One Unexpected Thing I Will Never Forget After Having My First Baby …

This post is sponsored by Bupa Australia

I remember so clearly when I had my first baby. For me it all happened so fast, I had a 5 hour labour and there she was. It was so quick there was no real time to feel, it was all action.

I remember for the first few days and even weeks just looking at my new baby and not feeling much; I mostly just focused on trying to keep her alive and work out all the feeding and sleeping and bathing and changing. It was all new territory and I had no idea what I was doing.

For those first few weeks I quietly worried that there might be something wrong with me. All of the stories I had heard in the past about people meeting their babies for the first time and falling in love right then and there but this wasn’t my story. I was lucky enough to have an amazing midwife (who was also my friend) at the birth of my first child.

Her love and encouragement and support of me as a patient, and a friend, over the coming weeks, months and years was one of the things that made me feel like I was normal and it was ok.

We’ve been working on a project with Bupa Australia trying to find out how to best help mums with new bubs …

We asked on our Facebook page: If there was one person you would thank for helping you when you had your first baby who would it be and how did they help?

As I was reading through the comments there were tears in my eyes. I know how much I needed love and support when I had my babies. Getting the chance to read so many other stories of amazing love and support made my heart sing.

We decided to put together a little video of some of the beautiful stories you shared on the Facebook page.

Did you know that the first 1000 days (pregnancy to 2 years old), is a key time in our children’s development, but can also be a very challenging time for parents. In general as humans I think we find it difficult to ask for help because we want to appear to be strong and have it all together. I know for me in those early days I found it hard to be honest about how I was feeling about my baby but luckily I had a midwife and a friend who was experienced enough to ask good questions..

I guess I am at a point in my life now that it’s time to pay it forward. I have 3 kids and anytime there is mention of a fourth I find myself launching forward and throwing my hand up across my body and yelling “No Deal”! I had some amazing support from my friends and family when my babies were little (and even now as they are growing older) and without that support I know I would not be the parent I am today.

So my question to you is … Will you join the Nightwatchmen? As a community we need to form a support team around new parents, make sure they are doing ok and help them out in any way we can..

You can find out more info about the Bupa Australia Nightwatchmen campaign here and make sure you enter to win a BBQ with Darren Lehmann and Cricket Australia’s Bupa Support Team for you and 9 friends. Click Here To Enter

 

 

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