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1. Breastfeeding covers: Options for discrete nursing

   April 22, 2024 2:50 pm Leave a Comment

   The journey of motherhood brings a host of joys and challenges, and for many new mums, breastfeeding in public can be one such challenge. Remember, nursing covers aren’t required for breastfeeding in public, but it can be intimidating, especially in the early days when nipple contortion is an unfortunate necessity. When you don’t always get the luxury of choosing to be somewhere quiet at feed times, cover-ups can help make the experience more discrete for you. They can also provide a calming atmosphere for your baby, and help them concentrate on the job at hand if they are prone to getting distracted during feeds.

   There are many on the market, but most will fall into one of these 3 styles; let’s explore the pros and cons of each option.

   Apron style breastfeeding covers

   With an adjustable strap that goes around your neck and material that drapes over your torso, apron-style cover-ups allow a customisable fit that will accommodate different body shapes and provide good coverage, so you can feel confident in your privacy whilst breastfeeding.

   • They allow you to see your baby: Many feature rigid neckline designs, which keep the top of the apron away from your chest and allow you to visualise latching, and maintain eye contact with your baby while nursing. This helps with bonding and connection between you and baby, and may make feeding a newborn easier when it’s not always straightforward and you need to keep an eye on the situation!

   • Ventilation: The rigid neckline also provides a bit of ventilation which you both may be grateful for in the hot summer months – it’s no fun for either of you if you’re uncomfortably sweaty.

   • Potentially less discreet: Because apron style covers are obviously breastfeeding covers, you may feel they draw attention to the act of breastfeeding rather than concealing it. Do remember though, breastfeeding in public should not be something to be ashamed of. It’s beautiful and natural – be proud.

   Click here for our favourite apron cover

   Scarf style breastfeeding covers

   Breastfeeding scarfs blend functionality with style, easily transitioning from a stylish accessory to a nursing aid without any effort. When worn, they are ready to use at any point during the day, and allow for very discrete feeding.

   • Often lightweight material: The soft and lightweight fabric of breastfeeding scarfs ensures comfort for the baby and breathability for the mother, making them useable all year round, but particularly useful in summer.

   • Can be hard to see baby underneath: A scarf will naturally conform to your baby’s shape. This can make seeing your baby underneath difficult if you want to keep your breast covered at the same time. Particularly with newborns, this can be cumbersome and awkward, potentially lead to moments of frustration when nursing in public.

   • Versatile design: The large swathes of material mean they can double up as sunshades, blankets, or even car seat covers, making them a practical choice for mums on the go.

   Here is a high recommended and well priced scarf

   Poncho style breastfeeding covers

   Unsurprisingly designed like a poncho, these have ample material to slip baby underneath to feed. They have pros and cons very similar to scarf style cover-ups. Available in many patterns, they can be worn as a stylish day-to-day top, always ready for those impromptu feeds. They are available in a variety of fabrics so you can tailor your choice to the season, ensuring comfort for you and your baby. The drawbacks are that you are unable to see your baby feed underneath them, so they are best suited for established breastfeeding rather than newborns who may need your time and help to latch on and maintain feeding.

   Here is our favourite poncho

   Conclusion

   Using a breastfeeding cover can help you feed modestly, allowing you to feel confident to breastfeed in public. They can also be incredibly versatile, and you may find your preference (and that of your baby!) changes with time. There are many different options available, and the best one for you will be a very personal choice. You may find having good visibility of your baby makes feeding a newborn easier. Established breast feeders will generally cope with more versatile options, but you still need to consider the practicality, the preference of you and your baby, and the season, when making your choice.

   You can use a cover-up for as long as you want in your breastfeeding journey, but as breastfeeding becomes more familiar and easier over time, you may feel the need for a cover diminishes. Ultimately, the most important factor is that both you and baby are comfortable and able to breastfeed successfully.

   References:

   The 7 Best Nursing Covers for Breastfeeding Moms (gentlenursery.com)

   How to Use Breastfeeding Cover: Discreet Nursing – Health 4 Littles

   Author

   This article has been written by Sophie Platt

   Sophie lives with her husband, two young girls (Megan and Jessica), and their daft spaniel, Louie. While her post-natal journey with Megan was very typical, Jess was born 2 months prematurely, with a congenital heart defect and Down Syndrome, giving Sophie first-hand experience dealing with a wide range of circumstances. When she’s not wearing her ‘mum’ hat, Sophie works as a small animal Veterinary Surgeon, and enjoys dabbling with some veterinary and medical writing in addition to her clinical work.

   

2. Beating the Incontinence Stigma: The Best Postpartum Pads and Pants 2024

   March 18, 2024 6:01 pm Comments Off on Beating the Incontinence Stigma: The Best Postpartum Pads and Pants 2024

   A lot of mums feel embarrassed about the changes in their bodies after giving birth, but they shouldn’t.

   1 in 3 women experience urinary incontinence, and studies show that 10% of mums suffer with bowel incontinence after giving birth. Embarrassment has led those suffering with incontinence to not report their symptoms. The National Childbirth Trust reports that 38% of mums who suffer with incontinence admit they were reluctant to speak to their GP at first about the symptoms associated with it.

   Incontinence and the shame around it is so common among both new (and experienced) mums that the MASIC Foundation have gathered stories from those suffering with it. Many women share how they feel“ unclean, degraded, unhappy and isolated” when suffering with their symptoms, and Luce Brett (author of PMSL) shared how mums shouldn’t hide away when it comes to expressing how they feel.

   But, just because it’s not often spoken about does not mean it doesn’t happen!

   So, why does it happen?

   It makes sense that urinary incontinence and/or bowel incontinence symptoms arise due to the toll of childbirth and pregnancy on the body. Your pelvic floor muscles (which support your bladder, uterus, and rectum) can become weakened during pregnancy due to the weight of your growing baby, and during delivery as your baby passes through the birth canal.

   

   

   Due to the stress on your pelvic floor muscles before and after birth, the pressure on your bladder may lead to it leaking without your intention – e.g. when laughing, coughing, or moving suddenly such as during exercise. It is possible to experience a greater urgency to wee, or a mixture of both stress and urgency on the bladder.

   Bowel incontinence is common because during the process of labour, pushing can harm the muscles that open and close your bowels. Signs that you may be experiencing bowel incontinence include: finding it difficult to hold in poo when you need to go, passing wind without intention, or you may be noticing stains in your underwear as a result of either factors.

   The Mumie app contains loads of resources around incontinence of the bladder and bowels, plus lots of other taboo topics like prolapse and even the best way to poo for your pelvic floor. Sign up using the link here.

   There are ways to alleviate both the pains and discomfort of incontinence during your postnatal period and beyond.

   To start you off, we’ve done the homework for you and have put together a variety of incontinence pads and pants available across a range of needs:

   For those with heavy flows:

   

   Abena premium | Single-use | £4.99 for 15 on Amazon

   

   Budget:

   Boots Ultra Slim Maternity Towels 12s | Single-use | Winged | £1.55 at Boots

   Best for night-time

   

   Always Discreet Incontinence Pads Plus Woman Ultimate Night X 12 | Single-use | Not winged | £4.89 (Boots)

   

   Budget:

   Boots Everyday Maxi-Towels Night 10s | Single-use | Not winged | £0.90 from Boots

   For those who have sensitive skin:

   

   TENA Lights Sensitive Ultra Pads (16 pack) | Single-use | Not winged | £2.99 Superdrug (on offer £2.50 as of 18/3/24) or £34.99 for 8 packs of 16 on Amazon

   Best discreet

   

   TENA Discreet Extra Incontinence Pads for Bladder Weakness 10pk | Single-use | Not winged | £2.55 Boots (26p per pad) or £14.40 for 72pc multipack at Amazon

   

   Budget:

   Always Discreet Sensitive Bladder Pads Plus Women Long x20 | Single Use | Not Winged | £4.89 for 20 (24p per pad) at Boots

   Best long-term/reusable

   

   Cheeky – Cotton Cloth Reusable Period & Pee Pads for Night or Maternity- £6.49 (currently on offer for £3.89 as of 18/3/24)

   

   Marks & Spencer 3PK Heavy Absorbency Full Briefs £16.00 (£5.30 each)

   Best for bowel incontinence

   

   Staydry Extra Plus Pads | 10pk | Single Use | Boots £2.29

   Managing your symptoms

   If you are suffering from incontinence, the NHS recommends starting with exercising your pelvic floor muscles. There are a range of resources online to help you with pelvic floor exercises, with full instruction provided in the Mumie app, videos on Youtube, and specialist apps such as NHS recommended ‘Squeezy’.

   Sometimes lifestyle changes are recommended to alleviate symptoms, such as diet changes, and reducing alcohol and caffeine where appropriate.

   Don’t forget to contact your GP

   It is typical to experience incontinence within the first few weeks after birth, but some women experience certain symptoms for longer. Incontinence is unfortunately common after having a baby, but should never be accepted as “normal.” Be sure to check in with your GP if you have concerns about ongoing, worsening or unusual accompanying symptoms. It’s important to remember that incontinence is a treatable condition in most cases.

   

   Tayla Halfacre is a Writer, Director and Editor. Her work often centres gender, sexuality, and social impact. She has published poetry in Cobra Milk and has poetry forthcoming with Carrion Press. In 2022 she was selected to be part of the Writer’s Lab with BFI Network X Northampton Film Festival, and selected to develop her play ‘Lesbian Line’ based on the community support landline by The Masque Theatre and Playhouse Theatre. She is interested in reducing stigmas and raising awareness around women’s health.

3. International Women’s Day 2024: Inspiring Inclusion for New Mums

   March 8, 2024 9:14 am Comments Off on International Women’s Day 2024: Inspiring Inclusion for New Mums

   

   International Women’s Day marks an occasion for collective global activism as we celebrate the fight towards a gender equal world. The campaign theme for IWD 2024 is Inspire Inclusion. Today the world pauses to reflect on the experiences of women everywhere, and this year, Mumie want to continue raising our voices in encouraging the discussion of postnatal journeys.

   Often we find that the mother’s story after giving birth goes missing in the narrative. It’s important we raise awareness of postnatal experiences and work together to ensure that new mums feel heard, understood, included and valued, today and every day.

   Understanding maternal mental health

   Although as a society we are starting to talk more openly about mental health, there is still a lot more work to be done in normalising the conversation, and this includes discussion of perinatal mental illness, which affects up to 27% of new and expectant mums.

   It’s very natural to experience a range of emotions during pregnancy and after giving birth. After all, this is a huge life event. But when this starts to impact day to day life, it’s time to seek help and advice from your GP or health visitor. There is already a reasonable level of awareness of postnatal depression, but it’s well recognised that many women go undiagnosed. Although the ‘baby blues’ is considered normal in the first two weeks after giving birth, when feelings of sadness, low mood and lack of energy persist, it is important to talk to someone. Often women do not realise they have postnatal depression, or they may not want to speak up about these issues, for fear of judgement. As a society we need to ensure mums feel confident in raising these issues and looking after their mental health after giving birth.

   There are other postnatal mental health issues that are not as often discussed, and it’s important to raise awareness. These include postnatal anxiety, which involves feelings of unease, worry or fear, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which involves obsessive and compulsive symptoms, as well as difficult intrusive thoughts that affect daily life, and postnatal PTSD, also known as birth trauma, which develops because of traumatic events during childbirth. It can be difficult to unpick what might be happening, which is why the Mumie app includes a symptom checker to help explore and understand why you might be feeling the way you are, and guide you to the right help.

   Remember that there is support available. As a new mum it is not your fault you feel this way, and it does not mean you are a ‘bad mother’. Being open and honest if you are struggling is the bravest thing you can do for yourself and your baby.

   Let’s keep talking about perinatal mental health as often as we can, to increase societal awareness and normalise mum mental health. Find out more in our blog on maternal mental health.

   Breastfeeding in public

   Firstly, if you are breastfeeding your baby, you should do so wherever you feel most comfortable. If that means you’d rather breastfeed your baby in private, with no one else around, that is totally acceptable.

   As you start getting more confident, you may feel open to breastfeeding in front of other people, in public spaces. There is a lot more inclusion and acceptance of breastfeeding in public such as in cafés, shopping centres and on public transport, but there is still more work to be done. NHS guidance encourages breastfeeding women to:

   • Know your rights. It’s illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding woman to leave a public space.
   • Plan ahead. Have a think about where you will feel most comfortable breastfeeding when you are out. This is something you can discuss at a local breastfeeding group, or chat to your midwife or heath visitor about.
   • Consider your clothes and bra. This depends on what you feel most comfortable in, and whether you prefer loose or stretchy tops. You can also consider wearing a breastfeeding bra (we love Cake Maternity – get 15% off selected collections with code MUMIEH15) or a baby sling which allows you to breastfeed while baby is in the sling. We’ve tried the Ergobaby Omni 360 sling which once you crack it, makes breastfeeding on the go a breeze.
   • Take someone with you. If you’d rather not be alone when you go out, bring someone with you, like a friend with an older baby who knows where to go, or your partner or mum.
   • Avoid public toilets. Do not let anyone make you feel like you have to go into public loos to feed your baby.

   Breastfeeding is a beautiful, natural process and no woman should be made to feel ashamed or discriminated against when feeding their baby in public.

   Breastfeeding and going back to work

   Although some women may have a longer maternity leave, others may return to work. This is a topic that needs to be more openly discussed, as it is often believed that returning to employment means you have to stop breastfeeding. In fact, return to work is often cited as the most common reason a mother will end her breastfeeding journey prematurely. However this needn’t be the case; there are lots of options.

   Whilst some women may arrange childcare close to work so that they can breastfeed during breaks, or before and after work, others may express breast milk by hand or using a pump so that someone else can feed their baby while they are at work. We recommend the Elvie wearable breast pump for collecting on the go or for a more traditional pump we have found the Medela Swing Maxi Double comfortable and efficient to minimise your pumping time!

   However, employers do have certain legal obligations to breastfeeding mothers. You should give your employer written notification that you are breastfeeding. They must then conduct a risk assessment, and by law they must provide suitable facilities where you can rest. It is good practice for employers to provide a private, healthy and safe environment for you to express and store milk. This should be a clean, warm, private room, not the toilet. Some employers have a breastfeeding policy, and this can include provisions such as a break allowance to express milk, a secure and clean fridge for storage, and flexible working hours.

   Get in touch with your HR department and discuss your options early, and have a read of our blog on making breastfeeding at work, work. This is an important conversation for new mums to have, and you should always feel comfortable, included and supported by your employer, and in no way at a disadvantage. You should not feel you have to stop breastfeeding just because you are returning to work.

   ‘Mum shaming’ and ‘bounce-back’ culture

   Social media platforms such as Instagram have given way to the concept of ‘idealised motherhood’ or ‘picture-perfect motherhood.’ This can be dangerous for new mums, with research finding that nearly two-thirds of mums surveyed agree they have driven themselves to exhaustion with the pressure to be ‘supermum’, and one in five saying the plight has affected their mental health.

   Comparing yourself to other mothers and trying to meet unrealistic standards can cause feelings of guilt and high levels of stress. Fear of judgement and others seeing imperfections, and not prioritizing guilt-free downtime, are all a result of pressure to be ‘supermum’.

   The modern mother is not only expected to ‘naturally’ excel at parenting, but to also look great while doing so. ‘Bounce-back’ culture puts unnecessary pressure on mums to ‘get back in shape’ and return to ‘pre-baby bodies’ as soon as possible – once the baby is born, the media messaging is not to rest and recover, but to snap back into the bodies and behaviours you had before getting pregnant. This is a dangerous narrative, and society’s treatment of the modern mother has to change. ‘Mum shaming’ is not acceptable in today’s world – there must be understanding, inclusion and compassion for mums whose bodies and minds have been through so much, and who are simply trying their best for their new baby each and every day.

   To mums – be kind to yourself. You are doing your very best, and it’s okay to remind others of that if you feel anyone is pressuring you to ‘bounce back’. Be honest about how you are feeling, look after yourself and love who you are now, with your precious new baby that you couldn’t have brought into the world without such a strong body and mind.

   Let’s keep the conversation going

   There is empowerment in not only inspiring others to understand the experience of a new mum, but also in seeing women themselves feeling inspired to be included, and taking control of their own relevance and sense of belonging.

   Let’s raise awareness of mums’ lives after they welcome their baby into the world, so we can keep the conversation moving, open up understanding of the range of postnatal experiences, and inspire the inclusion that all new mothers deserve.

   

   Karen McCusker is a Copywriter from Ireland, with a passion for creating meaningful connections with others through language. Her goal is to amplify women’s voices and experiences through her writing. She describes herself as a storyteller at heart, and the ultimate “Swiftie”