Hello Mamas and welcome back to the night feed. Tonight, I'm sharing some exciting news, de-influencing baby products and talking postpartum anxiety.
If you have anything you'd like to share or ask, please email thenightfeedpodcast@gmail.com.
Tonight’s unpaid sponsor is…forgetting the nappy bag. You do it once you neeeeever do it again. And it’s always when there’s a big nappy leakage isn’t it. It’s a humbling experience and one you won’t repeat.
So as you may have gathered from the title, I have some very exciting news to announce that I’ve been really excited to share with you! I am 15 weeks pregnant with our third baby and absolutely over the moon! We had the scan last week and all is well thankfully so we’ve been sharing the news this past week.
Jason and I are both one of three siblings so we’ve always liked the idea of having three but over the past year we have been toying with the idea of whether we get married before baby number three. However this came as a lovely surprise and we couldn’t be happier!
So in just a few months I’ll be back there with all of you mamas to new babies, up hourly during the night, not sleeping fuelled on coffee.To be fair I’m still up in the night with toddlers so I still feel like I’m in the throws of night waking just not as much.
I tell you what though i have my energy back now but our youngest is a little whirlwind. Today, I have spent it chasing her like a madwoman. We went to the supermarket to do the weekly shop and would she go in the trolley - hell nooooo. So I tried carrying her and then gave into her walking.
She was actually really helpful at first, lobbing cucumbers and various items into the trolley but then things went a bit awry when we got to the middle aisle. If you know Aldi you know the middle aisle. There was a humongous Bluey cuddly toy just waiting in prime position for her, almost making eye contact. Well that was it! Blueyyyy! She’s only 2 but she managed to manhandle that teddy out of the big metal basket it was pirched upon.
Managed to rescue the situation by using the old father christmas might bring it one liner. Oh and then tidying up later, did the bathroom, went to hoover our bedroom and there she was swinging the toilet brush round like it was a lasso…
She’s not a naughty child she’s just in that two year old exploration stage where everything is climbable, everything is throwable and everything is swingable.
And I was laughing with Jason as our eldest has always been quite still and content with reading or colouring so my pregnancy with our second was rather chill in comparison! But we move. Disney plus is a godsend in the afternoon when I feel like I could just nap. Whack on the Aristocats and sometimes we’re good for an hour and a half.
In other exciting news tonight, I told you that I was taking part in a charity dance competition (like strictly or dancing with the stars) I only went and won! Totally wasn’t expecting it - the result is based on the audience voting on the night and some of the other dancers had quite a few more guests there than me but yeah, I got the votes and it was like a dream!
I did the American Smooth to Cry me a river by Michael Buble, had a fushia pink backless dress and had my hair and make-up done, like real stage makeup = it felt like such a step out of the norm. So my reminder to you to push yourself out your comfort zone, find a new hobby or try something different just so you can dedicate time to you. It’ll make you feel wonderful!
Now onto the emails...
What is postpartum anxiety
"How to deal with postpartum anxiety? Stressing about everything with my baby boy who’s a month old. I don’t sleep and am constantly worrying.
Please help
Hannah"
Postpartum anxiety is a condition that can occur after giving birth and can cause excessive worrying and feelings of panic. Now I first heard about this when I listened to the Actress Kimberley Nixon on the Parenting Hell podcast. She spoke very openly about her experience and some of the harrowing thoughts she’d have. This was about 6 years ago when she suffered and there was nothing on this back then so she just blamed herself.
She said she would make her husband carry her baby down the stairs for her as she didn’t trust herself not to drop him, how she very rarely drove in case something happened. She hid knives in the kitchen, she just said how debilitating it was. But then she spoke to her GP and was told that it’s actually very common and help is available. I think she had therapy and came through feeling so much better - she’s raising awareness about this so it is worth looking her up and following her.
I think it’s worth considering that you’re only one month in. You’ll be completely sleep deprived which always makes things so much worse and as a first time mum this is all so new. You are going to overthink and worry I remember doing it myself. But if you think it is excessive and it is ruining your quality of life then definitely talk to a healthcare professional. In fact, talk to one anyway - they may put your worries to rest or refer you. It is worth it.
I found an article online about the treatment for Postpartum anxiety
In general, postpartum anxiety is less studied than its cousin postpartum depression; however, it is estimated that at least one in five women has postpartum anxiety. We do know that therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are excellent treatments for anxiety disorders, including OCD. For some women, medications can be helpful and are more effective when combined with therapy.
My very good friend works in perinatal care for new mums, in fact I should get her on the podcast as she works for the NHS and provides CBT. But I know she said there is help available through the NHS just not enough people know about it. So definitely reach out to your GP or health visitor who will be able to refer you. If you aren’t based in the UK as I’m not sure of your location, it is worth searching what help is available in your region.
I hope this helps you to find the support you need.
"Hi Charlotte,
I’m not sure if you have covered this on the podcast before but I’m currently 6 months pregnant and wondered if there are any baby products you regret buying?
Ooh yes, don’t be bullied by that ingenious marketing. There is so much of it and it will make you believe you need to spend thousands when you really don’t."
Ok number one - the tommy tippi nappy bin
Number 2 - I didn’t buy one but I’m telling you - a changing table. For the love of god, the about of people that talk about these and the necessity of them. I am not leaving the bed at 3am to walk to a changing table turn on a light and change the baby. Baby is staying on the bed with me and we’re doing a swift nappy change with a dim light. Eventually you’ll be able to do no light, trust me!
What I did was I bought a chest of drawers and just had a mat on there in case but I honestly never used it like that. I changed all of mine on my knee! That’s just me but it’s how I found it easiest.
Next isss…
Scented baby products - personally didn’t buy them myself but I know it’s not good to use them on their skin. Wipes definitely unscented. I did use water wipes for a while with my first coming in at about £3 a packet and then realised in my opinion Aldi’s 67p version does exactly the same!
One thing that also didn’t really work for me personally is the wrap sling. The ones that are really stretchy wrap pieces of material - they look super comfy and if you can figure it then kudos but even when I did it securely I just felt she was slipping down.
I did invest in the Baby Bjorn sling and that in my opinion was well worth it just for ease and comfort for baby.
But yes - those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.
Social Media Says
It’s spotify wrapped time Social media is allllllll over it - already that time of year. Shout if your’s is a mashup of baby lullaby’s, Disney Classics and Paw Patrol! Haha. I haven’t looked yet but I can tell you my top 5 song lineup will 100% be Shake it off, YMCA by the village people, CopaCobana by Barry Manilow, I wanna be like you from the Jungle Book and Bibiddi bobbidi boo. And no not my choices…
It’s like my wardrobe, my clothes are older than my children yet anytime I shop I shop for them. Anytime I play spotify I play it for them - and I wouldn’t change it. Just maybe a tad less shake it off, I love Taylor, but I hear that song in my sleep.
Mum Self care suggestion
Watch a cheeky little romantic Christmas movie in your pjs after a bath with all the chocolate, hot chocolate and snacks. Put your feet up and indulge in a bit of Hugh Grant as Prime minister or Cameron Diaz in a cottage or if you’re old school like me James Stewart doing some reflecting with a slice of Donna Reed. Did you get any of those?
Well enjoy anyway.
Finally to finish on a quote I wrote
It’s a lazy morning, Mama.The sun peeks through the curtains, but here we are, snuggled together in the big bed.
I know you’re thinking about all the things you need to do—the dishes in the sink, the laundry piling up, the emails waiting for your reply. I can feel the way your mind races, even as you pull me closer.
But then, you stop. You look down at me. You let out a deep sigh, and you stay.
Your to-do list can wait, and for now, it’s just us.
I feel the warmth of your skin as I nuzzle into you, the rhythm of your breath, the gentle brush of your fingers through my hair. To me, this isn’t lazy—it’s love.
I don’t care about the chores left undone, Mama. I care about this.Your smile when I catch your eye.The way you stroke my cheek and whisper, “It’s okay, baby, we’ll just take it slow today.”The way you hold me like I’m the most important thing in your world.
And to me? You are mine.
One day, these moments will feel like distant memories. You’ll wonder where the time went—how the days of cuddling in the big bed turned into busy mornings and full schedules.
But for now, Mama, let’s stay here just a little longer.The dishes will still be there, the world can wait.Because this is where I feel happiest—wrapped up in your love.
You’re doing everything you need to do, Mama. This is enough.You are enough.
We’ve got this.
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