Trigger warning with this post Childbirth is painted as a painful yet magical experience. We’re talking waters breaking, quick dash to the hospital followed by a serene, pain medication-free water birth surrounded by twinkly lights and chilled-out music. Sure, there’s pain and probably a lot of screaming, but all that dissolves once your little bundle of joy is placed in your arms. While I didn’t entirely buy into this unrealistic expectation of birth, I rather hoped that amid the chaos would be a moment immediately post-birth that would eclipse all the pain that had gone before. In reality, I delivered my first born in theatre, surrounded by at least 10…
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10 Nature Activities for Children
We love the great outdoors and there are plenty of hands-on nature activities for children to enjoy. Whether it’s going for a paddle in the sea, walking barefoot through the grass or bug hunting in the garden, there is so much outside to explore and help your children learn about nature and wildlife. Playing outside has been proven to improve a child’s happiness and confidence, which is why I’m always keen to get outdoors every chance we have. The key is to tune in to nature as a sensory experience and use it as a way to learn about our environment and wildlife. The summer holidays are coming up so…
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Learning to Love Your Post-Baby Body
I’ve had a turbulent relationship with my body since first falling pregnant. During my 20’s, my weight fluctuated and when I fell pregnant it surprised me how much my body changed. My shape shifted and transformed into something I didn’t recognise. My stomach muscles separated, destroying my core and leaving me with chronic back pain. I once had a cute little ‘S’ shaped belly button, now its caved in on itself and entrenched by stretched and saggy skin that resembles a deflated ballon. Sexy, eh? Your body goes through many changes from the moment you get pregnant to the postpartum period. In my first pregnancy, 32 weeks of severe morning…
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How Music Therapy Can Boost Your Health and Wellness
Music therapy has been well documented to have a positive impact on your mental and physical health. It has this magical, mysterious power that transcends all boundaries, language, culture and time. It brings harmony into your life when everything feels a bit out of tune (I couldn’t help it!) I recently wrote about the health benefits of keeping a journal. I strongly believe creativity is a powerful tool when it comes to managing your mental and physical health. Music is something I fall back on time and time again to deliver a heavy dose of ‘the feel goods’. Music therapy has been around for a long time. From the drum…
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Things No One Tells You About Postpartum Recovery
I was completely unprepared when it came to my postpartum recovery. My husband and I sat in various NHS-run parenting classes where labour was discussed in depth. Natural birth was rammed down your throat, one midwife proudly declared how she had eight children and that not once did she request an epidural. (No pressure then) I remember being taught how to put on a nappy and was reminded to practice getting the baby seat in and out of the car a few times. Then there were the breastfeeding videos, showing babies latching onto the breast with ease. The postpartum recovery period wasn’t really talked about. I was told I might…
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Why Children Need to Grow Up Around Nature
My sister and I were very lucky to have grandparents who lived in a small cottage on a countryside estate. As children, we would spend occasional weekends there without our parents. We would explore the fields, build bridges and splash in the brook or go on woodland adventures. I’m sure my grandma never let us out of her sight but she gave us enough autonomy to discover how we can use the great outdoors as our playground. I recently went to visit them with my two boys. As soon as I stepped out of the car, into the soft and gentle countryside, I could feel my mind wander back to…
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What Foods Should Breastfeeding Mums Eat?
I am not a nutrition expert, this is what helped me while I was breastfeeding. Always consult your doctor for professional advice if you are concerned about your baby’s sensitivities. Pregnancy, giving birth, sleepless nights and breastfeeding can demand every bit of energy that you can muster. It’s hard work and can be emotionally and physically draining for sleep-deprived new mums, and that’s without having to think about what foods you are allowed to snack on. When I breastfed Jack, I had no idea how important nutrition was for my body during that time. I had suffered a major postpartum haemorrhage which depleted my iron levels. No midwife told me…
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Why Self Care Is My Priority in 2018
Making resolutions in the New Year can be difficult when you are battling mental health. Whether it’s a getting fitter, taking on a new job or vowing to travel more, resolutions can be overwhelming. For me, 2017 was about battling through postnatal depression and anxiety. It all came to a head in December when I found a lump in my breast. I went to my doctor who discovered some thickening of the breast tissue and I was immediately referred to the breast clinic.
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Why Boredom Is the Greatest Gift You Can Give Your Child
“I’m bored.” I’m sure I’m not the only parent who hears this on a daily basis. I fear it so much that I pack out the days to ensure that I don’t fail my son by allowing him to become bored or disengaged. If we aren’t at home getting stuck into games, baking, stacking, sticking or painting then we are at a Tumble Tots, Rhyme Time or seeing friends at soft play. If we are at home then I ensure we have stimulating, creative and educational activities to fill the time. If all else fails, then I call on an electronic distraction such as CBeebies – or better yet, the…
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Is Mental Health Still A Dirty Little Secret?
It feels like we are finally waking up to the impact of mental health issues. There are more people than ever before, one in four of us in the UK, suffering from at least one mental health problem each year and depression is the leading cause of disability in the world. In Britain, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in men aged 20 to 49, overtaking cancer, heart disease and road accidents. With celebrities and royalty sharing their own mental health struggles, it seems as though we are on the cusp of grasping what a devastating and prolonged impact mental health can have on people’s lives and…
