In the weeks following the birth of my son in 2015, I developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in my hands. The physical strains of carrying a baby, changing him, holding him, feeding him, pushing the pushchair all put pressure on my hands and shoulders. Whilst feeding him in bed, I was lazy at times to put pillows behind me or underneath him. I ended up having very sore shoulders. The first signs of Carpal Tunnel were tingling in my hands when I woke up in the morning. I also developed trigger thumb. One morning I woke up to find my left…
Places to go with a baby around Fulham
Last year when I began my maternity leave, I was surprised by the feeling of loneliness which I experienced in the first six months. I felt this despite my husband working from home. My NCT group met on a weekly basis and that was a godsend but I’ve put together a list of activities and places in South West London (Putney, Fulham, Chelsea etc) that new mothers can go with their babies or toddlers to meet others. (Please do check with each venue in case times have changed). Fulham Library – holds a baby bounce and rhyme session every Monday…
Baby breakfast: Greek yoghurt + nut butter
I had to whip up something fast for my son this morning and this is what happened. He loved it and it gave him sufficient energy to begin the day. To avoid a mess, I recommend buying slightly creamier yoghurt which doesn’t spill everywhere if your child wants to feed themselves. It’s possible to make this recipe with the Almond butter or Peanut butter which are also available from Meridian. This butter was smooth (i.e. no crunchy bits) so it was easy for my son to eat. I also think using these nut butters is a great way to introduce…
Baby weaning recipe: Banana pancake
Wondering what to feed your baby that tastes delicious, is nutritious and isn’t hard to chew? Try this banana pancake recipe: Ingredients Half a banana 1 egg 30ml cow’s milk Method: Use a hand blender to mix all the ingredients. Heat up some oil in a non-stick frying pan. Wait for the pan to become very hot and then pour in the mixture. Leave it to cook in one piece. This banana pancake is fluffy and easy to eat for a baby who doesn’t have many teeth. Your baby can hold it and feed himself/herself and my son loves it. …
Choosing a breast pump
In the months prior to the birth of my son in December 2015, I had made a list of everything that we would need for him. One of those things was a breast pump. I had asked friends which brand they would recommend and I had settled on the Medela Swing Breast Pump. I had thought that I could pump some milk for my son’s evening feed and allow my husband to feed it to him. That would also acquaint him to the bottle early on. However, I thought this was something you did after month one so I hadn’t…
Don’t pretend you don’t see
Since I made this pact with myself publicly yesterday, it’s kind of put me on the spot. I’ve been thinking about what my good deed for today was going to be. On my way back home this afternoon after doing a few chores with my son in the pram, I saw a small accident. A young teenage girl was running across the road onto on coming traffic and a car hit her. The car wasn’t going particularly fast but it made a sound that made me gasp. The young girl retreated back to the island in the middle of the…
One good deed a day
In the aftermath of the recent US elections, a lot of emotion has been passing through our group of family and friends. And we are not even Americans. Suffice to say, the election of Donald Trump to the highest post in the US has brought about a significant amount of disappointment. I wonder about the people who voted for him and what they must think. As a new mum, I worry about the future we’re creating and the role models we are selecting. I can’t change the election results but I want to have some small positive impact in…
Sleep baby, sleep
People tell me babies start to sleep through the night around 4 months. No so. My 11 month old is still up at least once per night……Sleep is something I see in my dreams these days.
Breastfeeding tip of the day
Before I gave birth to my son, a colleague told me to try breastfeeding for at least 6 weeks before giving up. That rang in my ears each day in those early weeks as I tried to breastfeed my son. He’d cry and fuss because he probably wasn’t getting enough milk but it was important to at least give him what was there and that in turn build up my milk supply. At the beginning learning to breastfeed is like learning a new sport. You have to develop your technique and figure out how to hold the baby that…
A few of the best baby friendly cafes in London
In the first six months of our baby’s life, our life seems to be ruled by the feeding needs of our baby. And it’s in those early days that we depend so much on the company of other mum’s to share our experiences, frustrations and tips. My NCT group of girls often met at a cafe in the neighbourhood and I came to know and rate each cafe not just for its coffee but also for its baby friendliness. Some cafes were just more baby friendly than others. For example, did they have a ramp for wheeling the buggy into the cafe? Did…