Bond with your baby before they are born

By 24 weeks your unborn baby can hear sounds from outside. This means for most of the pregnancy, your baby can hear your voice.  They will know who you are and already be bonding with you.

Once Baby is born, when you talk to her, she will recognise and respond to your voice from the times she heard it during pregnancy. Therefore, obviously the more she has heard you speaking during pregnancy, once she is here your voice will be more familiar to her. This is brilliant in terms of being able to calm her when she arrives –making it easier for you to calm and soothe her when she is here in your arms.

Attend antenatal appointments

As long as your partner is happy with you being there, attend as many of these as you can. The antenatal scans in particular are a great opportunity to see your baby and how they are growing. They will help you start to visualise your baby and bonding with them. As men, we find it hard to attach to things we can’t see, hear or touch.

 Find and go to antenatal classes which suit you both

You and your partner should have a chat about what kind of birth preparations you would like to do, as there are a wide range of antenatal classes now available to help you prepare for the kind of birth you would like to have.  Research what classes that are available in your area and make sure you attend the ones that suit how you feel the about your birth – if you are hoping to have a birth without using medical drugs, then it makes sense to attend a class which specifically teaches ways of making this more likely through learning specific techniques and skills.

Have a birth plan

Ignore those that tell you ‘there is no point having a birth plan’ as this simply isn’t true. Work on your birth plan together and research the choices available. Trust me, there are more decisions available to be made in relation to pregnancy and birth that you can probably imagine.

From where you would prefer your baby to be born, to whether you would like delayed cord clamping after the birth – a birth plan isn’t all about pain relief or type of birth. Your role is to try and support, as far as is reasonably possible, the birth plan to be heard but you can only fulfill this role, if you have a plan to start with.

Take as much paternity leave as you can  

Paternity leave is always something I don’t think many of us give enough consideration to in the build up to the birth of our children. Start planning early, talk to your employer and see how flexible they will be. Legally, we are entitled to two weeks paternity leave on the birth of our child, but think about extending this by using holiday entitlement.

So many of us dads are left with a hollow feeling when it is time to return to work and mums can suddenly feel very lonely and overwhelmed that all of a sudden they will be on their own.

If you do have to return to work soon after the birth, make sure you stay in touch with mum, ring her each day to see how she and baby are doing, and see if there is anything you can do on the way home. On that first day you are away, take her home some chocolates or flowers, so she knows you have been thinking of her.

Dean Beaumont is founder of the award-winning antenatal programme for men, DaddyNatal and author of The Expectant Dad’s Handbook – come and get your copy at The Baby Show, Birmingham NEC.

A first trip away with a baby is a special and exciting time but there’s no denying it can be stressful as well. Chicco, the leading baby multi-specialist, share their top tips for travelling with a baby.

• Take a stroller or travel system that is practical for a family on-the-move. Chicco’s Lite Way Plus Travel System is compact and light, but still offers comfort and protection for your little one.

• Pack a small bag of your child’s favourite toys and books, alongside some new ones that can be discovered on your journey. Chicco’s Bilingual ABC range of toys are great to keep your child entertained in the car, whilst encouraging development of their linguistic, cognitive and creative skills.
• Take a travel highchair with you, as not all hotels, restaurants or self-catering places provide them. Chicco offers a handy booster seat that allows baby to be a part of mealtimes. The MoDe Booster Seat is height adjustable, easy to clean and folds up neatly with a carry strap.
• Pack a baby carrier to keep your hands free. Chicco’s You & Me Baby Carrier has been developed by a team of international ergonomic experts, not only offering both security and safety for baby but maximum comfort for the parent.

Join the Chicco team at stand O50 and fill in an entry card for a chance to win £250 of Chicco products.

Another thing, and I won’t hide this one, is becoming a cloth nappy user can be a bit of an addiction. So many beautiful colours, designs and brands you just cannot help yourself at times. But don’t worry I’m here to give you the top five nappies you can find at The Baby Show NEC that are super cute, easy to use, light on your wallet and even worth you giving night time cloth a go too!

gNappies – Stand M18
gNappies are a sized nappy which comes with an outer case and then a waterproof breathable pouch. The pouch holds the insert and the bonus of gNappies is you have the option to use cotton inserts to reusable over and over again OR disposable ones. You may think that’s odd to go cloth and use disposable inserts but gNappies disposable inserts decompose faster than a banana skin! You will have to buy different sizes as your child grows but the bonus is they will fit perfectly and if you’ve not had a leak then you can just place a clean pouch and insert in to the outer part of the nappy and use it again!

Fuzzibunz Perfect Size – Stand M30
The Fuzzibunz Perfect Size nappy is simple to use and will give a nice slim fit. If you are looking for quick drying and easy to use then this could be the nappy for you and your little one. You can choose from an assortment of colours that suit girls, boys and even unisex for those who are having a surprise.

Close Parent Pop-in – Stand K26
A one-size nappy which means usually it will fit from birth to potty age. The Pop-in comes in a choice of minkee or bamboo inserts with the minkee being quick drying and bamboo being great for big wetters. Close Parent also do a night time booster which you can add to your Pop-in nappy to make it a night nappy and have the option of all sorts of lovely colours and 4 different prints.

Tots Bots Bamboozle Stretchies – Stand M10
A two part nappy which means this requires a wrap, something Tots Bots also sell. Bamboozle Stretchies come in different sizes and colours but all of them are made with bamboo and this is why I have picked this nappy on this list and recommend it as a night time nappy. You can also buy bamboo boosters but chances are you’ll find the nappy and the insert it comes with to survive a night with no problems.

Bum Genius Freetime – Stand K20
I have chosen this nappy for this list because it’s a great example of how easy cloth nappies are. No need to worry about the inserts as they are sewn in to the nappy and you can change the size or turn them over to have extra absorbency in the middle, back or front. This is a one-size nappy so will last a good long time and not only comes in so many colours and designs but also have the option of aplix (which is like Velcro) or poppers depending what you prefer.

See the full list of Exhibitors that will be at the NEC here

Kate Middleton

The bump is starting to show now! The Duchess visited a Manchester primary school last week wearing a rather fitted print design dress from Erdem complimented by a pair of simple, dark-blue pumps. 

 Coleen Rooney

Mrs Wayne Rooney has always been devilishly stylish when pregnant and it was certainly the case again this last week. In a photo taken from the Liverpudlian’s photo-shoot with Littlewoods – for whom she is designing a babywear range – the mother of 1 looked chic as ever in a black animal print collared LBD.

Rochelle Williams

The Saturdays singer Rochelle Williams is always on point and that hasn’t changed since her pregnancy.  Pictured out in London, Rochelle looked effortlessly stylish in an ASOS mesh contrast skater dress.

The method centres on parents being able to recognise when their baby is about ready to ‘eliminate’ and to take them to the bathroom accordingly.

Advocates of EC or ‘Diaper Free Baby’ as many in the US refer to it – where it’s actually already rather popular – see the method as a way to strengthen the parent/child relationship by creating even greater understanding from birth, and many see it as a way to accelerate a sense of independence in their child too.

But is it really a practical approach? Yes the notion of having a nappy-free new-born may be nice, but surely the realities would be much tougher? Even greater attention required? More chance of accidents when out-and-about? Such a time intensive process to start?

Watch the clip here and tell us your thoughts below…

It’s here! Peppa Pig World, a UK exclusive and world first – Peppa Pig ‘s very own theme par, with 7 fun rides and attractions!!

For your chance to WIN a Family Day Out to the all new and super fabulous Peppa Pig World, simply Share and Comment on The Baby Show’s Facebook post promoting the competition!

To do so, click here!

#winwednesday

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Quote TM002 to save over 35% on standard tickets prices!

And if you’ve already bought tickets to the show in May, do not fear… you’re automatically entered too!

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DUPLO® Valley, a brand new land at LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort will be opening in May.

There will be exhilarating water play in the DUPLO® Splash Safari where rangers large and small will discover their favourite supersized DUPLO animals. Also new in DUPLO Valley, Drench Towers, a truly unique and by far the largest outdoor water play structure in the UK! Are you brave enough to face the mighty surge from the giant tipping DUPLO brick?

There is plenty to explore in Brickville, our all new interactive play village. Fight fires at the Brickville Fire Station or bake cakes at our Clown’s Cake Shop.

Visit www.LEGOLAND.co.uk for more information.

Fergie

The Black Eyed Peas star, married to Hollywood heartthrob Josh Duhamel, looked stunning in this relaxed yellow print number, set off nicely with chunky glasses, black-rimmed hat and bag to match!

Danielle Lloyd

Mum-of-two and senior WAG Danielle Lloyd is a regular in our Bump Watch, but she’s dressed down here. Sporting a fab printed onesie, the former Miss England winner was enjoying a girly night in with friends when she shared this bump pic on twitter!

Halle Berry

Oscar Winner Halle Berry has finally confirmed rumours that her and fiance Olivier Martnez are expecting their first child. Snapped soon after the news broke, the Monster’s Ball actress looked radiant in her dark layered tops, ankle boots and standard jumbo shades.

Leading a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy – exercising, eating a balanced diet, avoiding stress  – all these can potentially help pregnancies take a smoother cause but now research shows that practising yoga whilst pregnant may trump them all.

New research shows those having hourly sessions (3-times-a-week) of the flexible fitness session were less likely to incur high-blood pressure and diabetes from their pregnancy.  Also, the number of premature births was much lower in the women who had yoga classes than those who did not.

The study conducted for the Preventative Medical Journal revealed that regular yoga sessions could reduce the number of complications occurring in high-risk pregnancies.  Undertaken in India, 68 high-risk pregnant women were recruited from two maternity hospitals in the city of Bengaluru with one half having yoga classes and the other having regular antenatal activities during weeks 12 -28 of gestation.

Although the benefits of Yoga upon normal pregnancies has been noted in the past – relaxes the body and reduces stress – this latest research shows how it could be beneficial during more high-risk births. Did any of you take Yoga classes during your pregnancy, if so how useful was it?

Mums-to-be, new mums, old mums, grandparents, reluctant boyfriends, whoever it may be, ‘One Born’ watchers are everywhere. And with the likes of Bedtime Live!, Home Delivery & Call the Midwife all surfing the Baby Boom wave, it is the long-running Channel 4 programme that has become the television torchbearer for the nation’s current Baby phenomena.

It’s documenting of ordinary people’s extraordinary experiences resonates with viewers and witnessing such emotive moments, seeing families extended and new additions arrive, clearly impacts those watching. Creating debate and a community, One Born or rather #oneborn, has now become another source of support for watching mums-to-be worrying about their own pregnancies, giving them a platform to share, discuss and witness the experiences of others.

“It really is like a new support network for mums. There were a couple of mums that I got into conversation with on twitter, that were so glad that they’d seen the way that I’d laboured because it doesn’t look as traumatic now, they were so happy that they could see another side to it.” These are the words of Kirri, featured on episode 12 of the show giving birth to 9lb 10oz Finley, she is one of the many women whose births has helped create that support network and whose experience has been transmitted in to living rooms around the country, The Baby Show caught up with the new mum of two from Leeds to get the inside track on all things One Born.

Family Fun! Kirri with fiancé Brendan, 2-year-old daughter Amelia and new arrival Finley

Firstly, how was it watching the episode back again, how did it feel actually seeing yourself giving birth?

“When you’re giving birth you don’t remember and you don’t have fresh eyes on it. When you actually get to see your baby being born it’s just amazing. It’s like with the scans and everything, Brendan [Kirri’s fiancé] got to see everything first. He’s not the one laying there with his head at a funny angle.

. It’s the same with labour, from his perspective he’s just got a sore hand because I’m squeezing so tight but other than that he gets off lightly and gets to watch everything unfold.

And you forget that people that are watching it aren’t watching it because they know you, they’re watching it because you’re giving birth and to see how you give birth.”

You were remarkably calm throughout the whole labour. How!?

“I had to be. The first time I was in labour I remember losing it a few times and just being really pathetic. I had a word with myself this time to say ‘don’t be getting silly’ – there was a mantra in my head saying ‘this one is coming out quicker – I’m not having all that messing about again.’

Also I think it was down to the fact that I’d done it before so I knew what was coming – there were no surprises. I’d tell myself ‘it doesn’t hurt that much’, it’s all in my mind – anything that’s out my control is out my control.”

How did you come to appear on the show – were you a big fan before?

Well I watched the show when it was in Southampton then when it came to Leeds I was really excited. So when I realised there was an opportunity to be on it, I dragged Brendan along for the ride!

After picking up a flyer in Mothercare I emailed the show but hadn’t heard anything back. But when I went to see my local midwife there was a representative from Dragonfly [the programme’s productions company] there and she just went through it all.

They came round the week after and did an informal interview with us and next thing we know they were bringing the camera crew over!”

Having a film crew at the birth of your child must have seemed a little strange at first…

“It was a little strange at times. Usually there are just fixed cameras in the rooms but because they were finishing filming for the series they weren’t there so they explained it would be two people filming in our room instead!

I think the weirdest thing was that there was one guy on the crew as well, so the rest were women and the one guy was potentially going to film our labour.”

Did you ever forget they were there?

“We kind of did yes. There’s quite a lot of it that I didn’t remember until seeing it again. Some of the conversations we had “I’m like did we really speak like that – what were we even talking about!

There were certain points when you remembered because one of them was clearly getting a bit bored because I was induced so it was quite a long wait before anything started happening. I think one of them was stood behind the camera reading one of my magazines!”

The midwives always come across so friendly and funny on the show. How important were they for you?

“I found the midwives at LGI [Leeds General Infirmary] absolutely amazing, they are dealing with these massively intense moments and they are so relaxed and light-hearted with you – it really helps.

The One Born team actually paired us up with one. It was really nice that they’d thought about it – ‘We’ve got you a lovely midwife and we think you’ll really get on with her.’ So the fact they’d gone to this effort to get a room where they can get the cameras in and then got this midwife that we’d get along with was great.”

It must have been interesting seeing how they put the whole show together as well?

“It’s funny because you don’t realise how they edit it. When Finley was 3 months old they came round again to film some close –up shots. They had all the footage then realised how they wanted to edit it. They asked questions that they might not have covered in the first place to link it all up. It was a bit strange because you have to talk as if the baby’s not here – it was really bizarre trying to get my head round that and trying to remember to talk as if Finley was still inside!

It’s the little things as well. When we were in the labour room one of the midwives said to me “Do you want me to move the clock?” and I was like “Why do we need to move the clock?”

And then afterwards we twigged it’s because they edit it in different parts. So they had to change the clocks so there was nothing that you’d notice!”

Little Finley is 5 months old now and doing really well, ‘he hasn’t stopped growing!’ said Kirri. ‘We stopped weighing him once he was over a stone – we just go on clothes sizes now!’ So there’s a little look into the world of One Born from someone who knows best! And with the clocks now sprung forward the popular show has come to a close for this series, but with delivery suites up and down the land welcoming new arrivals every minute, we shouldn’t have too long a wait for series 5 – probably about 9 months or so!