This course will cover many topics covering life with a new baby. I will share lots of useful information, my top tips on baby care, as well as information to help you take care of yourself after birth.

Life with a new baby can be wonderful and is certainly a life changing, and sometimes scary experience, as most of us have never cared for a new baby before. Unless we live with our extended families we don't grow up learning how to change nappies, feed and soothe babies. To many parents the birth of a baby also brings the shock of caring for a small human being who is totally dependent on you for his very survival 24/7. This is a huge responsibility for which we are mostly ill equipped.

Yes, we have maternal and paternal instincts, but we are also exposed to conflicting advice from our friends, family and internet information. This can lead to confusion and fear that we are not doing it right, or that others are doing it much better than us. Lack of sleep can add to our stressful state and make us prone to developing perinatal anxiety and depression. Postnatal depression actually affects about 10-15% of mothers and about 5% of fathers in the year after birth. So we need to learn to care for ourselves as well as our babies and reduce our risk factors for developing mental illness.

With good education and support we can prevent many cases of perinatal ill health, leading to improved outcomes for parents and their babies.

The information I share is research based, but I also draw on the evidence of my lived experience of helping families care for hundreds of babies throughout my career.

Disclaimer: The information shared in this course is intended for antenatal and postnatal education ,and is not medical advice. This information should not replace your usual maternity and paediatric care. Please discuss your plans and any worries with your care provider.