Community Questions - Advice for a first time mum.

"What was the best advice you received as a first time mum?"

When you become a mum, suddenly everyone wants to give you their advice and 'how to' do things. It's important to remember that you know your baby best, so even with all the best intentions in the world from those offering their opinions, always listen to what your instinct is telling you and remember that you know your baby and yourself best- it sounds simple but often we forget.

From our experience, some of the best advice we received was:

1. Ask for help - so often we forget this and it's so important. Don't be afraid to ask for help from friends, family, your partner - even if it's to watch your baby for 15 minutes whilst you have a power nap. Asking for help is so important. Especially if you are struggling with any kind of postpartum depression - please reach out to your GP, Health Visitor and/or midwife.

2. Take care of yourself. Remember, a happy mum is a happy baby. Especially in the first few weeks and months when you are sleep deprived, stressed and your hormones are haywire. Nourish your body with balanced meals, stay hydrated and try to rest as much as you can. 'Sleep when the baby sleeps' was never realistic for us, but laying down for 10 minutes whilst your little one naps and letting your body rest and recover is really important.

3. There's no 'Perfect Mum' - try to remove the pressure you put on yourself to be the 'perfect mum'. You're doing your best so be kind to yourself. Each motherhood journey is different and has its own challenges so try to remember this.

4. Remove comparison. Every mum and every baby is different so what works for one mum may look entirely different to another. Not only this but every birth experience is different too and some experiences may take longer to recover from - mentally and physically. So try to remove the comparison and focus on what works best for you and your baby.

5. Try to take a few moments a day to enjoy the journey - your baby is only this little once and they grow up so fast. Getting caught up in the day-to-day is easy to do but try to take some time to cuddle your baby without distractions, go for a walk in the park with them - these are the moments you'll truly cherish forever, even amongst the harder days. You won't remember tidying the house or doing the dishes whilst your baby sleeps but you will remember the cuddles and quiet moments spent with them.

Being a mum is one of the hardest but one of the best jobs in the world. Every mum is on their own journey so do what works best for you and your baby, enjoy the journey and take care of yourself.