Healthy Mums means Happy babies by Liza Webb.
(from March / April Families East magazine)

As soon as you become a parent, your child becomes the centre of your universe, demanding your constant attention and all your energy. Having children is an amazing experience, but it is also a time of incredible change that brings with it new demands on you that can affect you physically and emotionally.

It’s only when you get the occasional moment to stop and think that you realise that your body feels completely different, you may have a constant ache or pain, nothing too serious but something that you notice every now and again. Although you love your children, you can feel frustrated with the constant demands of your young family.

However old you children are, it is vital that you make some time for you and look after yourself both physically and mentally. Some of the most common side effects of birth and being a mum are the least often spoken about, and if you don’t work them out as soon as possible they can become more serious.

The most obvious example is problems with pelvic floor control after birth. 1 in 3 women in the UK will suffer from incontinence at some point in their lives and a few daily pelvic floor exercises can easily prevent this. Women are often embarrassed to talk about this, and feel that if it only happens now and again, it’s not really a problem, or because it’s a long while since they had their children they can’t do anything. This just isn’t true! Pelvic floor exercises, done correctly and regularly can make a dramatic difference.

If you are concerned, speak to your midwife, health visitor, GP or ideally a women’s health physiotherapist.

Another option is to find a good Pilates teacher and start Pilate’s classes. Pilates is a gentle form of exercise that is ideal post-natally, or if you haven’t exercised for a long time. The great thing about Pilates is that it strengthens your core muscles, which includes your pelvic floor and your deep abdominal muscles, the muscles frequently affected by birth. Pilates is also excellent for relieving lower back pain, another common side effect of birth and also, lifting babies and toddlers.

Pilates and yoga are great forms of exercise that are excellent relaxation, and when your children are young an hour on your own can feel like a luxury! But in fact, some me-time is essential, and can make all the difference to your physical and mental well-being.

During the day, when your children are very young, time on your own isn’t possible, so another option is to go to a class that helps you to find ways of relaxing and communicating with your baby.

Both baby massage and baby signing are great ways of connecting with your baby. Baby massage, is a wonderful way of getting to know your baby, can help with a number of minor baby ailments such as colic, wind, and constipation and can be started when your baby is a few weeks old.

Baby signing, enables you to communicate with your baby before they start talking and can improve your child’s language skills when they do start talking.

Not only does your baby benefit from these classes but mums do too, as the connection these classes enable you to make with your baby can help with post-natal depression. Also, meeting other mums makes a welcome break and you realise that you’re not the only one having good days – and the odd down day!