In this issue

Ah pregnancy! Sometimes it is a smooth ride and sometimes it is a rollercoaster with no safety bar! We hear from Mama Moment’s Sarah Ryan on having Hyperemesis in her pregnancies and knowing the signs and symptoms of this condition.

It takes a village to raise a child, is one of our favourite sayings and it so true in our own family - friends, grandparents, godparents, they all have such an important role to play. Vita Murrow tells us how crucial it was for her family to have a post partum doula stay with them after the birth of their children. Find out more about how a doula can help you in your postpartum journey with the Community Doulas, or if hiring a nanny is more your style, then check out our checklist from Mind Me.ie.

You may remember earlier this year, hearing about legislation coming in to give all same sex parents equal rights to their children in Ireland. Sadly, this does not include everybody. Married couple, Ranae and Audrey (pictured with their little family on our front cover), travelled abroad to have their children via reciprocal IVF and as such will not be covered. You can follow their story on instagram @ranaevonmeding to stay up to date with petitions and other ways to get involved.

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have; a family break at Fota Island resort, a Maxi-Cosi Lila and a hamper of goodies from SuuBalm up for grabs.

Enjoy the read and have a great summer!

When Is Mum Not A Mum?

Audrey and I met in college in 2008. We were an unlikely couple. I’m originally from Chicago and she was born and bred in Ballyfermot, Dublin. But something sparked between us and once we started dating, that was it for us. We are coming up on 11 years together. We have two beautiful daughters. Ava is 2 and our youngest, Arya who is 3 months old.

5 mins

Postpartum Doula Support

What is a Postpartum Doula? The word doula comes from the Greek. It means ‘woman’s caregiver.’ A postpartum doula offers emotional, practical and informational support to families following the birth of a baby.

3 mins

Real Mums: My Post-partum Doula

When the Murrows brought their newborn baby home they imagined blissful walks in central park, long evenings at beer gardens with friends, and a big ‘ol plate of Belgian frites. What they didn’t envision was that one of them would get seriously ill, that they would be making a big life decision about where to live and that they would have a million questions.

4 mins

Alternative Pain Relief For Labour

Childbirth is an intense experience for any woman, and it is undeniable that it is an extremely painful time. It can be a positive or a negative time for a woman, however, depending on how her labour progresses and how it is handled.

4 mins

Real Mums: My Gentle Birth Journey

Mary Tighe, Mum to Sadbh and Odhran, used GentleBirth during both labours and shares the story of how this helped Odhran’s birth.

4 mins

Real Mums: My Hyperemesis Pregnancies

Pregnancy is supposed to be an amazing, wonderful and joyful experience – or at least that’s what movies would have you believe. However, this is simply not the case for many women.

5 mins

Pump It Up!

Thinking about using a breastpump? Once you have made the decision to use a pump many questions about expressing and breast milk storage will come up. This month we have spoken to Sioned Hilton, Medela UK’s in-house Lactation Consultant to get some tops tips and get her expert advice on the topic.

2 mins

Baby Sensory Development

Some of the most important findings about the development of baby’s senses in the first year.

5 mins

Sleep Regression Vs. Growth Spurt

It goes without saying that sleep can be frustrating especially within the first year of life.

3 mins

Get Active!

Now in its eighth year, over 200,000 students have participated in the Irish Life Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge, making it the largest study on the fitness of school children in Ireland. We have analysed the results of the Schools’ Fitness Challenge since 2011, and alarming trends are emerging.

3 mins

Read all stories from Mums and Tots

Mums and Tots Magazine Description:

Mums & Tots encompasses it all in a stylish and accessible 100 page glossy, total package, whether its; pregnancy, baby’s health, parenting, local events, latest products or reader competitions. We aim to reach mums on a very real level in every aspect of their pre and post natal journey.