Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Life at Everyday Maternity: Tired Mummy, Tired Daddy

Life at Everyday Maternity: Tired Mummy, Tired Daddy

Tired Mummy, Tired Daddy

Life as a new parent can be exhausting and emotionally challenging, as well as a joyous time.

So here is a scenario, baby is bathed and in bed, the first glass of wine is poured and you are ready for a chat and relax on the sofa - and a little love and support from Dad......

 ...thinking you deserve a back rub or foot massage you move in for a little pat on the back, and guess what.....he's just as tired as you, if not more tired.

Don't think you are alone in this scenario, talk to any new parent and you'll notice the same tired feeling.

Mum is at home keeping baby fed, watered and entertained and of course fitting a touch of home-making in between the demands of a new born.

Dad is at work, facing the demands a job that throws at him - also exhausted from broken nights. Dads feel their efforts are not appreciated and their partners are less than sympathetic because they are just as tired. It can become a competitive cycle.

To be fair, both sides have their point. Mum feels its dad's turn, as soon as he comes through the door, dad feels he needs to wind down after a long day.

Here are some tips on coping with the tiredness:

Stop - try and put yourself in your partner's shoes and at least listen to their point of view.

Mood - try and find a time when you are both in a reasonable mood - possibly the weekend when you've had a chance to wind down a little. Talk through the issues - is the problem sleepless nights, unfair division of chores etc.  Try to be constructive - listening first, then come up with ideas between yourselves. 

Be nice - kindness begets kindness.  Do something nice for your partner to show you appreciate him - your kindness may inspire them to return the favour. Remember as much as we like to think our partners instinctively know what we want - it is often not the case. If you want him to run you a bath and make you a warm drink - tell him.  We can't all be married to Derren Brown!

Look forward - plan a night off, or a weekend away - give yourself some light at the end of the tunnel.  Our advice would be to avoid a beach holiday with a young baby - you'll probably spend all your time trying to avoid the sun and do we need to mention sandy nappies.......

Perspective - try and keep it - do the socks really need ironing? 

Me time - try and create a little me time for both parents.  Take a look at the New Parent Survival Gift for a gift that helps get the whole family through the early days of parenthood.


Friday, December 11, 2009

Great Gear for Grandmas

We love this website for the great products they have found for grandparents.  It has a selection of baby items that are easy to use, lightweight and compact - all the criteria a granny requires. For instance, they may need a baby bath, but Grand Pa doesn't want it taking up the whole of the bathroom. Well here is the answer:




The website is easy to use, but we all know the silver surfers are more than adapt at using the web - but there is a great tool to increase the font size! Amazing.  Well done Granny Takes a Grip.


The LBD Maternity Style


Thursday, December 10, 2009

Little Black Maternity Dress

If you need a party maternity dress to see you through pregnancy, then take a peek at the Noppies Vladez Maternity Dress. Simply elegant.

Sparkle it up for the party season, or add some funky tights for a girl's night out.  A simple diamond for a formal meal or chunky jewellery for a more fun look.


Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Best Nursing Bra

It is always difficult to choose a nursing bra, as your breast size can fluctuate in the early days of breastfeeding.

The Lace Trim Nursing Bra from Carriwell is an ideal starting bra for any breastfeeding mother. An affordable and multi-size nursing bra is a good option, just in case you are not sure how you will get on with breastfeeding.  As much as you may want to, a handful of women can struggle with breastfeeding.

That is why we recommend this easy fit breastfeeding bra.  Sue - mum of two - had this to say about the product.
I really liked the style as it was soft and comfortable, no clips to fiddle with. The lace made it feel a little pretty.  I did need a more supportive bra for out and about, but this was great for lazy days at home.

We recommend you review the size chart before purchase to ensure you get the right size. The bra will easily take a nursing pad, to mop up any leaks.

www.everydaymaternity.com - Maternity Clothes for Every Occasion

Monday, December 7, 2009

Boob Maternity - Party in Pink

Boob Maternity create wonderful maternity clothing collections each year.

We have mixed and matched some of their collection to create a look that will see you through the Festive Season in style.  Great for parties and feeling special on Christmas Day.

We really recommend the Tie-Back dress - super comfy if you have one too many roast potatoes with Christmas Lunch.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Mix and Match Maternity


We are excited to be opening our account with polyvore, where we will be creating looks and capsule wardrobe suggestions for all you pregnant women out there.  We are going to take key pieces from our collection each week, and pair them with affordable, high street items.

We hope that you will be able to create the look yourselves - or at least get some inspiration.

As Gok would say ' you look pregalicious'! x




Polyvore lets you create sets composed of individual images using an easy to use, drag and drop editor. After you have created a set, you can publish and share it with your friends and the Polyvore community.

Maternity Clothes + High Street = Pregalicious

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Staying Hydrated During Childbirth

The Hospital Bag Must Have 
Here is an idea that is totally simple, yet amazingly useful.

I used to work with Mark Moran, CEO of Hydrate for Health, many years ago. He recently contacted me with details of his new venture - asking if we would be interested in the product.  I thought it was a brilliant product straight away, but asked a few other mums their thoughts. 
Just to explain the product is a water bottle with drinking tube that can be clipped to a bed, chair or pram.  Here are some of the reactions: 
  • Michele - I always tell people to pack a straw in their hospital bag, to sip water with during labour, so this would have been brilliant.
  • Pat - Breastfeeding the twins was a handful, I would have a pint of water by the bed, but without a hand free to grab it I just used to get thirsty, the Hydrate would have been a good solution.
  • Jo - I wouldn't have thought to buy one, but I ended up having an emergency C-Section, which made it hard to reach for my glass. The ward was really warm, so I did get thirsty. I would have been handy to have one.

The Hydrant - is a personal, hands-free drinking system for people who are in bed or have restricted movement. The unique clip mechanism enables The Hydrant to attach easily to beds and chairs thus giving the user instant access to fluids without having to reach out.


It is can be invaluable for pregnant women during labour and afterwards in recovery where soreness makes it uncomfortable or difficult to move for a while.  Those who have a C-Section or suffering with SPD will find the product very useful.

Once you are home with your baby, the drinking bottle can be attached to a nursing chair during breastfeeding, keeping you hydrated.

Here is a customer review for the product:
“The Hydrant was an absolute lifesaver after Joseph was born. For three days I was bed bound and had trouble reaching the drinks on the bedside cabinet. It took ages to get help from someone to just pass me the cup. We attached The Hydrant to my bed and I could easily drink at any time. The ward was very hot so it was brilliant to just grab the tube and drink – especially during the night. What a superb product!! – I think every new Mum would love it both during and after birth. It would be particularly invaluable to those who have had Caesareans. I’m now using it at home whilst feeding so it’s great there as well!!” Lizzie (06/09)

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Latest Breastfeeding News from Lansinoh

Lansinoh the breastfeeding experts have been awarded Silver Medals from Practical Parenting Magazine.


All products are judged by real mums on:

  • Practicality
  • Ease of Use
  • Value for Money
  • Quality



The Lansinoh Latch Assist was awarded a Silver Medal  for the Best New Product, and the Lansinoh Lanolin won an award for the Pregnancy and New Mums Skincare category.


As Lansinoh say, all Lanolin is not the same - the safety and purity of Lansinoh Lanolin is not found in any other nipple cream.  The cream is put through a unique refining process to give it a level of purity unmatched in other lanolin products.


Moist wound healing, through the use of a moisture barrier cream such as lanolin, is the preferred treatment for sore or cracked nipples.  Lansinoh works by the process of moist wound healing, the sore nipples are soothed by the lanolin and kept moist so no scab is formed. The helps accelerate the healing process.


An important additional benefit of moist wound healing is that it offers immediate pain relief for any mother with sore nipples. The nipple cream allows some air through to help the healing process, but allows enough moisture to be retained to prevent further cracking and soreness.


Lansinoh lanolin can be used by all the family also to soothe: chapped lips, nappy rash, dry skin on elbows, heels and knees, itchy stretch marks, minor cuts, burns and skin abrasions. 


Information provided by Lansinoh - www.lansinoh.co.uk