Giving birth — what a wonderful experience, says our Zoe
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| • MUM Zoe, dad James Nunn and baby, Lily. |
North Devon Gazette media sales executive Zoe Young, 24, from Ilfracombe, gave birth to her first child, Lily, in February this year. Here, she takes time out from a busy schedule of ad selling and nappy changing to talk about the highs and lows of being a new mum.
All the way through your pregnancy people you meet will tell you that having a baby is a life-changing event. And while I'll be the first to admit it's the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me, the one thing people forget to tell you is that at times, it can also be the hardest.
My experiences with the North Devon's health care professionals were wonderful. I saw my midwife regularly throughout the pregnancy and attended antenatal classes, and had tours of the maternity ward and my local Sure Start Centre.
At this stage I met other mums-to-be, and several have become great friends – giving me some of the most helpful advice of all.
I was lucky enough to have a fantastic midwife, Pat Birks, all the way through the birth, but depending on your timing you may have two or more midwives as they work in shifts. It isn't uncommon to have a different midwife at the birth to the one you have been seeing throughout your pregnancy.
Birth was not something I tried too hard to think about but to be honest I found it to be a truly satisfying experience and I was floating for hours afterwards. I couldn't sleep as I was just too proud of myself! I look upon it as one day for a lifetime of happiness, and the first time you see your beautiful baby, it certainly makes it all worthwhile.
In the first week or two after the birth, your midwife will usually visit you at home a few times to weigh the baby and check how you're getting on.
I think I spent most the first visit crying to her. I don't really know why; I guess it was a bad case of baby blues.
After the first few weeks, you can go and have your baby weighed at your local baby clinic. Mine was held at the local doctor’s once a week, and also at the Sure Start Centre. This was where I caught up with all my friends from the antenatal classes, swapped stories and found out whether they'd had a girl or a boy.
Our Sure Start centre ran lots of groups that I attended, my favorite being the baby massage classes. These are really beneficial to mum and baby as they give you quiet time together and really help relax your baby for bed.
I gave Lily a massage, bath, bottle and bed for about four months. We got to a point where she was so relaxed that she was falling asleep when I was drying her from her bath.
Other groups include a "Looking at You Baby" group that helps you understand what your baby is trying to tell you.
These groups are great, help you meet other mums and remind yourself that you're are not alone…
Lily suffered with severe colic for the first three-and-a half-months. At one group, a friend told me about the homeopathic baby remedies they sell at Bear Street Pharmacy in Barnstaple. Nothing else had worked, so when the friendly pharmacists told me about some tiny tablets that melt on the baby's tongue to relax the gut and help stop the cramping pain, I thought we'd give them a try. I was amazed at how well they worked and discovered there are homeopathic treatments for lots of problems with young babies. I now swear by them, especially Ashton & Parsons Teething Powders. Lily hasn't suffered much at all with her first two teeth and I'm sure it's down to them.
Preparing for baby is also a giant step into the unknown. In the early stages of my pregnancy, I didn't really know where to start and baby-orientated websites such as www.babycentre.co.uk and www.babyexpert.co.uk were a massive help to me. They feature lots of advice and tips on what you need how to choose the right product for you.
There's a whole heap of equipment you need to look after your little one and mobility gear is pretty high on the list. I made a huge mistake when looking for a buggy for Lily. Like most people, I went for the typical travel system: car seat, carrycot, big buggy and baby bag. I was given a free baby bag from Boots; have never used the carrycot; and when I went shopping I had to put everything on the back seat because the buggy took up the whole boot.
The answer came in the shape of the Bugaboo Bee, a pushchair introduced to me by James Webber, of Cyril Webber's in Barnstaple.
Currently the lightest buggy on the market – and the funkiest – the Bee is compact, light and versatile. It easily fits in the footwell behind the driver's seat of my car leaving my boot completely free.
Also recommended: a digital baby monitor; analogue models can suffer quite badly from annoying interference.
A fantastic range of maternity wear is available locally. Everyone's body – and bump – is different and trying clothes on was much better than buying on the Internet.
With its beaches and countryside, North Devon is a fantastic place to bring up children. And with a host of great local companies to support young parents, you really couldn't wish for more. I highly recommend sourcing what you need for your baby locally as you get all the support and advice you need included in the price of your purchase. Online shops offer little guidance, and I am still chasing up a complaint about a damaged item from March this year with one online retailer. If you find goods cheaper online, ask your local retailer if they would be willing to look at the price for you – it never hurts to ask.
My final advice is: enjoy your pregnancy and always try to remember what a special time it is. If you are able to capture that time on camera, then do. Local independent photography specialists J&A Cameras took a series of pictures of me at different stages of my pregnancy and I will always treasure them and the memories they evoke.
Why not tell us your stories of being pregnant? The experiences might be helpful to other young mums. Send your stories, advice and information about local baby groups to zoe.young@archant.co.uk
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