my daughter Luella in the middle of the night without switching on the main light, and I could use Facebook/Pinterest/Twitter during the mega marathon feeding sessions.

    6. The super sleep guru

    My first daughter, Lacey, was not a good sleeper. At all. When my second daughter was born I thought I'd been through the hard yards and couldn't possibly have another non-sleeper on my hands. Turns out, I could. A few months into Luella's life I called in the big guns, a sleep guru. Yes, it was pricey. But I would go without new clothes/make-up/food for any period of time if I had to do it again. Best decision we ever made. Luella is happier. She sleeps through the night. And the whole family is just so much more content. Sleep is good!

    7. Osteo treatments

    Being born is pretty hard work for a baby, and often those first three months out of the womb aren't particularly peaceful ones. Well, not for my babies anyway. With Luella I discovered Osteo early on and it was such a big help. It helped with her colic, and also with her travelling in the car (which she wasn't a fan of). I used my local Osteo, but I'm sure if you ask around you can find one near you. It's also good for mamas too, because that whole birthing experience isn't easy for us either.

    8. Baby wearing

    I know baby wearing isn't for everyone, but it's one of the things I love most about having a baby (and the thing I'll miss the most about my baby growing up). I alternated between the Ergobaby and the Baby Bjorn. My kids just seem to love being carried on me.

    9. Boobie Biscuits

    I don't think they're really called Boobie Biscuits, but Lactation Cookies instead. Either way, they're delicious and are said to help boost your milk supply too if you're breastfeeding. Give a friend or family member the recipe and ask them to bake you a batch.

    COMPETITION TIME!!

    We want to see one of your beautiful motherhood moments. Whether it be bath-time with baby, your growing pregnancy belly, your sweet baby’s smile or whatever special motherhood moment you want to share. Simply share your photo on Instagram along with the hashtag #BioOilMumFMS to enter. There are five Bio-Oil packs up for grabs, VALUED AT $220 EACH!

    The competition closes at midnight on Friday September 12th. We can’t wait to see your beautiful photos!

    What was one of your favourite things about pregnancy and beyond? Which of Fat Mum Slim’s tips do you like the best?

    74 Member Comments

    Ssajwani 5 Sep 2014 3:23 PM

    great tips

    CherryBlossom 5 Sep 2014 1:12 PM

    Great informative tips.

    Miss_Lee 5 Sep 2014 12:32 PM

    Awesome tips here - not relevant for me but I've sent a link to my sister. Thanks :)

    Temporary Princess 5 Sep 2014 12:27 PM

    Parisienne Chic makes some really good points.

    bmill229 5 Sep 2014 11:57 AM

    Great tips.

    Rose_P 5 Sep 2014 11:32 AM

    I'm not pregnant, or lactating it's a long time since I've done either. But I'm thinking those boobie biscuits sound pretty damn good.

    Parisienne Chic 5 Sep 2014 10:41 AM

    I feel i have to add a little to this article,as it is one VERY close to my heart (both because we are about to commence proceedings to have our much wanted bub,and also as a nurse who specialised in maternity/mothercraft nursing.Bio oil (or any other nourishing medium for that matter...olive oil or almond oil being two great ones) are great for potential stretch marks....BUT it WON'T stop them.Stretch marks are due to the collagen and elastin fibres in the skin stretching and breaking.....NO OIL will stop that and stretchmarks do fade,but are there for good once you have them.Massage in pregnancy is great....or at anytime really,BUT be aware that essential oils are a no go during pregnancy (except for a small handful) Believe it or not,some oils DO directly affect the pregnancy,causing miscarriage in the early stages AND early labour later.Baby wearing is really a touchy topic,BUT if you know the rationale behind it,you will see it is an essential.Babies are MUCH more settled,content and secure when carried next to Mum or Dad,as they have been in utero (a confined space) for all their existance,then we take them out in big,wide open spaces and it is very distressing for them.It is proven fact that societies that encourage and practice close contact for bubs have much better adjusted,settled babies....a plus no ?,"Me time" is a non negotiable for all mums.I am very strong in telling mums that a little down time every week (a long hot bath,lunch with the girls,a facial etc) is a must,and when i hear that "i don't have time" story,i think that time management when you are a parent is paramount,and if that is not something you have had to deal with in your previous life as an employee,you need to maybe work on that and MAKE time for these things....your mental,physical and emotional well being (and by default,your baby) depends on it.Apps....and all things tech that attempt to all but raise your children are the bane of health professionals lives.Yeah,yeah i know....if you can dream it,there's an app for that,BUT babies aren't aware of apps,they don't follow a computer nerds vision of "this happens then" timeline and it is incredibly dangerous to think that what an app is saying to be true actually is (your baby should be walking at this age,talking at that age,eating solids and having a growth spurt at this age etc...what happens when yours DOESN'T ??????.It is setting you up for a LOT of unnecessary worry and angst (plus,way to put the pressure on the poor child if these milestones,stages don't happen when "how to parent" app tells them that's what they should be doing).And finally...Boobie biscuits.I had never heard of them until recently,and feel that again,misinformation is abound with this.NO FOOD,DRINK, EXCERCISE OR MAGIC SPELL is going to increase your milk supply (feeding,hormones,some drugs and we don't know why,but to a small extent STOUT beer DO impact on supply).Milk is produced when two hormones (prolactin and oxytocin) are stimulated (a few days after delivery,and continuing during breastfeeding.Supply and demand (stimulated by your babies feeding patterns /effort ) is what increases and decreases supply (as does correct attachment to the breast during feeding).Drugs CAN be given to increase supply,as well as decrease supply (stop it actually) and the stout thing...well,it started as an old wives tale,but it has been scientifically proven to have a bit of an effect on supply (but we don't condone it of course,otherwise women could see it as license to drink...and drunk mothers are NOT a good look).So PLEASE don't expect to see a change to your breastmilk from eating a few biscuits...any increase is likely to be coincidental and the only increase you will see is in your backside.Seek professional advice for all the above before you do it (and NO,nanna or that women with 4 kids at mother's club does NOT count as a professional to get advice from)

    RESPONSE FROM BIO-OIL ®:

    Hi beautyheaven mums and mums-to-be, Pregnancy is such an exciting time in a woman's life but it can be a period of worry, so using a brand you can trust can help put your mind at ease.

    In light of an earlier comment on ingredients I just wanted to point out that Bio-Oil is safe to use throughout your pregnancy and in fact one of its primary uses is to help prevent the development of stretch marks in pregnancy. Bio-Oil has been assessed on a per ingredient basis by experts to determine its safety profile. Bio-Oil has been used by pregnant women for 20 years and is recommended worldwide by gynaecologists and midwives.

    With regards to the level of Vitamin A in Bio-Oil, which may concern some women, it is low enough to render harmless to the unborn child. Most healthcare professionals agree that for safety, the daily intake of Vitamin A by an expectant mother should not exceed 5,000 I.U per gram. Taking absorption factors into account, an expectant mother would have to use more than 110ml of Bio-Oil per day, or almost two 60ml bottles, before exceeding the recommended daily maximum intake!

    We continue to receive so much great feedback from women using Bio-Oil and it's been lovely to hear your thoughts in the forum.

    Wishing you all the best with your pregnancy,

    The Bio-Oil Team

    Claire88 5 Sep 2014 9:58 AM

    Hehe..... Boobie biscuits sounds funny! Any excuse to indulge in a biscuit sounds good to me :)

    Tee631 5 Sep 2014 9:34 AM

    my aunty is a mum to be! she needs to hear this

    skitzkitty 5 Sep 2014 9:15 AM

    Good tip about Osteo, they're amazing miracle workers!

    Trish_D 5 Sep 2014 7:02 AM

    Lovely that there is so much information openly about pregnancy these days.

    Misy Rose 5 Sep 2014 7:02 AM

    Boobie Biscuits! I've never heard of them, but I love the name :)

    Miss19 5 Sep 2014 5:17 AM

    Love these tips!

    IndieAna 5 Sep 2014 4:59 AM

    Great tips for mummas to be :)

    talk-a-lot 5 Sep 2014 4:32 AM

    Things have changed a lot since I had my babies. Asking for help and me time is so important as is sleep.

    bebeautiful34 5 Sep 2014 4:14 AM

    My son hates the carriers, which is unfortunate, but it does look uncomfortable so I can't say I blame him!

    moonbaby54 5 Sep 2014 2:13 AM

    Never heard of Boobie Biscuits, Lactating cookies either for that matter, but I will have to make some for my daughter when she has her third child early next year.

    Jenniqua 5 Sep 2014 1:57 AM

    What a great article. I just went and had a look at the Gourmet Dinner Service, what a great idea.

    HMad 5 Sep 2014 1:09 AM

    I definitely recommend the Wonder Weeks app, it really helped me understand my daughter's fussy times and have patience for her. I also made lactation cookies this time around... They really seem to boost milk supply, my 10 day old has already put on 220g over his birth weight and is exclusively breast fed.

    Growing old 5 Sep 2014 1:09 AM

    So many new things since I had my last bub..26 years ago but she will always be my baby :)

    Sue796 5 Sep 2014 12:55 AM

    So glad to find new recipe ,, never heard of it thx

    Beautybabe140194 5 Sep 2014 12:52 AM

    Great tips for mums

    Sammieeb 5 Sep 2014 12:30 AM

    Loved lactation cookies!! An excuse to eat choc chip cookies? yes please! :-p

    Lucrecia629 5 Sep 2014 12:15 AM

    Never heard of boobie biscuits. I'll have to check them out.

    Pages

    You need to log in or become a member to post a comment.
    TOP