24 New Families — Health & Finance


Crawling before walking


Parents may feel overwhelmed when their baby arrives. But there are ways to cope with the transition. Words: Annie Lewis


Becoming a mum for the first time can be daunting. Not only do you have a small human to care for 24/7, but your social life, career, routine and friendships are impacted by the new arrival. Many struggle with the transition from person to parent, a process increasingly known as matrescence. A study by the British Red Cross


found that 83 per cent of mothers under the age of 30 had feelings of loneliness, while another found that one in 10 struggled to bond with their new baby. Copious amounts of evidence suggest that first-time mums can feel overwhelmed and occasionally mourn their old lifestyle. But what’s the best way to navigate those feelings? “Give yourself time and don’t put


too much pressure on yourself,” says Anna Hammond, a postnatal practitioner at the National Childbirth Trust, a charity offering information and support in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood since 1956. “Part of becoming a mum is finding your


feet and getting to know your baby. Tis is the start of a lifelong relationship and you’re not going to get there straight away.”


A new you Hammond suggests incorporating elements of SPICES (an acronym used by NCT standing for social, physical, intellectual, creative, emotional and spiritual) into your everyday life to ensure your needs are being met. “If your baby is just a week old, you may go for a walk around the block, which is physical. If you go with your partner or a friend, that’s social. If you take a photo of a beautiful sunset, it becomes creative and if you have a hug it becomes emotional,” she explains, highlighting how each element helps stimulate and revive parts of your pre-baby self. Social lives are likely the first


to take a hit once your baby arrives. First-time mother Jodi Deeley-Lynch, from London, had her first baby, Mila-Mae, 15 months ago. “My life is different since having her,” she says.


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“I used to leave the house with just a bag and now I have about 101 things to take. [Everything] has to be a lot more planned now,” says the 22-year-old. Te time period for when mothers


feel comfortable leaving their baby to enjoy social events is different for everyone and Hammond stresses no parent should feel pressured to get their old life back. “Your old friends may still be going clubbing and you may not want to do that anymore,” she explains. “It’s not that you’ve lost your old self — you’ve gained a new one.”


Getting adjusted But for those who feel like they’ve lost their old routine, Jodi recommends prioritising self-care, especially at the beginning. “When your baby is asleep, have a bath, do a face mask and look after yourself.” Above all, Hammond wants to


ensure new parents don’t feel alone. “We know from evidence that there isn’t enough support and a lot of parents don’t get enough time with their GP at their six-week check. Half the people with mental illness never talk about it to anybody, so reaching out is often the first step to recovery and feeling safe. “A lot of mums are worried that


their baby will be taken away so they can be quite hesitant to come forward. But health professionals and organisations like NCT will always understand and are non-judgemental.” If you feel like you’re struggling


PART OF BECOMING A MUM IS FINDING YOUR FEET AND GETTING TO KNOW YOUR BABY/GETTY


or know someone who is, book an appointment with your GP or contact NCT (nct.org.uk) and MumsAid (mums-aid.org) for parenting advice.


The pair who dared to dream Faith-inspired baby products for modern Muslim families


In the bustling streets of London, a small family-owned brand is quietly making its mark in the parent and baby arena. Tis premium baby company, Once Upon a Dua (OUaD), is emerging as the world’s first Scan- dinavian-influenced, faith-inspired baby lifestyle brand. Te company has already amassed 21 awards and nominations with its collec- tion of products and designs that go beyond the ordinary, strength- ening its resolve to be recognised as a world-leading brand that positively impacts future generations. Founded by Ash and Jayda, OUaD’s


story began after the loss of their daughter. Faith played a pivotal role in shaping their journey of recovery and is the cornerstone of the brand’s philosophy. Jayda, a former mathe- matics teacher, decided to embrace her creative side amid many health challenges during her pregnancy. However, it was the loss of their daughter who, as Jayda put it, “was the pebble that sent ripples into the ocean”. With her husband Ash by her side, quitting his IT career to support her, they set off to make a meaningful impact on the world. “We had a dream — a dream to


inspire faith. We worked hard. We prayed hard. And we found ourselves moving mountains to achieve it!” said Ash. OUaD was created to inspire


conscious connections by encour- aging meaningful conversations


and infusing joy into busy family life. Every product at OUaD is a crea- tion of


love and dedication. From


super soft baby changing mats with faith-inspired quotes to heirloom quality hand-crafted keepsake dolls, the designs embrace Scandinavian aesthetics and promote faith and togetherness by bringing the entire family together. Te brand’s mission is to enrich the lives of modern Muslim families looking for exqui- site items that celebrate their values by creating moments of together- ness through considered design. “As parents and business owners,


we understood the frustration of trying to find baby gifts that were beautiful, meaningful and safe, so we created a highly giftable collec- tion that did just that,” said Jayda. With an adorable, joyous and


inspiring brand personality, OUaD offers not


just exquisite products and stylish designs, but an entire onceuponadua.com


experience of faith and love with an uncompromising stance on high quality and safety. So, in a fast-paced world, OUaD


invites you to slow down, dream big, make dua (prayer) and move moun- tains — for you, your family and future generations. Join the Once Upon a Dua family,


where faith inspires, love flourishes and beautiful conv ersations happen.


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