Becoming a mother for the first time will change your life. During those first few months, your life will be full of new experiences. First smiles, first baths, teething pains, sleepless nights – it may take you a while to adjust to your new role. Caring for a newborn is amazing, and exhausting, and you will need a support system around you to make it easier.

If you and your partner both take leave from work for the first couple of weeks, you will become a team – caring for your baby together. Taking shifts to sleep, sharing in the nappy changing duties, and helping to keep each other sane.

As your partner leaves for work on his first day back, you may find yourself feeling a little helpless as you stare at your beautiful newborn baby, and wonder whether you’ll be able to cope alone. Of course, you will. And in many ways, the time alone will allow you to bond and grow more confident as a mother, but you may also miss adult company. When you start to long for the company of other adults, it’s time to get out and try to meet other mums. Here’s how:

1. Get in touch with old friends – if you have any friends with young children, now is the time to get in touch. Chances are, they’ve already rallied round to offer support during these first months, but if not, get in touch and see if they fancy meeting up.

2. Go to a healthcare group – there are plenty of baby clinics, breastfeeding support groups, pediatric first aid courses, and parenting groups for you to join. These groups are full of mothers just like you – people keen for more information, but also keen to meet friends to keep themselves and their babies entertained.

2. Go to a baby group – there are so many different types of groups available. From costly baby sign lessons, to free groups at your local church, there should be groups in your local area. Go along, and look out for parents with babies around the same age. If there aren’t any groups near you, why not try to organise one? Just an informal coffee morning at a local cafe would be a start, and it will be a great way to meet other mums.

3. Get chatting – when you’re out and about, at the park, shops or cafe, strike up conversations with other new mums. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to make conversation with complete strangers – motherhood is almost a universal language that allows women to bond. Don’t be afraid to suggest swapping numbers or meeting up again. It might seem forward, but chances are they’re just as keen to make some new friends.

4. Look online – there are a number of forums and online platforms where you can search for mums in your local area. From informal coffee mornings to huge group meets, from walks in the park to a local sling meet, there should be a few options in your local area.

These friends you make when your child is young could last you a lifetime, and you will see your children grow together and develop lasting friendships, too.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Pregnancy is a daunting time for all mothers, but this can be especially true for younger mums-to-be. You may feel isolated by your pregnancy, or be worried about your finances, but rest assured, you’re not alone as a young mum-to-be. If you are young and pregnant, you may have many questions, and we can answer some.

Am I ready to be a mum?

Whether your pregnancy was planned or a surprise, you will probably still worry about whether you are ready to be a mum. Most pregnant women worry about how they will adapt to life as a mother, this is a normal pregnancy concern whatever your age or lifestyle. By preparing for the birth and motherhood, you can help yourself mentally prepare for being a parent.

How will I cope financially?

It may seem that there are lots of things to buy before the baby arrives, and even more to purchase once she gets here. Try not to worry though, there are ways to bring the costs down. Shopping around, buying second-hand and borrowing what you need can help you to stick within budget.

What about my career?

Having a baby while you’re still young may delay you progressing on the career track for a couple of years, but that doesn’t mean your career has come to an end. Take some time to enjoy your new role as a mother, and then refocus your work ethic to progressing your career once you feel settled at home.

Feeling left out

If you are the only person expecting in your social circle, it’s easy to feel left out. You may worry about missing out on the fun, being left behind while all your friends leave home, or being seen as ‘boring’ now that you’re a parent. Of course, there’s no guarantee that your friends will stick around, but chances are the true ones will. Try to get them involved with the baby, and make sure you still allow yourself to have fun and socialise with your friends.

Feeling judged

You may worry that you are being judged by your age. Chances are, your own worries and insecurities are bubbling to the surface. Your age doesn’t mean you will be a bad mother, you may be a better mum than someone twice your age. Only you get to decide what sort of mother you will be.

Feeling isolated
It can be hard to get out and meet other mums, but it’s important to have a support system in place. Baby groups and new mum meet ups are great places to meet other mums in your local area. There may even be a group for young mums like yourself, so that you can socialise with people who know exactly what you’re going through.

Are you a young mum? Do you have any concerns about the pregnancy, or are you feel ready and excited to begin your new life as a mother?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Being at home with a baby can be frustrating when all your friends are out having fun together while you’re changing diapers. Much as you love spending time with your little one, you can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy when you see photos of your friends enjoying a night out without you.

Social media has no doubt made this worse. Seeing your friends have fun on social media can leave you feeling left out. The photos, the status tags, the check-ins and the endless in-jokes can be hard to swallow when you’re sat at home covered in baby puke.

Missing a night out

Here are a few important things to remember when you’re missing a night out with friends because you’re busy being a mom:

1. Your baby won’t be a baby for long

This is so cliche that you probably get told it a zillion times a day by every woman of a certain age you happen across while out and about. It’s hard to believe it when you’re stuck in the daily grind of feeds, changes and naps, but it’s true. They really don’t stay little for long. In a few seconds, you’ll wake up to find it’s your child’s first day of school and you won’t be able to believe it’s here already. Your baby won’t be little forever, so don’t worry, you’ll be out and about again one day soon. In the meantime, soak up as much of those baby snuggles as you can.

2. It’s only a night out

Nights out are fun, but that’s all they are. You aren’t missing out on the night of the century, you’re just taking a backseat until you feel ready to dazzle the dance floor once more. If they’re good friends, you can probably predict how the night’s going to go anyway. Someone will drink too much, someone will say something they shouldn’t and someone will disappear before the end of the night only to be found kissing a stranger round the corner. You’re not missing out tonight, and you’ll be back out with them all soon enough anyway.

3. It’s nothing personal

Your friends aren’t going out of their way to leave you out. They haven’t singled you out and tried to come up with ways to leave you out. They’re just doing what they’ve always done. Right now, you may not be able to go with them, but that doesn’t mean they don’t still love you. They miss you when you’re not there, but they know you’ll be back as soon as you feel ready.

4. It’s worth it

It’s easy to get disheartened from time to time, but it’s important to remember that motherhood is worth it. Motherhood is simply one of the most amazing experiences. The way your heart swells with love the first time you hold your baby, the way your baby is soothed by the mere sound of your voice and the way that you will do anything and everything to protect her. How amazing it feels when your baby looks at you and smiles, or giggles at you when you play with her. These are the moments that make up motherhood, and when you think of it like that, they’re well worth missing a couple of nights out for.

5. You can still socialize

You might not quite be ready for a night on the town yet, but that doesn’t mean you need to hide away indoors on your own. You can still have fun with your friends, even if you’re not yet ready to have your first night out. If you’re not ready to leave your baby yet, why not invite your friends round for a sleepover? You could hang out on the sofa, eat junk food and watch some of your favorite films. If you’re ready to leave your baby for a couple of hours, why not organize to meet friends for lunch somewhere close to home? You don’t have to miss out because you’re a mama, but you may need to tweak how you socialize at least for a little while.

How do you make sure you still get to enjoy some quality bonding time with your friends?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Motherhood, like pregnancy, is meant to be filled with sunshine, lollipops and rainbows, right? Moms are always happy and filled with joy. After all, motherhood is the best job is the world. Isn’t it?

Erm, no, not always. Sometimes motherhood sucks. Sometimes being a mom is all about being covered in crap, cleaning up puke and listening to babies scream. It’s not always fun or wonderful, like anything else in life, it has its bad days.

It’s perfectly ok for you to not love every minute of motherhood. Singing nursery rhymes and spending hours talking about poop isn’t for everyone. Looking after a baby all day can be tough. The baby can’t talk back, so you may find yourself feeling bored at times. You may also find the repetitive chores of diaper changes and feeds to be tiring sometimes, especially when they seem to fill your entire day.

Here are a few things to try if you feel you’re not enjoying motherhood:

1. Let go of the guilt

There is nothing wrong with not loving motherhood. You’re allowed to have bad days. You’re allowed to have days where you don’t want to change another diaper. You can have days where you’re bored out of your mind. It’s fine, it’s normal. Every mom feels like that sometimes. You don’t need to feel guilty because you’re not a picture of the joyous mom you see represented in the media. You’re a real person, you’re going to have bad days.

2. Talk about it

You don’t need to keep these feelings to yourself. This isn’t a hideous secret you need to take to your grave. In fact, talking about it with friends might just help you to see how normal these feelings are. You’re not a terrible mom, you’re just like everybody else. Speak to your close friends about how you feel, and let your partner in on it too. While your mom friends will be able to reassure you that what you’re feeling is normal, your partner may be able to free up a little me-time for you so you can de-stress.

3. Get out of the house

A change of scenery can do the world of good when you’re having a bad day. If it’s just you and the baby stuck at home all day, getting out of the house might cheer you up. Pack your diaper bag, grab your handbag and head off on an adventure. You could meet up with some mom friends for a coffee or head out for a walk in the countryside. Do whatever you think will lift your mood. You deserve a treat, being a mom isn’t easy, so head out and enjoy yourself.

4. Recognize your triumphs

It’s easy to obsess over your perceived feelings. If you feel like everything is going wrong at the moment, that’s probably more to do with your mood than anything else. When you feel negative, it’s all too easy to only see the negative things around you. Spend some time focusing on the good things in life. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Make a list of all the reasons you’re a great mom and refer to it whenever you’re feeling down.

5. Ask for help

If you’re worried that perhaps the way you’re feeling isn’t normal, you should ask your healthcare provider for advice. Postpartum depression is treatable, but you need to reach out for help before you can get treatment. Nobody will judge you for speaking up, so be honest and ask for help if you think you need it.

Do you sometimes feel like you’re not enjoying motherhood?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.