Pregnancy is a wild ride, full of excitement and stress for the mama-to-be. It's easy to get caught up in preparing for the new arrival and forget to take care of yourself, but it's important to remember that you matter too! Don't be afraid to ask for help from your loved ones so you can focus on some self-care.&nbsp;
If you're currently expecting, check out these simple tips for taking care of yourself during pregnancy:
GUILT-FREE CHILL TIME &ndash; yes, it&rsquo;s ok to relax!
Cooking a &lsquo;bun in the oven&rsquo; definitely takes a lot of energy out of the mama-to-be. Personally, I remember falling asleep every 2nd minute, especially during the first trimester of my twin-pregnancy &ndash; never have I been so tired in my life &ndash; NEVER! When I finally allowed myself to have a bit of rest, I constantly (and stupidly) felt guilty &ndash; cos, I had sooo many &lsquo;important&rsquo; things to do (read: chores that were not really that important).&nbsp;
Please learn to listen to your body&rsquo;s signals. If it says it&rsquo;s time to take a break, TAKE A BREAK:
-Lay down for a quick catnap (shhh, don&rsquo;t tell anyone, I used the &lsquo;sick-room&rsquo; at work to catnap in during my lunch break).
-Pull out a chair, put your feet up and grab a nice cuppa.
-Do a yoga / pilates session.
-Get a pregnancy-friendly massage.
-Go out for lunch with a friend.
...whatever takes your fancy. Just don&rsquo;t push yourself to keep going, if you are exhausted.&nbsp;
BONDING SESH WITH BABY BUMP
Pregnancy is the perfect time to start bonding with your future little bundle of joy! Not only is it good for mama's emotional well-being, but it also sets the stage for a lifetime of love between mama and baby.&nbsp;
If you're looking to strengthen your bond with your unborn child, try out these fun bonding activities:
1st trimester:
-Have an ultrasound and get a peek at your little one moving around inside the womb. It's a magical moment that can help you bond with your baby and make everything feel more real. (It certainly felt very real (and some degree of overwhelming) when I had my first scan with my twins).
-Another fun activity is to take some time to reflect on your pregnancy. Go for a relaxing walk or soak in a warm relaxing bath and think about your baby or write in a diary to document your thoughts and feelings.
2nd-3rd trimester:
-Have a little chat with the bump. Around week 18, your little one will start to hear the sounds of your body, like your heartbeat and stomach rumbling. And by week 26, they may even react to noises both inside and outside the womb, so why not have a little chat or sing a song to your baby?&nbsp;
-Another fun way to bond is to give yourself a relaxing belly bump massage. As your baby grows, they'll begin to respond to human touch, so massaging your bump can be a great way to introduce them to this sensation. Use a belly oil or cream to make the massage more comfortable for both you and your skin, and turn it into a relaxing ritual that you both can enjoy. (Personally, I massaged my twin-belly-bump every night with a Belly Oil and I used a gel-based Belly Cleanser when I showered. I really appreciated these special bonding sessions).&nbsp;
-Respond to kicks of little bub. From week 26 babies can move in response to touch. Gently push against the baby or rub belly where the kick occurred and see if there is a response.
DON&rsquo;T BEAT YOURSELF UP &ndash; LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS FROM THE GET-GO (talking from experience).
Pregnancy and mama-hood are amazing adventures, and it's important to remember that it's okay to have moments of insecurity, anxiety and fear along the way. Instead of stressing about being the "perfect" mama, try to focus on having fun and embracing all the new experiences that come your way. Trust me, things will get easier and better as you go along! And remember, mama-hood isn't about being perfect or getting everything right &ndash; it's about enjoying the journey and all the little moments that make it special. So mama-to-be, let go of those unrealistic expectations, give yourself a break and be gentle with yourself! You've got this!
BIO:
Hey there! My name is Charlie, and I'm a biochemist from Scandinavia. Some might call me a mega-geek-mum of three (read: scientist in lab-coat with big fat glasses without any sense of fashion, who tried to teach her 18 months old daughter about photosynthesis &hellip;). But seriously, I specialise in pregnancy-related skin changes and have developed skincare products for pregnant and new mothers, as well as those with sensitive skin.&nbsp;
My goal is to empower women to make informed choices about their beauty, health and well-being.
<a href="https://www.mylillipilli.com.au/">Visit My Lilli Pilli</a>

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Bun In the Oven? A few easy self-care tips:

Christmas is a time of year that people often think about adding a pet to their family. While this should never be an impulse or surprise purchase the Summer months or school holidays can be a great time of getting to know a new pet. The RSPCA have a fabulous guide to help decide what breed of dog might suit your family and to work through the decision-making process of dog ownership.&nbsp;<a href="https://rspcapuppyguide.com.au">The Smart Puppy and Dog Buyer's Guide | RSPCA (rspcapuppyguide.com.au)</a>
Having said that, we love our dogs and cats and they are very much a part of our family- our fur babies! Some couples worry about how their pets will respond when they bring a new baby home for the first time. In fact, this is a big reason why many people re-home their pets, however, it doesn&rsquo;t have to be this way.
Understandably, we are concerned with how everyone will go when there is a change. Who is going to be 'top- dog'?
There are some practical things we can do to make the transition easier for everyone!&nbsp;
-Practise walking your dog with the pram before baby arrives, so that you and your dog are both comfortable negotiating the pusher, before adding in the unpredictability of your baby!
-Find a sound grab of a baby crying and play it to your pets at a low volume.&nbsp;
-Gradually increase the volume over time so that your dog becomes acclimatised to the sound of a baby crying. This will help to reduce the anxiety of trying to soothe a crying baby and your stressed dog at the same time!
-Your dog or cat has an amazing sense of smell, so make sure you involve their nose. If you can, have your partner take some clothes home from hospital after you've given birth for your pet to smell- this will certainly smell different to the pregnant you. And offer your dog/cat a used baby blanket or clothes (or nappy) to smell before you bring the baby home too. They can start to know baby&rsquo;s smell too.
-Mumma, when you come home after the birth, have your partner hold babe so that your pets can greet you without babe in your arms. They will have missed you and will want to say hello. You will certainly have a changed fragrance compared to pregnancy, according to your dog!
-If you&rsquo;re worried about cats jumping onto baby&rsquo;s bassinet, try quarantining a room for babe that&rsquo;s out of bounds for heat-seeking cats (they&rsquo;re attracted to babe&rsquo;s warmth). Or try door guards prior to the birth to find one that works for you.
Give your pets space to come and meet baby in their own time. Don&rsquo;t try to force anything. You know your pets best, but the general advice is to never leave babies and pets together unsupervised. If they can&rsquo;t be actively supervised then they should be securely separated. Chat to your vet for some more specific advice, or check the resources on, <a href="https://www.wearefamily.vic.gov.au/understanding.html">We Are Family | Introduction (vic.gov.au)&nbsp;</a>
I&rsquo;ll leave you with a fun fact: Children of dog-owning families have a 13% lower chance of developing asthma than non-dog-owning families (Fall et al 2015)&hellip; having a dog is good for your gut microbiome! Who knew!!&nbsp;
Ros :)

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How to introduce your newborn to your fur-babies!

I know for me, the term Matrescence entered my world when I was already 5 years into motherhood. It was a term, that once I understood, gave me so much insight, confirmation and relief that what I had been experiencing in my own motherhood journey was actually so common and somewhat normal.
For those that don&rsquo;t know, Matrescence was first recognised in the 1970&rsquo;s by Dana Raphael and encompasses every aspect of a mother&rsquo;s identity, her physical self and her reality. It touches every aspect of our life (consciously or unconsciously). According to the Cambridge Dictionary, matrescence is &lsquo;the process of becoming a mother&rsquo;. Where a woman experiences physical, psychological, emotional &amp; spiritual changes after the birth of a baby. Regardless of the duration of pregnancy, a woman will still journey through matrescence.
Matrescence can be similarly related to adolescence, where we journey through a significant period of change in our lives, unraveling, exploring and questioning who we are now. Although unlike adolescence, where it has a completion, matrescence can be said to last a lifetime. Like adolescence, things can feel uncoordinated, messy and often times grieving our old self. But on the other hand, relishing in awe of loving a tiny human more than you knew possible. It is a conflict of emotions that have us often feeling the good, bad and ugly all in the same breath.
I feel that matrescence is important for all women to understand as it&rsquo; s an opportunity to understand how, what and why we experience the thoughts, feelings and emotions we do, when we enter into motherhood. Understanding matrescence allows a woman to see that the shifts, changes and undulations that she is experiencing in motherhood aren&rsquo;t just &lsquo;all in her head&rsquo;. It gives a mother the recognition of the enormity of change (often unexpected) that occurs as she enters into motherhood.
I know for me, my sense of self and identity shifted completely. I questioned &lsquo;who am I now&rsquo;, since becoming a mother. Despite vowing that I would not &lsquo;loose myself&rsquo; when I entered into motherhood. Every part of me, felt like I was walking into new territory. It unraveled and expanded me beyond any preconception and often took me to my knees. As my own matrescence journey unfolded I could see the shifts and changes happening within me, especially emotionally &amp; spiritually. Which has opened me to have a deeper understanding about who I am at my soul level and giving myself permission to explore that on a deeper level.
Having an understanding about matrescence, gives women a word that they can use to encompass the significant shifts and changes we experience, along with a deeper understanding of the transformative aspect for the woman too. To be able to lead and reassure a mother that it is okay to not put motherhood first all the time and take time to prioritise their own needs too. Because you matter and often we as mums are the glue that holds everything together.
By sharing and talking about matrescence and the journey that you&rsquo;re experiencing with other mothers, begins to normalise this transition process and gives us space to explore who we are now, since becoming a mother. Along with expressing the &lsquo;realness&rsquo; of motherhood and the challenges we face, the emotions we feel and the experiences that
some days take us to our knees. Because when we start to share authentically, we can reduce the pressure of feeling as though we need to &lsquo;have it all together&rsquo; all the time. We can loose the super mum cape and start to be honoured for the season we&rsquo;re in and be supported by other mums, who are in the same realm as you.
So to all the mama&rsquo;s out there, take a moment to honour where you&rsquo;re at and give yourself some kindness and grace. Because you&rsquo;re all going through this transformative journey, which I know can feel overwhelming some days. So take it one step at a time and release the pressure that you put on yourself. You&rsquo;re doing an amazing job. If you need any support or guidance through the messy parts that motherhood is throwing you right now, do reach out. As you can probably see, I am truly passionate about supporting mothers in understanding your unique matrescence journey and your transition through motherhood.
Written by Kirstie Maddocks
Midwife, Motherhood Mentor, Space Holder and Healer.
Let&rsquo;s connect:
IG:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kirstie_maddocks_mama_mentor/">https://www.instagram.com/kirstie_maddocks_mama_mentor/</a>
FB: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/kirstiemaddocksmotherhoodmentor">www.facebook.com/kirstiemaddocksmotherhoodmentor </a>
Website: <a href="http://www.kirstiemaddocks.com">www.kirstiemaddocks.com</a>

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What is Matrescence and why it’s important for all women to know

Founders Story
Let's take a moment to unpack a little bit about who we are and how Mamaly began. In 2020 Founders Josh and Sarah journeyed through their pregnancy, awaiting the arrival of their first born. With the pair both experiencing many challenging seasons in life, this this was no different. A high risk pregnancy meant what should be fairly routine, became a little more complicated and quite overwhelming.&nbsp;
As new parents Josh and Sarah continued to search for support services and others who had similar experiences. It was during this period before Oscar was born, the conversation developed about a platform that would make everything a little easier.&nbsp;
In 2021 Oscar entered into the world and the first few months were not at all easy, encountering a variety of trivial experiences - this only pushed Josh and Sarah to engage with more people about the project. With a vision so great it was time to group developers and partners together, helping to create what we see today. A goal to empower a growing community within Australia, a directory of suppliers that offers a variety of service offerings and giveaways to provide an extra little bit of joy through different seasons of life!&nbsp;
This is just the beginning - the team is growing and the platform and will enter different phases of rollout over the next 12 months. Establishing a community, a collective of mamas and their families who are continuing to move mountains in their own life - we are simply available as and when it happens with over 150+ suppliers to help, now located around Australia.
2020: Founders Vision
2021: Project Development&nbsp;
2022: Mamalaide - South Australia Official Launch&nbsp;
2023: Annual Suppliers Event + National Rollout&nbsp;
2024: Coming Soon..
&nbsp;
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Bun In the Oven? A few easy self-care tips:

How to introduce your newborn to your fur-babies!

What is Matrescence and why it’s important for all women to know

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