Are You Ready?

How long did you spend planning your wedding?

How long did you spend planning and preparing for the birth of your baby and parenthood?

Five years ago this month the countdown was on. In a year we had planned our wedding and I was so excited.
​I remember the butterflies and the nerves just hoping everything would be perfect. Would the dress fit? Would Stuart like it? Would I walk too fast down the aisle? Would I say my vows without messing up my words? For months the saving was our focus, then colour schemes, hen and stag planning and ring buying was all we could think about. The venue took time to decide on too and we just couldn't wait to finally be Mr and Mrs.  
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The day was amazing and even the sun was shining that day. It was perfect!

The wedding preparation became our everything but it's not just preparing for a wedding day that is important. A marriage goes beyond that wedding day and preparation for a new life together and all the new times it will bring is also important. 
The time and effort everyone puts into their wedding planning is profound so if having a baby is one of the biggest times in our life why do so many people not make a plan. 

Lots of people think what's the point of making a plan because it could all go out the window on the day but I believe preparation is key.

To prepare in a way that makes you feel that you understand what is happening during labour and why things happen takes the fear aspect away and removes that feeling of the unknown. 
The wise hippo birthing programme gives you tools and techniques but beyond that it gives you knowledge and understanding and for me and my clients this is why I'm so passionate about what I do. 

To see a women go from anxious and frightened or scared of the unknown to being ready and excited to meet their baby is the biggest job satisfaction. 

I believe antenatal education is more than just about birth. 
It's necessary to prepare beyond that one day and it's about preparing for your new future.

On the 1st of May I had the pleasure to be at a Wise Hippo training day in Essex and found out more about one of the programmes launching later in the summer. I am so excited to tell you all about the Early Parenting Programme.

This will be so helpful for Expectant parents. This course is designed to be taught during maternity leave before the baby arrives. 

Once a baby arrives life gets busy. Nappies, feeds and sleep all seem to be the hot topics and actually having time in the first few weeks is really difficult. 
The old saying "sleep when baby sleeps" is what people tell you so in those early days it's not the best time to be trying to learn any new skills to help you feel equipped for life as a new parent.
The Early Parenting Programme will be the perfect solution and it will teach expectant parents so many new skills. 
During the course it will cover feeding, sleep, and lots of practical parent craft advice to make the transition so much smoother. Another aspect in the programme will be to teach new parents how to nurture and look after themselves too and self care usually becomes the last in the list of priorities however you can't look after someone else of you don't look after yourself first. ​

Parenthood has its challenges and there is no such thing as the perfect parent. When we get our babies home from the hospital they do not come with a manual or an instruction booklet and it's so easy to feel overwhelmed by the massive life adjustment.
By taking the time to learn new skills and gaining knowledge and understanding not just about the birth process but about life as a new parent and learning how to understand your baby you will feel calm, relaxed as you take on any new experience and ready to take each day as it comes with confidence.