MAMBA Baby Care Course
Module 4
Infant Safety & Feelings After Birth
We have reached the final module in the MAMBA Baby Care Course and I have done my best to give you some of the vital information about the early days, weeks and months with your newborn. I hope that through the sessions, videos and further reading links we have allayed some of your worries and set you off on a confident path, knowing where to turn for help and support should you need it.
This session we discussed the important areas of infant safety, safe sleeping and feelings after birth. Below you will find some useful videos, links and infographics to further your understanding and find more information on areas of interest to you.
All of the MAMBA resources will be available to you for the next 6 months along with the option to buy a summary E-book within that period of time. Should you need access to anything beyond that date do not hesitate to get in touch as I will arrange it for you. I hope over the time you have spent ‘with me’ during this course you now also feel comfortable picking up the phone or emailing should you need and advice or support along your antenatal and parenting journey.
For now, enjoy exploring the links below and let me know if you have any questions at all in the coming weeks.
Infant Safety
Who knew that life with a baby was such a minefield and your day to day life filled with such hazards and risks?
There’s no one as risk-adverse as a new mother high on oxytocin, so trust in your instincts and use this information as a guide to raise your awareness to areas you perhaps had not considered before.
The video link here is a clear demonstration of what to do if your baby is choking. THIS VIDEO IS AMERICAN, SO 911 IS OBVIOUSLY REPLACED WITH 999 IN THE UK.
Please do consider enrolling on a pediatric first aid course as it will also cover vital information on burns & scalds as well as other common infant injuries and ailments.
Safe Sleeping & Bed Sharing
Now that you know more about SIDS and some of the statistics and risks I hope you feel less anxious and more confident in your ability to reduce the risk as best you can for your baby.
The Lullaby Trust provide lots of wonderful information on safe sleeping on their comprehensive website for parents. Please do explore it and watch the below videos to remind yourself of the most common hazards.
Bed sharing is something that nearly half of all new parents do at some point in the first three months, whether they planned to or not. Knowing how to bed share safely is vital to the well-being of both you and your baby. The guidelines around bed sharing were drawn up for breastfeeding mothers by La Leche League and can be explored more below.
Baby Carriers
There are so many different types of baby carriers on the market, and a bit like choosing a car seat, many friends will bestow upon you the wonders of theirs!
Using a sling library to try different ones out, or hiring a baby wrap can be a good way of exploring what works best for you and your baby.
IT’S A SLING THING are a great organisation to go through to find useful information and places to borrow, hire and buy baby carriers and slings.
Check their website out via the link below!
Car Seat Safety
Choosing how to transport your baby can be overwhelming with all the different options out there. All car seats should contain the safety stickers for EU standard tests (see links below) and be of the right weight bracket for your baby.
Ensuring you use the correct inserts and head supports for newborns is vital, along with taking regular breaks on long car journeys.
Infants are much safer travelling in a rear facing position in the event of an accident, so consider this when purchasing car seats.
Great guides and lots of information can be found on the links below for both WHICH and REAR FACING TODDLERS.
Feelings After Birth
For many families, the transition into parenthood can be a bit bumpy. There are many new things to work out, new skills to learn and new relationships to develop. The fact is that no one really knows before hand how it is going to go for them. However it’s a safe assumption that there are likely to be different challenges along the way.
It is entirely normal to have ups and downs after the arrival of your little one. For many women the hormonal changes can also have a dramatic impact on their emotional wellness.
As a society we are great at knowing how to look out for and improve our physical health wellness, but not so much our emotional health and wellness.
If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, lost, anxious or just needing someone to talk it through with please do let me know.
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is supporting perinatal health and wellness through the specialist training I have done and services I offer.
Whatever you are feeling, I am sure I have the tools and skills to help you find a positive way forward.
I hope you have all enjoyed the MAMBA Baby Care Course. It would be great to hear your feedback and if you wanted to write a review on the Trustpilot site, on the Facebook Page or refer me to any of your expecting friends I would be so grateful.
Wishing you all the very best over the weeks and months to come.
Nicola
