Courses/videos/books about how to look after the baby when it is here!?

[Nellie3]

Hi all,

With NHS antenatal classes being cancelled, my local area has made educational videos instead. They have been great and really informative but only cover birth, not what happens after. I've also done the Positive Birth Company hypnobirth course which was brilliant.

So I'm feeling kind of ok and informed about birth/birth options, but was wondering if anyone knows of any good info out there about how to actually look after the baby? Me and my partner have no experience with babies, there are no babies in our family/friend groups and just feel clueless! Even basic things like how to change a nappy we don't know. My parents keep saying it's instinct and we will be fine, but I am the type of person who would like to have some sort of information first. So if anyone has any recommendations for courses/videos/books about this, no matter how basic please let me know! Thank you xx

congratulations! hopefully my link posts x

www.babymanual.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxJ3PzOrT6QIVgbTtCh1lAAFjEAAYASAAEgJS0_D_BwE

I found Lucy Atkins book "First Tine Parent" helpful. Although tbh you'll just learn as you go along and don't forget you can always rely on google when you have questions.

Believe me, it is instinct! You'll read a million and one baby books and still have your own way of doing things. If I was you (and I kind of am being a FTM with a 3 week old), I would youtube the basics like how to change a nappy ect and expect to wing the rest it's nothing like I prepared for at all! How are you planning to feed baby?

Watch the baby has landed on iPlayer. It will give you a more realistic idea of what to expect than anything else.

Thanks for the suggestions!
I've ordered that book @BlueGreenYellowRed - thanks for the recommendation it looks good.

@K1999 congratulations! I am planning to try breastfeeding but I am thinking that I may have problems as I have quite flat nipples. I have brought a manual pump and some bottles and am also open to formula if breastfeeding doesn't work out.. I plan to give it my best shot but if it doesn't work for me not to beat my self up about it. How are you feeding?

@Deepblueriver I saw that advertised but was too scared to watch haha! Might have to give it a go xx

If you are struggling with breastfeeding, try nipple shields. They really saved the day for me!

I’ve just started the positive birth company’s post partum pack and I’m really impressed so far! Covers exactly that sort of thing. Think it’s £20 at the moment.

Gina Ford. A controversial one, I know, but I picked and chose what I wanted from her schedules and they really truly helped with my two babies!! Because I follow the schedules (roughly), both babies have always been good sleepers.

Gina Ford

We've always taken a very baby-led approach instead and DS has been sleeping through since 8 weeks. So many of my mum friends have tried everything (inc Gina Ford) to get their babies to sleep well and they're still not sleeping through at 15 months. I honestly just think things like that are in their genes, not their routine. I was just lucky haha!

@Nellie3 I have/ had the same problem my nipples were quite flat too. I say were because he's made sure to stretch them out haha. The first few days he wouldn't match because he was born with jaundice so he had no energy. The hospital gave him formula which perked him up. Then sometimes he would refuse to breastfeed so I had to express our formula feed. Now he latches on no problem and I don't have flat nipples anymore!
Good idea getting prepared to bottle feed because I didn't even imagine there would be problems!
I hope everything goes well for you! X

Latch not match lol