Maternity Blog & News | New Beginnings
Everything They Don't Tell You: Breastfeeding Tips & Advice
We’ve all heard the common advice about breastfeeding, everything from ‘how to latch’ to ‘how to burp’. But what are the lesser known truths we don’t hear as often? Here are some bits of advice you’ve (probably) never heard before. Don’t Check Your Phone During Night-time Feeds While breastfeeding can be boring at night, try not to binge on Netflix or catch up on emails. Lactation consultant, Eileen Murphy, notes turning on lights or the TV can disorient your baby and make it harder to set them on a sleep schedule. We recommend listening to a relaxing podcast instead. You Don’t Have To Use The ‘Hollywood Hold’ The most common latching technique is to cradle your baby sideways with its head resting on your elbow, but if that’s not working there are 10 other positions you can test out on bub. Everything from lying down rugby holds (look it up) to vertical latching, where your baby faces you and rests on your knee. Experiment to find what’s right for you. Breastfeeding Can Deflate Your Boobs, If You Don’t Use A Supportive Bra Yes, it’s true, breastfeeding can make your boobs start to look like old tube socks (*silent screams). One way to prevent this is to find great maternity bras that really lift and support your boobs no matter what stage they’re in. A great bra will support the breast’s ligaments and help recover damage caused by your baby pulling on your breast as they turn their head about. Other preventative steps include strengthening exercises, diet and drinking lots of water. Drink Water To Produce Milk Speaking of drinking water, when breastfeeding the best thing you can do to produce milk is to stay hydrated. Your body will keep trying to produce milk even if you’re not, but it can make you feel pretty sick and unwell. If you'd like to know more about breastfeeding, have a read of our blog: How long should a newborn feed for? On a similar note, make sure you’re eating an additional 500 calories per day when breastfeeding. Try to eat a nutritionally balanced diet, but if you slip up and eat french fries it won’t hurt your baby. Your body is designed to make healthy, nourishing milk. Empty Your Milk Often To Reduce Painful Swelling When feeding or pumping, try to empty your milk during each session, this helps prevent ducts from clogging (don’t worry it’s a rare occurrence!). Similarly, try to breastfeed or pump whenever your breasts are starting to feel heavy and full. If you wait too long they can become swollen and painfully tender. Read our blog ‘Pump or Feed’ for tips on when and how to breast pump. Breastfeeding Makes You Bolder Lastly, know that breastfeeding makes you bolder and a protective mummy. Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles show breastfeeding increases your body's threshold for stress by increasing oxytocin and prolactin levels. In a scenario where a stranger was rude to their baby, breastfeeding mums defended their baby’s rights and had significantly lower blood-pressure than mums who solely bottle-fed their babies. They were more stress-resistant - a fantastic side-benefit of the unique mother-child bond. Having trouble breastfeeding? Remember to take deep breaths, relax and search for answers to your problems. If it’s still not working, see a lactation consultant. They’ll help you and your baby learn to breastfeed. Keep in mind every parent-baby bond is unique and takes time but it’s worth it.
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Benefits of Bamboo Maternity Products | New Beginnings
What is Bamboo? Bamboo is an incredibly versatile material used in so many products nowadays. From clothing and linen, to homewares, furniture and, yes, pregnancy products. Sustainable to grow, strong and flexible, and incredibly soft and resilient when woven as a fibre, bamboo has a long list of benefits. That’s why bamboo is the perfect material for pregnant and nursing Mums. Bamboo nursing pads are soft on your skin and super absorbent, while hypoallergenic bamboo baby wipes are kind to theirs. Bamboo is a truly wonderful material which benefits Mums, babies and our environment. Environmental Benefits Reduced farming footprint Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on earth. It uses around 30% of the water needed to grow cotton and can grow almost a metre in a single day. Less chemicals Bamboo is naturally resistant to pests so doesn’t require chemical spraying while it grows. It also requires far less chemical additives in the manufacturing process, unlike polyester or nylon which produce lots of chemical waste. 100% biodegradable You don’t have to feel guilty about your bamboo baby wipes or nursing pads going into landfill. They break down in as little as 6 months, where products made with plastics clog up our environment for 1,000 years. Benefits of using Bamboo products So we know bamboo nursing pads and baby wipes are kind to the environment. But what about you? There’s more good news! Bamboo is incredibly soft to the touch, perfect for sensitive skin and more effective than almost any other material: Naturally antibacterial fibres make bamboo more hygienic Bamboo absorbs up to 40x its own weight Up to 40% more absorbent than the best cotton Hypoallergenic, ideal for sensitive skin Our bamboo nursing pads are designed with an innovative hex weave for even more absorbency, and chemical-free bamboo baby wipes are the perfect addition to your baby bag. Types of Bamboo Baby Products New Beginnings are well and truly on the bamboo bandwagon. We have seen the benefits of this wonderful eco-friendly material and wanted to create pregnancy products that are as good for the environment as they are for new mums. You can now find a range of essential pregnancy hygiene products on our online store: Disposable bamboo nursing pads Ultra-thin bamboo nursing pads Bamboo baby wipes in boxes or soft packs Bamboo maternity pads Disposable bamboo pants Why Choose New Beginnings bamboo products? As the world continues to find new ways to use bamboo, here at New Beginnings we are dedicated to giving new and expecting Mums the kindest, most effective pregnancy products. Our bamboo nursing pads were specially designed to contour for added comfort. They are capable of absorbing up to 40x their own weight and fit seamlessly into clothes. No more wet patches or uncomfortable clothing – only the soft, non-allergenic feeling of bamboo. For baby, our bamboo dry wipes are not only more effective than traditional baby wipes but also much more environmentally friendly. They are 100% biodegradable as well as being incredibly absorbent and soft on delicate skin. Ready to order your bamboo baby products? Call our order hotline on 1300 768 868, or you can send us an email at sales@newbeginnings.com.au for more information. Don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter at the bottom of the page so we can keep you up-to-date with news and product information specially tailored to new Mums.Looking for more information about bamboo baby and nursing products? Visit our mum's guide to Why I Choose Bamboo Dry Wipes.
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Ultimate Maternity Hospital Bag Checklist: What to bring to hospital
With your due date approaching and preparations at home well underway, it’s time to think about packing a hospital bag for mum. When the time comes you will want to know your bag is packed with all the clothing, documents, toiletries and essentials you’ll need for a comfortable stay in the birthing suite.
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Pump Or Feed? What Are Your Thoughts? Tell Us!
What to look for in a Breast Pump. Already have one? Here's what you might have missed!
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Is using essential oils at home safe for my baby?
Essential Oils and Pregnancy Aromatherapy uses essential oils as a natural therapy to relax and de-stress users. Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that become the natural smell of their source in liquid form. As liquids, they are often inhaled or diluted into the skin and used to give you that spa and massage feeling. They can also be used in cooking! But are essential oils good for you and your baby? During pregnancy its best to take a cautious approach to alternative medicine. Essential oils contain chemicals that can be absorbed into your body and through the placenta barrier. You should do some research or consult a healthcare professional if you want to make any changes to your routine, like adding essential oils. If you are looking for an alternative to help you relax and de-stress during your pregnancy, New Beginnings maternity wear can offer products such as maternity bras and back support which are practical steps you can take to help you feel more relaxed and comfortable ‘in your own skin’. Will Essential Oils Affect My Baby? There’s a lot of debate about the effect of essential oils on you and your baby, but what is clear is that it’s best to avoid essential oils during your first trimester, as some oils have been known to cause uterine contractions. But don’t worry, essential oils in the second and third trimester can actually have benefits for your baby too.Mums testify that essential oils can be used to offer relief during pregnancy and do so in a natural way. Many people find that essential oils are a great way to ease discomfort and stress, and this is no different during your pregnancy. Lavender oil is calming and can be used to relax and help with sleep Jojoba is great in a moisturizer, to soothe aching joints and muscles. And, if you find you’re feeling nauseous, Lemon oil can help to clear the air around you, aid with digestion, and combat those sickly feelings. It’s important to consider the quality of the oils before you give them a try – you want to give your baby the very best of everything. If you have used essential oils before and know that they help you to relax and unwind, there’s no reason to stop now. Why Choose New Beginnings? If essential oils aren’t for you, why not consider other alternatives like comfortable yet functional maternity wear, which can take off the strain on your body during pregnancy. Sometimes, all it takes is supportive but stylish clothing to make you feel better. New Beginnings can improve your experience of pregnancy and choosing an expert and maternity focused brand will take the stress away, so all you have to do is relax.To find out more about New Beginnings pregnancy back support and order products, email sales@newbeginnings.com.au, or call the order hotline on 1300 768 868. Want to keep up to date with new products, ideas and Mummy tip and tricks? Sign up for our newsletter below!
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Tips and Tricks on Pregnancy Back Support
During pregnancy you experience a whole range of new emotions, feelings, and even pain, not the BOOBS, sometimes this includes back pain too! The cause of this discomfort comes from new weight around your abdomen which adds stress to your spine as you lean back to support your baby. Choosing a good quality pregnancy back support range is important for you and your baby, that's where New Beginnings back support comes in to reduce this discomfort!
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Why These Maternity Bras Are An Absolute Game Changer
Being pregnant can take its toll on you physically, mentally and emotionally, and you may not always be able to help those things. Luckily, what you do have power over is what you wear, and this can make a huge difference to how you feel. Read on to find out how New Beginnings gives you complete control of looking AND feeling good!
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Transition Bra
QUESTION, HOW’S MARY-KATE & ASHLEY? Answer, Mumma code for - have your breasts survived months and months of being at your babies beck and call? Response, only just and quite frankly, we feel like a milking cow (best job ever but exhausting) however, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We have reached that moment of transition. The transition from ‘my whole world is my baby’ to ‘ I live in the world with my baby.’ There is a very subtle change in those two expressions as a new era of freedom starts to slowly creep back into your life. Like any time of change, we of course have questions; How do I wean my baby? Will my baby self-wean? Is this the right time? Is there something that will make this next chapter easier? Well Mumma’s, you’re in-luck because New Beginnings has made this an easier process for you. Following research and consultation with Aussie mums, the Transition Bra was developed specifically for when you are starting to wean your baby. Often the when and how is decided by bubs or lifestyle factors (like heading back to work), so don’t put pressure on yourself to fit into a certain timeframe. Let’s try and make this as simple, supportive and comfortable as possible, for you! The Transition Bra is super soft featuring a cross the chest design and seamless elastic band for support. It’s a nice way to practically and mentally wean yourself into a post-baby bra. The Transition Bra removes all the awkward clasps, hinges and ‘largeness’ of a maternity bra whilst offering breathability from 95% cotton. Wardrobe necessity beige and pink colour options, with a range of sizes easy to read off the New Beginnings website. If you already have their wonderful breast feeding bras than this is a no brainer in getting back into the real world with confidence and support in a product that will help you do so. So welcome to stepping out and getting a bit of yourself back and being able to do so in a bra that embraces and supports you again, in a new way, in a new phase!
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How much to budget for a new baby | New Beginnings
Having a baby for the first time will ultimately be one of the happiest times of your life. Sure, you’re a bit nervous and at times overwhelmed but you get to start your own little family. But before that day comes along you have a nursery to plan, baby names to pick and someone who will depend on you forever. As you grow bigger, attend those antenatal classes and build your nursery, it’s natural to start thinking about how your world will change. Your life as you have known it has been all about you and you may begin to notice the ‘life will never be the same again’ comments cropping up. Then on one quiet evening after a distraction free dinner you look at your partner and your partner looks at you, a light bulb goes off and you both unanimously say ‘BABYMOON’. Now baby-moons may vary from a weekend away to an overseas vacation but before you go all ‘baby brain’ on this hare- brained idea let’s share some stats with you. It is said that a baby can cost a family at least $150 per week amounting to over $15,000 in just a single year. Now let’s think about this 10 nappies a day, $33 per box of 90 nappies = approx. $100 per month alone just in nappies. Let’s not forget about formula if you don’t breast feed ($30 per tin), baby wipes, clothes, towels, dummies, prams, change tables, maternity bras, car seats, swaddles, baby monitors, breast pumps, toys, socks, blankets, bassinets, needles, doctors’ appointments, child care (if you go down that route), bottles, cutlery, gymbaroo and on and on it goes. So after making note of all the additional expenses any new mum will face, it’s probably best to ditch the baby-moon idea and become a baby-prepper: -Stockpile nappies when stores have them on special. -Search prices online for wet wipes, dummies and bottles (remember to check delivery fees). -Attend the Baby Expo’s in your area to find better deals and read the reviews on the best pram or car seat. -Don’t leave buying your maternity items until the last minute. As finding the right bra for example can take time. The New Beginnings maternity range allows mums to purchase from their comfy and affordable bra collection and their returns policy will allow an exchange or refund if the bra doesn’t fit. *Keep an eye out for their 2 for 1 bra deals * Start to also be accepting of any help that’s offered when it comes to big purchases as everyone close to you will be getting baby fever with the arrival of your newborn. And if you decide to have a baby shower use a registry to ensure your nursery is equipped with everything you need. So wave goodbye to the baby-moon and life you once knew because life is really going to be so much better then you ever imagined when this baby arrives. Yes you’re tired, yes you’re overwhelmed but let’s try not to add any additional financial worries to the load. Not to mention the late night runs down to the supermarket because you have run out of nappies.
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