IT training mother and baby UK TruePDF spring 2019

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EASE LABOUR

TODDLER-TESTED
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Advice

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Clever ways to boost
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Welcome
EXPERT
A DV I C E
The help starts
right here…

Ease labour

‘This magic ingredient
will help your body
more than anything
else – and it’s free!’ says
positive birth expert
Milli Hill on page 24.

Stuff making new year resolutions in January
– I reckon most of us mums keep those big
life-changing decisions until now. With layers

of clothes ditched and our kids toddling
about in the garden looking for ladybirds
again, we’ve finally got a moment to stop,
think, and work out what we want to do
differently this year. And a little bit of sunshine
makes it all seem possible!
One thing I’ve learnt since becoming a
mum is that, mostly, it’s the teeny-tiny changes
that can make the biggest difference. A friend
pointed out last week that all the things about
my daughter’s feisty character that I’m finding
challenging right now, are exactly what I’ll be
celebrating when she’s an adult – and with
that small change of view, I’m coping with her
strops so much more easily. And you’ll find
loads of clever little changes to make your life
a whole lot easier in this issue. The tricks to
encourage your youngster to nap happy on

page 42 are a game-changer.
The simple activities on page 24 that’ll
raise your oxytocin levels in labour will help you
have a more positive birth. And the hacks to
organise your home on page 88 actually work!
Which should all leave you with a few more
moments to yourself… so sign up to be an M&B
product tester (page 36), find out which mumbloggers will enrich your life (page 96), and
send us a photo of you and your tot – email it to
See you soon!

Emma Kendell, Editor

72
Enjoy teatime
‘Bring the fun back into
food, and you’ll make
mealtimes more
enjoyable, and your tot
will eat more,’ promises
foodie mum Emily
Leary on page 53.

Encourage
his curiosity

53
Make
mealtimes a
heap more fun!

Subscribe!

Get organised
‘These smart homehacks will help your
day to run much
more smoothly,’
says professional
declutterer Rachel
Burditt on page 88.

Pay just £35.10
fo
and get a great r 13 issues
welc
of a Cheeky Ch ome gift
om
Muslin Neckerc pers
hew and
Muslin Comfort
er.
See page 70.

m o t h e r a n d b a b y . c o . u k | S p r in g 2 0 1 9 | 3


C o n t e n tSpring
s

42

Sort out
his daytime
naps now!

Baby&Toddler
42 The secrets of a
happy napper
Sort his daytime sleep today with
these clever expert tricks

48 Hop to it!
Enjoy a crafty Easter activity
with your tot this afternoon

53 Make food fun!
Take the stress out of teatime

64 On your marks…
Encourage his first scribbles

72 What’s that?
Stir up his sense of curiosity

76 Sweet cheeks

Upfront
6

News and views
Our round-up of the latest
essential parenting updates,
key trends and fun stuff

18 Over to you
All your letters, photos, emails
and Facebook posts

p42

On the

C ov e r

Bump&Birth
24 The secret to an
easier birth
You have the magic ingredient!

28 Sorted!
Prepare for labour with a
birthing ball

30 Here me roar
Channel your inner tiger-mama!

34 Birth stories
‘I couldn’t wait to be induced’

38 Dress my bump

Help prevent nappy rash

Life&Kids
88 Make life easier
Try these smart organisation hacks

93 Treat your feet
Soothe your tired tootsies

94 Enjoy the flight
Send your tot’s spirits soaring with

this fab new nursery trend

96 The Mum List
Meet our top 20 mum influencers

Fashion for work and play

72

p24

Encourage
his curiosity

COVER SHUTTERSTOCK

p53

Here to help

Our experts answer all your question
s
80 The Big Question
81 Behaviour
82 Pregnancy
83 Eating
85 Sleep

p48
p88

p102

p36

p10

4 | S p r in g 2 0 1 9 | m o t h e r a n d b a b y . c o . u k


53
Make mealtimes
heaps more fun!

D i g i ta l e d i t i o n
o n s a l e n ow !
Get M&B on the move,
direct to your mobile or tablet.
greatmagazines.co.uk

Plus!

Join our
team of
product
testers
see p36

116 The new shades of spring
Kit out your tot in this cute, newseason colour palette

120 20% off at Tiffany Rose
Exclusive offer for M&B readers

121 Six ways to…

Subscribe!

Move to a bed

122 Win all this!

Pay just £35.10
fo
and get a great r 13 issues
welc
of a Cheeky Ch ome gift
om
Muslin Neckerc pers
hew
Muslin Comfort and
er.
See page 70.

Giveaways worth over £2,441

124 Mon cherie
Try this fruity new trend

128 Supermarket buys

What’s new down the aisles

130 Now I’m a mum, I know……

24

Enjoy an
easier
labour

Model and presenter Georgia
Jones shares all

102 Egg-cellent!
Tempt him to eat more eggs

Shop!
108 Have a field day
Bring home all the fun of the farm

110 The big test
Breastpumps put to the test

115 The best…
Pushchair toys, ever!

Join us online at

motherandbaby.co.uk

122

Win Micro
Scooters worth
over £800!


WORDS EMILY THORPE
PHOTOGRAPHY SHUTTERSTOCK, ISTOCK

t
n
o
r
f
p
U
N E E D TO K N OW
U
YO
F
F
U
T
S
|
S
W
E
I

V
|
S
NEW

Cuppa, anyone?

M

eeting up with other mums can be a huge
boost when you’re on maternity leave
and, if you fancy expanding your circle
of mum-mates, head to Medela’s Big
Breastfeeding Café. The annual event takes
place on 1 May this year, and invites mums to
host their own breastfeeding café in their home
or community. To help, you’ll get a free pack
with everything you need to get started,
including invitations, treats, tea
and biscuits! Email medela
for details.

6 | Spring 2019 | mothera ndbaby.co.uk


Upfront
F uss-f r e e feeding

Swish
swaddles

Made o f 100 per
cen
silicon e, th e Orga t b amboo and BPA-fr e e
nic B
keep mealt imes m amboo B o w l Se t wi ll
ess-fr
str on g sucti on b a e e, with an extr a
se to
firmly fixed to th help it s ta y
e table £17.99,

We love aden + anais for its
super-soft range of swaddles,
blankets and bibs, and now it’s
launched five new gorgeous print
collections for us to drool over.
Our favourite is the Pacific
Paradise range. From
£8, adenandanais.
co.uk

Teet her o f
t h e m onth

M &B loves

Who Did This Poo? is a matching
and memory game that will leave your
whole family in fits of giggles.

£12.99, laurenceking.com

£8.99,
mothercare.com

This snazzy Bonds
Wondersuit has a two-way zip for quick
changing, and fold-over feet cuffs for
extra warmth. £20, johnlewis.com
K e y t r e n d s Wow z e r T r o u s e r s

£12
boden.co.uk

£14
welovefrugi.com

£3.50
next.co.uk

£17.95
babipur.co.uk

£7.95
gap.co.uk

£7.99
lindex.com

m o t h e r a n d b a b y . c o . u k | S p r in g 2 0 1 9 | 7

Works with the water naturally
contained in your body
Can be taken from the first signs
of discomfort
Simply add the flavourless
solution to your favourite drink

Children from
2 years*

Pregnant
women*

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one

If you
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p
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are to
p
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on
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s
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t
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t
celebra
Cute!
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c
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with
.co.uk
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p
,
9
£5.9

9%

Upfront

only do

thing…

Grappling with a slippery
shampoo bottle as well
as your wriggly baby
at bathtime is tricky.
Slide a rubber band
around the bottle
for instant grip.

of children aged
between four and 12
get their five-a-day
daily. Start the fruitand-veg habit
now!

Packed with vitamin C, oranges will
boost your tot’s immune system and protect against
colds and flu. And these orange yoghurt lollies are
quick to make and great for teething tots! Purée
the flesh from one orange then add 128g of
natural yoghurt and 2tsp of unsweetened
apple juice, and whizz together. Transfer
to ice-lolly moulds and freeze until
solid. To release from their moulds,

dip into hot water for a few
seconds. Suitable from
12 months.

When you were pregnant,
what did you nickname
your baby? A poll of
parents revealed nine in
10 used an alternative
name before the birth,
with Bean the most
common. Other faves
included Little Man or
Little Miss, Jelly Bean,
Pickle, Squishy,
Bambino, Button,
Sprog or Sproglett,
Sprout and Monster.

M &B loves
Soothe her itchy, flaky
scalp with the new
Childs Farm Sensitive
Scalp Conditioner.
Suitable from
newborn.
£4, asda.com

Time to cel
e

Thinking
of th
you r imp rowing a b aby sho
st ylish n ending arrival? G wer to celeb rat e
ew
ing
everyt hin Twinkle Twinkle c er Ray’s
ollect i on
g y ou cou
h as
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ver n eed
party s t a
to get
rt
b a lloons ed, f rom confet ti t h e
to b u
cards and nt ing, advice
p
pro p s. F r hoto-booth
om £
gingerray 2.99,
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co.u k

b rat e!

m o t h e r a n d b a b y . c o . u k | S pr i n g 2 0 1 9 | 9


M&B’s fave Mum!

Giovanna Fletcher
With three boys and a busy life, I’ve learnt some pretty smart mum-hacks, says Giovanna…

W

hen Team M&B asked
me to share my
smartest mum-hacks
with you this month,
I had a little chuckle to myself. Smart
is not something I’ve felt very often
since becoming a mum. Or, rather,
I use my head in a different way to
what I did before, so when I sit and
listen to someone like Brain Cox talk
about black holes, my mind fails to
process his words at all! In fact, it
shuts down as though it’s been
stunned into its own black hole
of white noise.
Yes, smart as a mum might mean
not thinking you’re smart. Yet, you
somehow manage to pick up a
whole new bunch of skills, tricks and
hacks to make everyone’s life a little

easier. And this is all the smarts you
need right now! But, anyway, here
are a few things I’ve discovered
since becoming a mum:
● Snacks are your friend and can
help get a child from A to B… a little
gentle bribery never harmed
anyone. Rice cakes are gold!
● Lots of nappies have pee
detectors on them. Meaning the
strip down the middle goes from
yellow to blue when your baby
has done a wee… I have a good
friend who only discovered this
with her third baby.
● Always have a spare bag of
clothes for each child in the car, just
in case… you can guarantee that if
you ever forget this bag one child
will vomit all over everyone or jump

so gleefully into a muddle puddle that
● Going outside and getting some
you’re all covered in mud.
fresh air will always be a good idea!
● The body vests with the envelope
But the very smartest thing for
shoulders are nothing short of pure
you to do with your baby is trust
genius! When poonamis strike (which

your instincts and believe in
they will) these make it easy to pull the
yourself. You won’t get it right
vest down, rather than having to go
all the time – none of us do – but
over the baby’s head and making the
you know what is best for you and
situation worse!
your baby, and that makes you
● You can breastfeed lying down! Now,
the smartest person in the world!
obviously you have to be careful
and be up to date on all the SIDS
guidelines, but this changed
everything for me third time
round when feeding at night.
I would scoop Max up, and pop
him on the boob in bed. When
he was done I’d put him back in
his cot… it was much better than
trying to hold us both upright
when sleep deprived!
● Remember, your baby can
watch you shower! I find nap
times are best spent running
around the house tidying up, or
sitting still getting some work
done. But the boys always used
to wake up before I did that
other important thing – WASH!

Nowadays, I take Max upstairs,
get him settled in a bouncer
and let him marvel at the
running water while I get in.
Max is impressed,
It’s just like sensory play!
anyway!
● Always remember that
moments pass, good or bad.
This knowledge should
help you brush off the
challenging days and
savour the good.

We asked
you…
M &B loves
Looking for a
n-choc treat this
ter? Steiff’s Soft
ddly Friends are
winner. From
4.90, steiff.com

How long did it take
you to conceive?
one
month

41%

six–12
months

15%

over a
year

Two–Five
months

20%

24%


s
e
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a
r
Encou
!
g
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i
d
self -fee

he perfect snack for
weaning little ones.
Babies everywhere are learning to feed themselves
with our delicious Wafers. They have a special
delicate texture that dissolves easily and are even
gentle enough to help comfort sore gums.

Find out more at kiddylicious.com

Now available in delicious Blueberry, Strawberry,
Carrot and Banana flavours.


get mother&Baby
The easy way!
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at
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and get free delivery
to your door
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r
u
o
n
i
o
J

Upfront
search for

on facebook and
sign up – it’s
that easy!

Want to have some fun? Come on in!

Here at M&B HQ, we’ve been getting
pretty tired of seeing all those too-goodto-be-true family photos on social, so we

thought we’d gather all of us real mums
together, and do something about it!
#mumtribe is where real mums like you
and us get together to share what life is
really like as a mum. It’s a closed Facebook

group, so only other mums who’ve
signed up can see what you post. And
we pop all the photos into a gallery so
you can see that life for all of us other
mums is just the same as it is for you.
Which we reckon will help us all feel
like we’re doing a fab job at this mum
business, instead of wondering why
our lives seem so chaotic next to
everyone else’s. See you there!

live r, w a s
‘ Th i s i ss O
o l d. H eF an d
h
t
on
m
si x ve d u sin g I V or
c on cei ea m c o m e t r u e fe,
i s a dr e l o v e s p or ridg
u s. H in g an d cu dd le s
play h M u m m y.’
wi t

enson
Jenna B

h t er
‘ M y dvaeusga s el fi e
o
L il y l n
a r t e d to
t
s
w
o
s
a
a n d h h e e s e w h e n ev e r
sa y c e on e t a ke s
s o m hot o!’
he r p
g
Tina Stron

why join?

‘ Th i
m y t wsoiIs Vm e wi t h
I f e e l s o l u F b a b i e s,
t h e m! Thcekyy to h av e
l o v e a p hob o t h
t o.’
Vicky S

harpe

Well, it’s lots of fun for starters! You’ll meet a
whole heap of other lovely mums who are happy
to share the highs and lows of parenting. Seeing
everyone else’s perfectly imperfect family life will
make you feel way better than you do after your
usual scroll through Facebook. And we all get to
support each other, judgement-free.

t hre e
‘ M a t i ldl oa,v e s bein g
m on t hds,to almos t a s
t a lke a s s h e l o v e s
muc h rin g awa y!’
ch a t t e
arris
Rosie H

m o t h e r a n d b a b y . c o . u k | S p r in g 2 0 1 9 | 1 3


56%

of mums report
they’ve expressed milk in
less-than-ideal places,
such as their car or at
their desk when
at work.

R oya l b a by

must-haves
Woohoo! The world’s going mad over
Harry and Meghan’s new arrival –
join in the fun with these fab
products fit for a royal…

Safe
sleeping

Attaching securely to your
bed, the zip-down mesh side of
the Schnuggle Air Bedside Crib
means you can keep a close eye on
your little one, and gain easy access
for nighttime feeds. The crib can
even be converted to a stylish cot
(extension kit sold separately).
Suitable from birth.
£199.95, shnuggle.com

Hooray! It’s a
New Royal
Baby!, £6.99,
Bloomsbury.
com

Pom Pom

Crown, £16,
merimeri.co.uk

HRH Baby
Leggings, £10,
bladeandrose.co.uk

Sick
o
purée f s t icking
y ou
an
or jus d p onder r finger
in
in
t
Therm right? Th e g i f i t’s too to sweet p
ot a
Th
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ir
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in
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hat gu g soft food ded t i p,
longe
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e
r nec sswor k i s and
£39.99 essary
no
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, t her
m
pen.c
o.u k a

ide !

Princess Cerise
Soft Shoes, £20,
funkyfeetfashions.
co.uk

Personalised Oak Crown,
£17.75, notonthehighstreet.com

Feeling
nervous about
weaning your baby?
You’re not alone. A new
study has revealed that one in
four mums didn’t feel confident
introducing their tot to solid foods.

To help support parents, Public
Health England has launched a
weaning hub full of NHSapproved advice. Find it at
nhs.uk/start4life/
weaning

Teether,
£9.95,
nibbling.co

14 | Spring 2019 | mothera ndbaby.c

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With you
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DURING PREGNANCY

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Helping to make healthy mums and babies for over
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It also provides a range of micronutrients,and is supported
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From
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tissue growth during pregnancy. Pregnacare® has always contained 400mcg folic acid,the level recommended for all women from the start of trying to conceive until the 12th week of pregnancy. 5. Source: NHS Choices. 6. Agrawal, R. et al. Prospective
randomised trial of multiple micronutrients in women undergoing ovulation induction, Reproductive BioMedicine Online December 2011. 7. L Brough et al. Effect of multiple-micronutrient supplementation on maternal nutrient status,
infant birth weight and gestational age at birth in a low-income, multi-ethnic population. British Journal of Nutrition (2010), 104, 437-445. *UK’s No.1 pregnancy supplement brand. Nielsen GB ScanTrack Total Coverage Unit Sales 52 w/e 16 June 2018.


66%

of mums who
breastfed their baby say
it was one of the best
parts of being a mother.
49 per cent said it
was one of the
toughest.

Key trend
Ruffle
Sw i m s u i t s
£16
boohoo.com

Bamboo
babywearing

With two ergonomic carry
positions, the Bamboo Boba
Wrap helps regulate your baby’s
temperature, keeping him cool in
summer and warm in winter
thanks to the unique properties
of bamboo. Suitable from
birth to 35lb. £42,
uk-boba.com

£29
jojomamanbeb

£29
omaman
b
k

Easter Bunny’s Garden
Take turns with your tot to find the unnibbled
carrot in this fun-to-make game

£59
lilyandribbon

Paint a cardboard box with
brown paint, or mix your own

paint using red and green.

Glue on lettuces made from
tissue paper. Then cut eight
4cm-long slits on the top of the box.

On orange card, draw a circle,
and cut into eight carrots. Cut
a nibbled end from seven of them.

Punch a hole at the top of each
carrot and thread through a
pipe cleaner. Twist to secure.

WORDS KATE CAMPBELL

1

3

2

16 | Spring 2019 | mothera ndbaby.co.uk

4

£24.99
hm.com

ver to you...

S O M E T H I N G T O S AY ? W E L OV E T O

Letter of the month
And, relax…
Perfect timing! I’d just sat down
with a well-earned coffee and
some cake when I heard my copy
of Mother&Baby drop through the
letterbox. After a year of putting
myself last, I now ensure I put the
housework aside for 10 minutes
when my baby Clara, two, naps.
I hated how it was impossible to
do everything in the hour-and-ahalf that she slept: all the normal
housework, plus the jobs that
had built up while she was little,
when I wanted to nap when
she did, and nothing got done at
all! I now know it’s not possible or

H E A R YO U R V I E W S !

WIN!

the ultimate
bundle from
Kit & Kin,

necessary to
Supermum.
more impor
to be happy
and relaxed
and accept t
those drawe
full of the st
sight will get sorted – eventually!
Adrienne Troughton, Bristol

Adrienne wins earth-friendly
baby essentials from Kit & Kin,
worth over £150, with a supply
of award-winning sustainable
nappies and wipes, and natural
skincare; kitandkin.com

FIND US
ONLINE AT
motherandbaby.co.uk
Join us on facebook
at facebook.com/
motherandbaby

COMPILED BY EMILY THORPE

Tweet us
@motherandbaby

Follow us at
instagram.com/
motherandbaby

Meet my little boy, Harland, seven months. He
loves any food I set down in front of him – I’m yet
to find something he doesn’t like!
Chlöe Spratt, Northern Ireland

1 8 | S p r i ng 2 0 1 9 | m o t h e r a n d b a b y . c o . u k

SEND US YOUR
PHOTOS!
Email share@mother
andbaby.co.uk, please
include your name,
location, your baby’s
name and age.

Here’s my
baby girl Evelyn,
four months old. I adore
getting my Mother&Baby
magazine every month,
and I’d love to see my
baby girl featured in
the next issue!
Emma Franklin,
Chester

I wanted to send
this photo in of my
daughter, Paige, two, reading
our latest issue of Mother&Baby
and telling us which puddlesuit
A huge thank you
she’d like to take to Granny’s
for all the words
house. She loves flicking through
of wisdom from
the pages, and finding things
M&B mums, who’ve
to tell us about!
given me invaluable
Ali Mallett,
support through a long
via Email
and difficult pregnancy
and beyond. This is my little
meatball Henry, seven months,
living his best life in a bowl
of spaghetti. I love receiving
Mother&Baby through the door
every month, and will be cooking
up some of the weaning recipes
in the March issue. As you can
see, Henry’s currently far more
interested in playing with food!

Upfront

Food fun

Holly Brighty, via Email

Snug as a bug

Here’s me and my
beautiful son, William,
seven months. He’s
a perfect mix of
Mummy and Daddy,
but he’s definitely
got his mama’s
big smile!

I wanted to share this photo of my
daughter, Chloe, and her daddy,
taken on a sunny morning walk.
Chloe, 15 months, is rocking the
Minion hat that her auntie made for
her. Maybe Daddy should have one
too! I’ve been reading Mother&Baby
since I fell pregnant and I love all the
tips and features. Thank you!

Nadia Farrance,
via Email

Charlotte Cole, via Email

This
is me (right) with my
sister-in-law, Rachel. Over the
last three years, we’ve both struggled
to conceive, between us having failed
IVF cycles and miscarriages. But we
are now both expecting! I’m so glad
to have her by my side.
Victoria Nagy, Bradford

This is my cheeky eight-month
old daughter, Eleanor Mae. She
loves posing for the camera and
gets upset if the camera isn’t
pointed at her!
Lauren Duck, Cornwall

This is Arthur’s
new ‘say cheese!’
face when having his
photo taken, on the carousel
with his daddy. It makes
everybody else smile, and
we hope it does you too!
Chelsea Greenfield,
Kent

m o t h e r a n d b a b y . c o . u k | S pr i ng 2 0 1 9 | 1 9

SEND US
YOUR
SELFIES
!
We’d lo

ve to
your pics see
you and y of
youngste our
r.
them to s Send
hare@
motheran
d
baby.co.u
k

My mini-me
Send us your smiley selfies!

Editor EMMA KENDELL 01733 468945
Deputy Editor NATALIE MILLMAN
Production Editor KAREN WARREN
Art Editor CARLY HURD
Commissioning Editor LEIGH CONNELLY
Writer EMILY THORPE
Designer MEGAN SPEAR

Gear Editor HEIDI SCRIMGEOUR
Fashion Editor ANNA WOODHAM
Web Editor AIMEE JAKES
ADVERTISING
Group Commercial Director CHARLIE BROOKS
Commercial Director
IAIN (REG) GRUNDY 01733 468078
Commercial Manager
KIMBERLEY ROBERTSON-HUNT 01733 366422
Account Manager
ALEX HOJBJERG 01733 366416
Account Manager
ELLIE DRABBLE 0161 288 5051
Classified Group Advertising Manager
KAREN GARDINER 01733 366434
Senior Sales Executive
KATH WINTERS 01733 366409
Regional Sales KATIE KENDALL 0161 288 5053
Project Manager
LAURA DE ROSA 01733 366486
Flatplanner RICKY DUFF 01733 366321

I thought I’d email you my most
favourite picture in the world,
showing how much Eddie, 10
months, loves Mummy’s cuddles.
No matter how many sleepless
nights we have, a great big hug
makes everything ok.

PRODUCTION
Group Production Manager KIM NUNZIATA
Production Controller ANDREW STAFFORD
Ad Production Manager ZOE BELLAMY
Ad Production Controller KATIE KERRY

Sarita Smith, Shropshire

Here’s myself and my son, Finlay,
seven months, out for a chilly walk
with the dog.
Jessica Sellick, somerset

My
daughter,
Florence, five
months, loves smiling for
the camera. You can tell
she knows Mummy is
taking a picture!
Marta Le Rossignol,
Jersey

This is me with my nine-week-old son, Noah-George. He is our first
baby and is such a smiley, happy little guy. I love spending every day
with him and watching him. We are head over heels in love with him!
Fiona Clewer, via Email

2 0 | S p r in g 2 0 1 9 | m o t h e r a n d b a b y . c o . u k

MARKETING & RESEARCH
Marketing Manager CHARLOTTE WALSH
Product Manager JODIE HUGHES
Newstrade Marketing Manager
SAMANTHA THOMPSON
Direct Marketing Manager JULIE SPIRES
Direct Marketing Executive
AMY DEDMAN
SYNDICATION & LICENSING
International Content Executive
MOLLIE PORCH 01733 468561
motherandbabypicturelibrary.com
H BAUER PUBLISHING
Managing Director of Women’s Specialist
and Hobbies KIM SLANEY
Editorial Director JUNE SMITH-SHEPPARD
Head of Digital CHARLIE CALTON-WATSON
Finance Director LISA HAYDEN
Group Managing Director ROB MUNRO-HALL
CEO PAUL KEENAN
Mother&Baby magazine is published 13 times a year
by H Bauer Publishing, registered address
Media House, Peterborough Business Park,
Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA. Registered number
LP003328. No part of the magazine maybe reproduced in
any form in whole or in part, without prior permission of the
publisher. All material published remains the copyright of
H Bauer Publishing. We reserve the right to edit letters,
copy or images submitted to the magazine without further
consent. The submission of material to H Bauer Publishing

whether unsolicited or requested, is taken as permission to
publish in the magazine, including any licensed editions
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remuneration for any use in any other licensed editions.
We cannot accept any responsibility for unsolicited
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editorial complaints covered by the Editorial Complaints
Policy is


!
D
L
I
M
E
B
BORN T O
9

best BABY
SK NCARE
RANGE/
PRODUCT


h
t
r
i
B
&
p
m
Bu
R E A L- L I F E STO R I E S
|
DY
O
B
|
D
N
I
M
|
H
LT
A

E
H

WORDS LEIGH CONNELLY PHOTOGRAPHY GETTY IMAGES
* ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY

Bump boundaries

NEW RESEARCH HAS shown that your sense of
personal space grows in your third trimester – and
gives you karate-fast reflexes to deal with anyone
who dares to enter it! In the study*, blindfolded
mums-to-be were asked to push a button as
soon as they felt a tap on their tummy. At
the same time, a noise was played that
sounded as if it was coming closer.
Generally, reaction times improved
when the sound seemed nearer.
Women at 34 weeks pregnant
were quickest to push their
buttons when the
sound was furthest
away, suggesting
their peri-personal
space – the zone
you’d feel
uncomfortable
sharing with
a stranger –
had grown.

With such
precious
cargo, it
makes
sense!

2 2 | S p r ing 2 0 1 9 | m o t h e r a n d b a b y . c o . u k


of the
best…

With a flattering
hemline and buttondown top, the Maternity
Red Ditsy Floral Smock
Dress screams spring chic

The light fabric of
the Maternity
Floral Ruched Front
Dress will skim over
your bump beautifully.

£17.99, newlook.com

£12.50, asda.com

1

bump-friendly

floral
dresses

The Blue Floral
Off the Shoulder
Maternity Dress comes
with a waist tie to ensure
a flattering fit.

2

£35, jojomaman
bebe.co.uk

ARRIV
W
A
E

L

N

These finds are perfect when
you’re blooming with a bump…

3

Try this!
ease labour surges

Worried you’ll forget all your
hypnobirthing techniques by
the time the big day finally
rolls around? Freya can help.
A virtual birth partner and
contraction timer app for your
smartphone, she’s designed
to help you get the calm
birthing experience you
deserve. She’ll coach you
through each contraction with

simple breathing techniques,
and keep track of them so
you can see how your labour
is progressing. There are
calming visualisation exercises
and guided meditations to
help you through, too.
£1.99 introductory offer in
the App Store (iOS only)

Who says nursing bras need to
be dull? The Body Silk Seamless
Nursing Bra is über-comfy for
day-to-day use throughout
pregnancy and nursing, with
its soft fabric moulding to your
changing cup shape. And the new
on-trend Apricot colourway is a

great choice for mamas-to-be
blossoming in springtime. We
reckon it looks more like a cute
sports bra than a maternity bra!
£34, bravadodesigns.com

DUE DATE
CALCULATOR
We can help you
keep track of
when your baby
is likely to arrive
motherandbaby.
co.uk/due-datecalculator

m o t h e r a n d b a b y . c o . u k | S p r i ng 2 0 1 9 | 2 3


POSITIVE LABOUR

THE SECRET TO AN

Easier birth
h
This magic ingredient will make all the difference,
says positive birth expert Milli Hill

PHOTOGRAPHY GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK

‘W

hat should I pack in
my bag to get me
through labour?’: as
a birth expert, this
is the question
I get asked the
most. Everybody wants to know the tips,
tricks and hacks for the ultimate kit for
labour. But here’s the news: there is only
one thing that you really need when you
have your baby, and it’s not luxury lipbalm
or even disposable pants. It’s the wonder
hormone, oxytocin, and you literally can’t
give birth without it.
Also known as the ‘love hormone’ and
the ‘cuddle chemical’, oxytocin is the main
hormone we make when we fall in love, give
birth, breastfeed and bond with our babies.
It gives us that warm, fuzzy feeling that
we might associate with post-coital bliss.
Oxytocin is so central to the process of
giving birth that, if you don’t make enough
yourself, you will be given a synthetic version
of it via a drip in order to help progress
labour. And in this manufactured form,
it’s called ‘syntocinon’. Fill your birth bag
\WW^MZÆW_QVO_Q\PW`a\WKQVIVLaW]¼ZM
much more likely to have a smoother,
easier and even less painful labour.

Oxytocin’s chief job in labour itself is to
strengthen and maintain contractions. The
hormone is made in the pea-sized part of
your brain called the hypothalmus, and it
works on a positive feedback loop – the
more you make of it, the more you keep
producing. It’s a very happy circle indeed.
Understanding more about this wonder
hormone is key to a positive birth, because
SVW_QVOPW_\WOM\aW]ZW`a\WKQVÆW_QVO
can really help to keep your labour
progressing, and assist if it stalls or slows.

24 | S p r i n g 2 0 1 9 | m o t h e ra n d b a b y. c o. u k

MEET THE
EXPERT
Milli Hill is founder
of the Positive
Birth Movement,
author of The
Positive Birth
Book (£14.99,
pinterandmartin.
com), and a mum
of three

Q\Q[\PI\\PMPWZUWVMWN ÅOP\WZÆQOP\
adrenaline, blocks the release of oxytocin.

So, anything that makes you feel fearful or
anxious will slow itsÆW_1VNIK\IVW\PMZ
nickname for oxytocin is the ‘shy hormone’
– its production can be slowed down or
stopped by bright lights, noise, the presence
of strangers or anything that makes
you feel startled or unsafe. This is
unfortunate when you consider
that the environment that
most women are expected
to give birth in – the
labour ward of an
obstetric unit
– often ticks

Let in
the love!
You will benefit
from oxytocin
in every kind
of birth, both
during and
afterwards,
when youmeet
your little one.
So if you’re
headed for
theatre, keep
it flowing by
focusing on your

love foryour
partner and your
baby. Repeat a
mantra such as
‘I will birth with
love’ to yourself.

‘I got
through the
first 12 hours of
contractions by knitting!
It’s proven to relax you, and
thought to release oxytocin.’
Torya Hughes, 32, from
Edinburgh, is mum
to Amber, seven
months