Early Days- Your Baby and You

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Early Days: Your Baby and You

Early Days Care
- By 20 weeks your baby is more aware of some of the noises outside the womb, has
  eyelashes, eyebrows and fingernails. Your baby is also becoming more active.
- By 24 weeks your baby has taste buds, fingerprints and footprints, can hear parents’
  voices, is startled by loud noises.
- By 28 weeks your baby can open their eyes, sense light and dark and is beginning to make breathing type movements.
- By 29-32 weeks your baby is making sucking movements.
- By 36-37 weeks the sucking reflex is developing and the digestive system is prepared to deal with breast milk.
Making the Connections

Talk to your baby and be aware of how they are growing. Take time out of every day to stroke your bump and think about your baby. Notice the times when your baby moves and the changes when you talk, sing, stroke or touch your bump. All these will help you understand and get to know your baby.

Get your partner and other family members to share in this, to start building their relationships with the baby as well. Building these relationships while you are pregnant will help with your baby’s brain development, and you will be able to continue growing and building relationships together after baby is born.
Your Baby's Amazing Brain

Your baby’s brain starts to grow and develop in pregnancy. When you talk and sing to them they will begin to feel relaxed and calm as they learn to recognise your voice.

Communicating with your baby in utero helps them to develop vital skills in preparation for when they are born.

After birth you will be able to support your baby's brain development by providing comfort, closeness and food, and by responding to their needs. Doing these things will make them feel secure, loved and safe.
Things to Do to Comfort and Respond to Your Baby
- Keep baby close
- Frequent skin to skin contact
- Carry baby in a sling
- Pick up and soothe if baby cries
- Smile, talk and sing to your baby
- Take time to pause and listen for baby to copy you
- Feed baby promptly, as often and for as long as they require
The power of oxytocin

Every time you cuddle your baby, touch and hold them, listen and talk calmly with them, and feed them promptly, they have a surge of OXYTOCIN, a hormone which helps their brain to grow. Research shows that responding to your baby’s needs will help them grow into a secure and confident toddler and child, who is better able to deal with being away from their parents temporarily, rather than becoming clingy. This may also make it less stressful for you when the time comes for you to be apart.

OXYTOCIN is a feel-good hormone which is released in you and your baby when you cuddle, talk or hold baby in skin to skin contact. You will not “spoil” a baby by giving them your attention. Leaving them to cry is stressful for both of you and may affect their health and development.

New babies have a strong need to be close to their parents as this helps them feel loved and secure.

Having a new baby can be a challenge. Responding to your baby helps you understand their needs. As your baby grows and you begin to know each other better, you become the expert in their care. You, as parents, and other close family and friends, become the people your baby most loves to spend time with. You are the most important carers, teachers and role models your baby will have. Despite the pressure to buy expensive equipment and toys, it’s really not necessary. What matters most to your baby and their future development is having parents who love and care for them.
Meeting Baby for the First Time

SKIN TO SKIN TIME

REGULATES TEMPERATURE

TRIGGERS HORMONAL RELEASE

STIMULATES FEEDING BEHAVIOUR

CALMS & RELAXES MOTHER & BABY

REGULATES HEART BEAT & BREATHING

MICROBIOME - TRIGGERS IMMUNE SYSTEM

Baby's instinctive behaviour

After your baby is born, you should be supported, when possible, to hold your baby in skin to skin contact for at least the first hour after birth (The Magic Hour) or until baby has had their first feed. This will calm and keep baby warm, and give you the chance to rest. Your baby will go through their initial instinctive behaviours (pre-feeding behaviour).

Remember: skin to skin contact is for all babies. You can breastfeed your baby in skin to skin contact, and if you are not breastfeeding you can bottle feed your baby while holding them skin to skin. If you are not available because you are unwell, then skin to skin with your birth partner, or other family member, is very important so that your baby feels calm, warm and safe.
Responsive Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is a skill that takes time to learn. Lots of parents wonder if their baby is feeding well and getting enough - especially in the first few days. But once you’ve mastered it, you’ll probably find it’s the easiest and most satisfying way to feed your baby.

Breast milk is tailor-made for your baby, contains vitamins and minerals and is always available, it also offers protection from certain infections and helps improve your baby’s long-term health.

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity, childhood diabetes and leukaemia for baby, and reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer for mum.

To get breastfeeding off to a good start:

• Keep your baby close so that you start to recognise their signals, for example hunger, cuddle, nappy change, tired. Responding to these signals helps make baby feel secure.

• Being responsive to baby and picking them up when they cry are very important, and will help you both to build a close and loving relationship.

• Spending time cuddling and keeping baby close in skin to skin contact allows baby to hear your heartbeat, which is a comfort for them. Skin to skin contact also helps your body to start milk production.

• Breastfed babies cannot be overfed; putting your baby to the breast frequently is a way of spending time together or having a rest whenever either of you wants.

• Waking for breastfeeds during the night is normal, and very important for milk supply and comforting baby.

• Offering a breastfeed when when baby is distressed, fractious or appears lonely provides them
with reassurance. Breastfeeding can help settle baby after an immunisation, if baby is unwell or to reassure them in an unfamiliar environment.

• Try to avoid limiting feeds to fit into a routine as this can threaten your milk supply, and reduces
the chances of successful ongoing breastfeeding.

• If possible, avoid using a dummy until you and your baby are happy with breastfeeding (usually after your baby is at least one month old). This is because it may interfere with
learning how to properly latch on, and if your baby has a dummy in between feeds this may reduce how frequently they want to feed, meaning they don’t get as much milk as they should.

Seek support from the Health Visiting team by calling the Health Hub on
0300 555 0606, or visit our website at:
www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk/luton/childrens/services/infant-feeding

The Breastfeeding Friend, a digital tool from Start for Life, has lots of useful information and expert advice to share with you: www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/ feeding-your-baby/breastfeeding/

Expressing Breastmilk

Expressing milk means taking milk out of your breast by hand or using a pump. There are various reasons you may want to express milk such as:

•    If your baby is premature - you may not be able to breastfeed straight after birth, but they can have your expressed breast milk.

•    To boost your milk supply.

•    If your breasts feel uncomfortably full and baby is struggling to latch.

•    You are returning to work or study.

The NHS Start4Life pages provide lots of helpful information and advice on how to get breastfeeding off to a good start.

www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/feeding-your-baby/breastfeeding/expressing- your-breast-milk/expressing-breast-milk

If you have any worries or concerns, the best thing to do is speak to your health visitor or call the Health Hub: 0300 555 0606.

Responsive Bottle Feeding

The NHS Start4Life pages provide lots of helpful information and advice on bottle feeding. If you have any worries or concerns, the best thing to do is speak to your midwife or health visitor. www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/feeding-your-baby/bottle-feeding
Slings and Babywearing

Slings and Babywearing

Wearing and carrying your baby in a wrap or sling is a wonderful way to keep them close and support the development of their brain and body. It creates an environment of warmth, safety and containment and has many positive effects.

It is important to make sure you are wearing your baby safely and following the TICKS principles shown here.

For more information about why carrying your baby matters please visit www.carryingmatters.co.uk

Mythbusting

Baby Feeding

Your new baby’s tummy is tiny; about the size of a marble

This is because the first milk you make (colostrum) comes in very small quantities. All a baby needs is small and frequent feeds. The amount will gradually increase over the first few days and weeks. Colostrum is important as it contains antibodies to protect your baby from infection. It also has a laxative effect which helps baby clear its gut of the sticky meconium poo.

Baby will feed frequently in the first few days and appear hungry

This is your baby sending messages/signals to your breast to make more milk. Around three to four days your milk will “come in”, your breasts will often feel heavy and you may feel very emotional. This is normal and will settle within 24-48 hours, if you continue to feed baby whenever they ask and for as long as they want. Your body will know how much milk to make.

In the first few days your baby may lose some weight. This
is normal for all babies. If weight loss is more than expected, your midwife will discuss this with you and help you make
a plan to increase effective feeding. It is important that you continue to respond to your baby’s need for feeds (this is likely to be at least eight to twelve times in a 24 hour period) and as you make more milk, so baby will regain their weight.

Many babies will have a part of the day, often in the late afternoon or evening, when they show signs of hunger and will not settle other than on the breast for a period of several hours: this is known as cluster feeding.

Cluster feeding in the first few months is part of normal newborn behaviour and is not a sign that you do not have enough milk. In fact, this behaviour is your baby is building your milk supply, as well as using the comfort of the breast to calm after a stimulating day. Cluster feeding is an excellent way of setting up a superb milk supply, tailored to your baby’s requirements as they grow and develop.
Baby's Poos

In the first few days after birth your baby will pass meconium. This is a black, sticky, tar-like substance. As milk passes through their digestive system their nappies will become wetter and their poo will gradually transition from black, through dark green, to yellow. By days five to six your baby should be passing at least two soft yellow poos (the size of a £2 coin) and six heavy wet nappies every day. This pattern should continue up until around four to six weeks.

At different points in their development your baby will ask for more milk as well as wish to be at the breast for closeness and comfort. These periods are sometimes known as developmental leaps and for many babies they occur at around 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks, although timings can vary, especially for babies born early. Following your baby’s lead during these times will provide your baby with what they need as well as tailoring your milk supply.

Please note that giving formula at this time will interfere with the ‘supply and demand’ process of breastmilk production.
Baby Feeding Cues
Sharing a Bed With Your Baby

Bringing your baby into your bed means that you will be able to breastfeed in comfort. However, if you do decide to share a bed with your baby there are some very important points to consider:

•      If anyone in the bed has been smoking, drinking alcohol or taking drugs (prescription or illegal), do NOT bedshare.

•      The mattress you sleep on needs to be firm.

•      Keep pillows away from baby.

•      Make sure baby cannot fall out of bed or become entrapped between the mattress and the wall.

•      Make sure bedclothes do not cover baby's face or head.

•      Do not leave baby alone in the bed (even young babies can wriggle into dangerous positions).
•            Never sleep on the sofa with your baby
Caring for Your Baby at Sleep Times
Caring for your baby day and night (Safe Sleeping)

The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a cot, crib or moses basket in the same room as you during the day, or next to your bed at night for the first six months.

Night time feeds are easier if:

• Your baby is in the same room as you,

• You learn to breastfeed lying down.

Always put your baby on their back (also known as the supine position) for every sleep, day and night. This significantly reduces the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

Place them with their feet at the base of the cot/crib so that they cannot wriggle down under any sheets or blankets.

The cot should be kept clear of any items such as bumpers, soft toys and loose bedding. These all increase the risk of suffocation.
- No pillows or duvets
- No cot bumpers
- No soft toys
- No loose bedding
- No products (such as wedges or straps) that will keep your baby in one sleeping position.
Some of the information on this page is taken from the LullabyTrust website.

For further information about safer sleep - please visit:

www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice
Starting Solids

When to start?

Starting solids is an important time for influencing a child’s taste preferences and developing healthy behaviours. A baby is ready to start solid food at around six months. Before this time baby may not be developmentally ready.

There are three signs that a baby is developmentally ready to start solids.

1. They are able to sit unsupported and hold their head steady.

2. They can coordinate their eyes, hand and mouth so that they can look at the food, pick it up and put it in their mouth all by themselves.

3. They are able to swallow food - babies who are not ready will push the food back out so they get more round their face than they do in their mouths.

How to start?

•     Offer small amounts of food to start.

•     Listen to baby. Be led by your baby and never force feed or push them. Don’t be concerned if they do not seem interested.

•     Stay Calm. Babies will pick up on any anxiety. Make it a fun event allowing exploration through messy play.

What to start with?

•    Offer a variety of unprocessed foods.

•    Start with soft mashed foods and finger foods. There is no need to puree foods.

•    Include iron rich food for example pulses (beans, lentils and chickpeas), meat and poultry, fish, dark green vegetables, eggs and fortified cereals.

•    Avoid foods containing salt or sugar. It is important not to give babies foods and drinks high in salt or sugar. High sugar foods are particularly bad for babies teeth and will give baby a taste for high sugar foods later in life.

•    Milk remains the main source of nutrition for the first year of life.

Starting Solids sessions are run regularly by Flying Start in Luton.

The 1.5 hour session is for parents/carers of babies aged 3-6 months who have not yet started solids. This session will provide you with useful information on when, what and how to start introducing your baby to solid foods.

Flying Start also offer a follow up “Next Steps” session for parents of babies aged 6-12 months who have already started solids.

Please note booking is essential

For more information visit www.flyingstartluton.com/baby/feeding-and-nutrition

Tel: 01582 368245
Email: flyingstart@eyalliance.org.uk
Healthy Start

If you are pregnant or have children under four and are on benefits, or if you are pregnant and under the age of 18, you could qualify for Healthy Start.

With Healthy Start you will receive a prepaid card which is automatically topped up once a month. This money can be spent on:

•    Cow’s milk – whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed. It can be pasteurised, sterilised, long life or UHT,

•    Plain fresh or frozen fruit and veg (fruit and vegetables with no added ingredients), whole or chopped, packaged or loose,

•    Infant formula milk that says it can be used from birth and is based on cow’s milk.

Ask your health visitor or midwife for details or visit: www.healthystart.nhs.uk

Healthy Start Vitamins

Vitamins are recommended for all pregnant and breastfeeding women and children from birth until

5 years of age (for children who are having 500ml or more of formula a day these vitamins are not needed).

Vitamins are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts so that it can work properly. Even though you can get lots of vitamins from

a healthy balanced diet, you still might not get everything you need at certain times in your life – such as when you’re pregnant, a new mum or a small child. It is recommended that at these times you should take a supplement containing specific vitamins to make sure you get everything you need.

Ask your midwife or Health Visitor, or ring the Health HUB on 0300 555 0606, to find out how to get them in your area.
Five to Thrive
Your baby's brain grows better when you

Read to your baby regularly, even when they are very young, and use as many rhymes, poems or songs as you can. Simple rhymes and rhythms will hold their attention.
- Provide a running commentary on your own life. Tell your baby about colours, count the steps you climb or the socks and towels as you do the washing.
- As children get older, word play and jokes help develop verbal skills and social awareness.
Follow your child's lead- if you join in their game, you are telling them that their ideas and decisions are important.
- Try to ensure you spend some time outside every day.
- Explore shapes, colours and textures with your child. You could look at picture books together, or make simple toys and pictures with pens, paper, fabric, etc.
Try to end exciting play or activity sessions with a wind-down time in which you and your child can enjoy a few moments of calm.
- Try to have some time when you are just focused on the experience of being with your child, not on things you need to get done, or on people or events that have made you upset or angry.
- Try to relax into being a parent: the experience may be unfamiliar or even scary but following your baby's lead and your own instincts to care and comfort them will enable you to learn on the job.
Cuddle your baby as often as you like - babies can't have too much contact.
- Respect the space of infants as they grow older. There may be times when they don't want a cuddle but you should try to find other ways to provide reassuring contact.
- Toddlers love giving as well as receiving all these different types of physical contact.
Try to work out what your baby's crying means and meet their basic needs- warmth and comfort, food, a clean nappy, sleep.
- Pass your baby objects they are interested in (if they are safe).
- Older children need to practice sorting things out for themselves, so wait and see can be a good first response.
Perinatal Mental Health

A ‘perinatal’ mental health problem is one that you experience any time from becoming pregnant up to a year after you give birth, even if you have never experienced this before.

Having a baby is a big life event. It’s natural to experience a range of emotions during pregnancy and after giving birth. But if any difficult feelings start to have a big effect on your day-to-day life, the way you think, feel or function, you might be experiencing a perinatal mental health problem.

This may be a new mental health problem, or an episode of a problem you’ve experienced in the past; either way, your Health Visiting team (0300 555 0606) will want to know to be able to support you and your family and ensure that you get the right level of services to meet your needs. They will talk with you openly about your mental and emotional health and offer supportive advice and interventions where needed.

However you are feeling, you are not the only one so please share.
NHS National Support

If you need to speak to someone urgently you can call NHS 111 and choose option 2.

Other sources of urgent mental health support can be found here: www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent- help-for-mental-health

NHS Local Support

The Bedfordshire and Luton Perinatal Mental Health Team provides specialist care for people with mental health problems who are pregnant or in the first post-partum year, or who are considering pregnancy.

You can speak to your GP, midwife, Health Visitor or other healthcare professional to ask for a referral, or self-refer by calling 01234 263642. www.elft.nhs.uk/perinatal/where-we-work/bedfordshire-and-luton

Total Wellbeing Service

Total Wellbeing supports people living in Luton who want to improve their physical and emotional health. They are able to offer support during pregnancy, including with mental health and maintaining a healthy weight. You can self refer via the website, or call on 0300 555 4152. www.totalwellbeingluton.org

MIND

Mind are a mental health charity who provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Their Infoline (0300 123 3393) provides an information and signposting service 9am to

6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays). www.mind.org.uk

PANDAS

PANDAS is a community offering peer-to-peer support for you, your family and your network via telephone, text, social media, email and support groups. Their FREE Helpline (0808 1961 776) is available from 11am-10pm every day, with a dedicated volunteer team who can offer support and advice, and can help to direct you to other organisations, if necessary. www.pandasfoundation.org.uk

Samaritans

Samaritans are there for anyone who’s struggling to cope, who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure. You can call them on

116 123 any time of the day or night, and if you call the number will not come up on your phone bill. They also offer support via email, post or in person at one of their branches. www.samaritans.org
Dad Pad

DadPad is for fathers who want to provide their child with the very best start in life, whether you are about to become a parent for the first time, or want to ensure that you can still cover all bases with a new addition to your family during pregnancy, around birth and beyond. It can provide useful guidance during pregnancy and for fathers of babies and children up to the age of two. It’s particularly useful to have during paternity leave.

Developed in conjunction with the NHS, the DadPad will:

•    Help you develop the necessary mindset and practical skills, even if you have no experience.

•    Save you time by enabling you to quickly get to grips with your new responsibilities.

•    Reduce your anxiety and help you gain confidence, so that you can offer the help needed.

•    Give you the tools to provide the best support for your baby and your baby’s mum.

Information for this section is taken from DadPad: www.thedadpad.co.uk
Parents role in child development

Take time to getting to know your baby - this makes them feel safe and get to know the world around them.

•     Babies are not able to manage their feelings of upset and distress so are reliant on their parents to sooth and calm them by holding, rocking and cuddling.

•     Parents cannot spoil their babies by too many cuddles or too much skin to skin.

•     Parents can influence and support their baby’s brain development by singing, reading and playing, both before they are born and afterwards.

•     Having fun and noticing everything they do releases a cocktail of hormones in both parent and baby, which helps with bonding, and with attachment and the development of baby’s brain.
Understanding your mental health and emotional wellbeing

Everyone says how amazing becoming a parent is, but they often forget to mention how much like hard work it can feel sometimes.

•    Becoming a new parent can be stressful especially in the first few months. You are not alone - all new parents are in the same boat.

•    You do not have to do everything on you own, use your support network to ask for help.

•    Parenting means facing new challenges and experiences, you will become more confident each day - be kind to yourself.

•    It is vital that parents talk to each other. Try to tell each other how you feel so that you can support each other better. Parents have a crucial role in the healthy development of a baby, but it is not always easy, so please seek support and don’t bottle up your feelings.

•    Being a parent takes lots of energy - give yourself a head start by eating well and exercising.

•    Grab sleep whenever you can - nap when baby sleeps.
Flying Start Luton

Flying Start is a partnership approach to the delivery of services for families in Luton, with a focus on the antenatal period and the early years. The Early Years Alliance

and partners, working alongside local communities and parents, are committed to delivering the Flying Start vision and strategy and supporting children to have a flying start in life.

They provide a range of services for families to meet other families, support your role as a parent and support your baby’s development.

To see what services are available for you and your baby to access please visit the website: www.flyingstartluton.com

Phone: 01582 368245

Email: flyingstart@eyalliance.org.uk

Facebook: @FSLuton

Twitter: @FS_Luton

Instagram: @flyingstartluton
Tubes of Life
Safe at Home

Luton ‘Safe at Home’ is a child accident prevention service delivered through a local multi-agency partnership led by Flying Start & Bedfordshire Early Years Alliance in association with Public Health and Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service. The scheme provides a FREE service for families in Luton who are pregnant or have young children under the age of five.

They focus on the priority areas of common everyday accidents such as falls, poisoning or burns. Their aim is to help families protect their young children by reducing risks. Their safety advisers provide a trusted source of knowledge, advice and information.

All parents living in Luton with children under five can have a free home safety risk assessment. If you are over 34 weeks pregnant or already have a child/ren under the age of 5 years you can apply via:

www.safeathomecip.org.uk/apply-online or call 07553348485 email: safeathome@eyalliance.org.uk
Keeping Baby Safe Workshop

Safe at Home offer free monthly advice and support workshops to expecting and new parents in Luton, in a small group session. Those who attend and provide feedback receive a FREE child safety gift bag.

You will be offered top tips on how to make informed and safer choices when buying nursery equipment for your baby and learn important techniques on protecting your newborn in the early months of life. To book or find out more please email safeathome@eyalliance.org.uk with the following information:

•     Full name

•     Luton Home address

•     Email address

•     Telephone number

•     Expected Due Date (or baby’s Date of Birth)

Alternatively call the Flying Start Office: 01582 368245
Baby Check App - The Lullaby Trust

The Lullaby Trust has a Baby Check app which features 19 simple checks that parents can do if their baby is showing signs of illness. Each check tests for a different symptom and when completed, a score is calculated that tells parents or carers how ill their child is. It can provide useful guidance during pregnancy and for parents of babies and children up to the age of two.

Visit: www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/baby-check-app
Active Luton

Obesity and Risk in Pregnancy

Active Luton offers a Health Pregnancy Programme for pregnant people aged 13 or over with a BMI between 18.5 and 45. The Healthy Pregnancy Programme is here to support you achieve a healthier lifestyle for you and your baby.

Over six to eight sessions, they will provide healthy eating guidance and gentle maternity- appropriate exercise advice – suitable for post birth too! Sessions are delivered by nutritionists and pre-natal exercise instructors to ensure that they give you and your baby a healthy start.

You can self-refer via www.totalwellbeingluton.org or by calling 0300 555 4152.

Find out more about Active Luton’s offer for expectant parents here: www.activeluton.co.uk

Social Prescription

Social Prescription is designed to help people take control back of their lives and put people in touch with local services that can help them in a wide variety of ways.

If you’re experiencing any of the below, Total Wellbeing's Social Prescription programme may be able to help you.

•     Feeling lonely or isolated

•     Living with persistent low mood

•     Living with a long-term health condition

•     Struggling with a personal situation and don’t know where to go for support

•     Struggling with carer responsibilities

You can receive up to 12 weeks of funded access to different activities in your community, for example physical activity, social/support groups, creative groups, and advice from specialist services.

“From the moment we first spoke, I felt that you really cared about my situation and you gave me the time to talk, which was so important to me at that time. You were able to offer lots of suggestions to support my mental health and anxiety, and also practical ones, such as benefit websites, that I had been unaware of.”

How to find out about Social Prescription

•     Contact your GP and ask for a referral to your Social Prescription Link Worker

•     Call Total Wellbeing Luton on 0300 555 4152

•     Self-refer via: www.activeluton.co.uk/social-prescription