Ease any worries about the health of your newborn baby by arming yourself with brilliant information and facts from today’s final episode of our podcast.Joining us is Dr Laura Lenihan for a kind of FAQ session touching on so many of the questions asked by first-time mums. Not only is Dr Laura a practising GP but she is a mum to three so her advice is both reassuring and practical.  Things We Spoke About How your baby's routine will help you spot any problems When do you know what is ‘normal’ for YOUR baby   Three important red signals to watch out for The #1 Question from Baby Club Members Vomiting: what’s normal and what’s serious The difference between colic, reflux and what to do How to handle the top 3 baby skin issues: acne, nappy rash and cradle cap The best Irish website for advice OUR GUESTDr Laura Lenihan is a nationally known GP and mum of three children.  She is passionate about health education and regularly contributes expert medical and dermatological insights to Irish media outlets, covering women’s health, paediatrics, dermatology and skin care.  She obtained Membership of the Irish College of General Practitioners (MICGP) in July of 2020, having graduated with honours from the Graduate Entry School of Medicine at the University of Limerick in 2012.QUOTES“Get to know what’s normal, especially over the first couple of weeks and months. Getting to know their routine is super important” “Babies don't get really sick unless it's something like meningitis”“Use a digital thermometer with a slightly smaller tip you use under the armpit. In younger newborns, over 37.2 in the armpit is when you want to be aware that they have a temperature and get them checked out”“Keep it simple and don't freak out!” MORE INFORMATIONWebsite: drlauraclinic.ie Instagram: @drlauragp HSE Resource: https://www2.hse.ie/pregnancy-birth/newborns/Get lots more help, advice, and information with our Care Plus Baby Club. It’s easy and free to join at www.careplus.ie/babyclub  Care Plus Conversations is produced by dustpod.io and brought to you by Care Plus Pharmacy with outlets right across Ireland and at www.careplus.ieThank you for enjoying our podcast.

As you transition into becoming a mother, you will experience many highs and lows along the way, but sometimes you forget about the most important person of all - YOU. Let us help you avoid feeling burned out and keep everything bright. In this episode we give you ideas on how you can take time to look after yourself, so you can live the life you've dreamt of by embracing motherhood without compromising yourself. Our guide is mother, psychotherapist,  life coach and mindfulness teacher, Anne Morgan.Things We Spoke About: Is motherhood a big emotional shift or just an old wives' tale How your emotions and mental health change after birth Do baby blues last for long The important difference between Postnatal Depression and Postnatal Anxiety Issues and challenges when returning to work Why all babies are not the same Where to find your own support network and when to use it GUEST DETAILSAnne Morgan is a mother, psychotherapist, life coach and mindfulness teacher.  She holds a Master's Degree in Psychotherapy, works with young families within the school system and with new mothers as they transition into the role of primary caregiver.  Anne’s mission is to use her experience and qualifications to help new mothers reconnect with their inner-self, helping them to rediscover who they truly are while relying on their innate strengths and resources to navigate the emotional complexities of motherhood.QUOTES “Motherhood is unique to each individual so be prepared for anything, because anything can happen!”  “Don't wait until you feel overwhelmed to look at your support network. It’s better to start when things are going relatively okay” “The statistics say one in 10 for postnatal depression. I think it is closer to one in six.” “You're going back to the same job with a new brain.”   “A transition isn't just stepping into a new chapter. It involves an ending of the previous one”. MORE INFORMATIONSparkback Website: https://www.sparkback.ie/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkback.ie/?hl=enRecommended Book:  Birth Shock by Mia Scotlandhttps://www.amazon.com/Birth-Shock-Recover-Trauma-Healthy/dp/1780664958 Get lots more help, advice, and information with our Care Plus Baby Club. It’s easy and free to join at www.careplus.ie/babyclub  Care Plus Conversations is produced by dustpod.io and brought to you by Care Plus Pharmacy with outlets right across Ireland and at www.careplus.ieThank you for enjoying our podcast.

After the exhaustion of pregnancy and giving birth, your thoughts will turn to how well and how often your new-born will sleep? Is your baby sleeping enough or too much or at the right times of the day? You’ll definitely be wondering when you might get some sleep too!In this episode, you’ll hear expert advice from Erica Hargan  a mum to three children and a certified child’s sleep consultant who has worked with over 3,500 families to date.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT How will baby sleep the first few nights at home Sleep tips and where to get the ‘bible’ on all things sleep The best time for YOU to get some sleep too! Tips to share to help parents sleep How and when to start sleep routines for baby Why does everyone else’s baby sleep through the night  GUEST DETAILSErica Hargaden is Certified Child Sleep Consultant, a member of the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants and a mum of three. Her passion is helping parents to understand their children’s sleep and empower them to create settled sleep in their homes.  Erica really struggled with her first child's sleep and understands what today's parents go through when their little ones arrive.  She brings compassion and understanding to everything she does.Through her website babogue.com, Erica has worked with over 4,000 families in 35 different countries.  Her goal is to bring ‘The Gift of Sleep’ to as many families as humanly possible. QUOTES“Put the emphasis on “I'm going to go to bed” rather than I'm going to put on a wash, or I'm gonna have a cup of tea or I'm going to scroll on my phone for an hour. You need to make sure that you go to bed so when the baby is asleep, you are asleep.”“The less you put into the sleep environment, the better for the baby. Don't think that you need to have the Instagram perfect nursery setup, you don't.”“You don't need to be bamboozled with the science but enough to understand how to support your childs developing sleep patterns”“The transition to one nap a day is linked to when a child starts to walk”“You know your baby better than anyone so you need to trust your instincts. We've moved away from trusting our instincts. We’re more trusting of what our phones are telling us and what our apps are telling us. If it doesn't feel right to you, then it's not right”MORE INFORMATIONEircas Website: https://www.babogue.comInstagram: @babogue_sleepThe Infant Safe Sleep ‘Bible’: https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/safe-sleep/The American Academy of Pediatrics: https://www.aap.org/Get lots more help, advice, and information with our Care Plus Baby Club. It’s easy and free to join at www.careplus.ie/babyclub  Care Plus Conversations is produced by dustpod.io and brought to you by Care Plus Pharmacy with outlets right across Ireland and at www.careplus.ieThank you for enjoying our podcast.

Breastfeeding a newborn child is the most natural thing in the world, but sometimes it’s not so easy. When you’ve never done it before, there are many things you may wonder about.  Today, many mothers struggle with breastfeeding, receiving conflicting advice and feeling completely overwhelmed and lost. Occasionally, some mothers do not recognise the warning signs when breastfeeding is not going well and babies with large weight losses are still a frequent occurrence.Let us put your mind at rest with insights and advice from one of our best lactation consultants Katie Mugan from Nursing Mama where helping women with breastfeeding is her passion. Katie is an experienced/registered children’s nurse and also a mum to four children of her own.Things We Spoke About What your first ever breast-feeds feel like What is a “let down reflex” How to get a good latch Responsive or scheduled Feeding - which is better? Am I feeding the baby enough,  or too much? #1 reason why mums stop breast-feeding The pros and cons of under or oversupply of milk All about bottle feeding Where to get support GUEST DETAILSKatie Mugan is a registered children’s nurse and certified lactation consultant. Her specific interest in breastfeeding grew while working in Melbourne, where breastfeeding at hospitals was common. Inspired, she undertook the journey to becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and today helps women across the country with her one-to-one practice called Nursing MamaQUOTES“There are tough days, but they do get much easier” “There's no right and no wrong when it comes to breastfeeding or how often a baby feeds” “If you're hitting big challenges early on, look at specialist help. Sometimes it's easier to get things under control in the earlier stages rather than leaving them too long. It can have a much more positive impact on your breastfeeding journey” “You have to do what's right for you”. MORE INFORMATIONWebsite: NursingMama.ie  IG: @nursingmama.ieAssociation of Lactation Consultants in Ireland: www.alcireland.ie Get lots more help, advice, and information with our Care Plus Baby Club. It’s easy and free to join at www.careplus.ie/babyclub  Care Plus Conversations is produced by dustpod.io and brought to you by Care Plus Pharmacy with outlets right across Ireland and at www.careplus.ieThank you for enjoying our podcast.

It has often been said that when a baby is born, so is as a mother. However, due to the huge amount of attention and planning that goes into the physical process of giving birth, have you taken time to consider the challenges you may face directly after the birth of your child. A time we call the fourth trimester? As you will discover, the fourth trimester is a period of significant physical, mental and emotional development for your baby and you. In this episode, you’ll gain useful insights and advice on how to successfully navigate it.   TOPICS WE SPOKE ABOUT INCLUDE How becoming a mother can transform you in ways you don’t realise. How to manage and cope with sleep deprivation Dietary considerations  The challenges of breastfeeding  Managing inevitable changes in your relationship with partners, family or work Why you should feel good about asking for help  GUEST DETAILSLayla O’Mara is a busy mom who knows what it feels like to be left to work it out on your own. This is why she set up Nua Nua. Of course, Nua means new in Irish but also means rest⁠ in Hebrew and naked in Portuguese!  Every day Layla helps women navigate the transition into motherhood using the wisdom of the women who have gone before but translated for the world we live in today.⁠⁠She is a qualified and experienced postpartum doula, acupuncturist, Matrescence Facilitator and most importantly, a mum of three! QUOTES“We’ve been told since we were a little girls, that we can do anything we want. But when we bring motherhood into the equation, we can't do everything. We can be an astronaut but we can't do that while breastfeeding a baby!”“I was utterly changed by the experience of motherhood in a profoundly amazing way, but also a very unsettling way… I held both of those things with equal weight”“It's a transformation that affects every aspect of our lives, the physical, and how our bodies change, how we feel in our bodies, how our bodies are touched, how our bodies are engaged with by these little people that come into our lives on a mental level, an emotional level, an economic level, a spiritual level.”MORE INFORMATIONhttps://nuanua.com/https://www.instagram.com/nuanuaonline/?hl=en email: layla@nuanua.comGet lots more help, advice, and information with our Care Plus Baby Club. It’s easy and free to join at www.careplus.ie/babyclub  Care Plus Conversations is produced by dustpod.io and brought to you by Care Plus Pharmacy with outlets right across Ireland and at www.careplus.ieThank you for enjoying our podcast.

Let us help you through the scary firsts of parenting a new-born life with practical advice from the people that know. Our host, brand Director Lee-Ann Hyland, is a mom who knows only too well what you may be feeling because she has just been there too!In our first show, Lee-Ann chats with community midwife Áine Hennessy all about the final few weeks of pregnancy, leading up to the big day. They will shed light and reassurance on many questions and concerns almost every expectant mother will have about preparing for birth. You’ll hear about the importance of preparing mentally, as well as physically, for the birth of your child. The support you can expect and ask for from healthcare professionals, family & friends plus the best way to prepare your birth plan.   THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT INCLUDE Managing anxiety during pregnancy Accessing the proper support from healthcare professionals/family/friends Hypno-Birthing and Home Birth Making a birth plan and preparing to change if required Signs of labour and when to go to the hospital Essential items you will want to take with you Pain relief options during labour Advice regarding caesarean birth GUEST DETAILSÁine Hennessy is the founder of AH Midwifery which supports women and families just like you through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Áine spent time working across Ireland, the UK, and the UAE and brings a wealth of experience, stories and really sound advice to our podcast. She is qualified with a B.Sc in midwifery since 2013, with a huge range of experience from care during pregnancy, labour, birth and the immediate postnatal period.Her passion lies in empowering women and supporting them and their families to have the best experience during pregnancy and birth.QUOTES “...we normally say “birth preferences”… preferences are more realistic…because pregnancy and birth are so unpredictable” “...it's very rare for a woman to have home births, but our numbers have increased over the past couple of years” “...be aware that labor can be different for every single woman, but it can also be different for every different pregnancy”MORE INFORMATIONHospital Checklisthttps://www.careplus.ie/wellness/269-packing-your-hospital-bag-what-to-pack-for-labour-birthOther Links Mentionedhttps://www.ahmidwifery.com/ https://www.instagram.com/midwife_aine/ https://www.facebook.com/ahmidwifery/ http://communitymidwives.ie/ https://www2.hse.ie/pregnancy-birth/birth/giving-birth/ Get lots more help, advice, and information with our Care Plus Baby Club. It’s easy and free to join at www.careplus.ie/babyclub Care Plus Conversations is produced by dustpod.io and brought to you by Care Plus Pharmacy with outlets right across Ireland and at www.careplus.ie  Thank you for enjoying our podcast.

Lee-Ann Hyland shares what to expect with this special series on having a baby, how it will help new mums and the story behind how it came about.