Ask the midwife
Gripped by panic at the thought of becoming a parent? LISA SALMON asks a woman who helps deliver those bundles of joy how best to deal with mums’ most common fears
FINDING out you’re expecting a baby can be incredibly exciting – and extremely worrying. Expectant mums and new parents are often plagued with uncertainties, from the obvious concerns about having a healthy baby, to worries about their own wellbeing and moods.
A Philips Avent study found that more than a third (35%) of new mums describe their journey into motherhood as ‘challenging’ – but the challenges definitely have their plus points, with 80% of expectant mums saying they’re looking forward to learning something new every day.
Midwife Vicki Scott says: “With so many choices to make, it’s no wonder new mums can find their new role challenging at times, and look for much-needed reassurance in their lifestyle decisions. It’s easy to lose yourself as you immerse yourself in your new baby, but it’s a wonderful learning process and ultimately, hugely rewarding and fulfilling.”
And despite having to cope with a multitude of worries, over half of expectant mums (54%) think they’ll feel more fulfilled when they’ve had their baby.
To help alleviate the most common concerns for new mums, Philips Avent has launched the Virtual Mummy Mentors programme, working with parenting influencers including Mother Freckle and Celery and Cupcakes who will share posts across their social channels and conduct live Q&A sessions as part of the initiative.