Sling Fling - Aberdeen Sling Library and Babywearing Consultant

10/04/2019

Lots of new likers the past week or so - this page is actually inactive but you can get lots of sling/new mama chat with me over at Solasta Mama and The Fourth Trimester Group Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

12/12/2018

A little bit about sleep over on Solasta Mama and the blog for new and not so new mums!

I wrote a little post over on Facebook today, about baby sleep and how it isn’t your fault if you have a baby that doesn’t sleep. Newborn sleep vs the sleep needs of an adult is a massive biological clash, exacerbated by the pressures of modern society and the unrealistic expectations projected

05/12/2018

Remember all my babywearing/baby/motherhood posts are all now over on Solasta Mama ♡ here's some winter babywearing tips ♡

23/11/2018

19/07/2018

TO THE MUM WHO IS STRUGGLING

It wasn't meant to be like this was it? Motherhood, that is.

I mean, your friends all joked about the sleepless nights and their child's incredible talent for landing vomit missiles right in to their cleavage. You knew it wasn't going to be easy, but why did they never tell you it was so hard?

Because sometimes it's just too hard to admit

That you feel like a failure

That you aren't coping,

That it's too scary to ask for help

to widen the hole

in case you fall in

and never come back out

It's too hard to admit

That the sound of your baby crying overwhelms you

the thoughts in your own head

can't be heard

over the bang, bang, bang

of their hammering wails

That the baby won't sleep

you can't sleep

and you're so tired you could weep.

That you don't know if you love your baby

that you resent them

then in the same breath

feel the agony of maternal guilt

scraping inside your bones

It's too hard to admit

That you don't know who you are anymore

That you can't remember

the last time you felt happy

last week, last month, last year?

That you cry just as much as the baby does

hot, fat tears spill from your eyes

dripping

on to milk soft skin

leaving no sign that your sadness

had ever passed there

It's too hard to admit

That you don't want to see anyone

or engage

in silly little small talk

when you can barely breathe

for the weight upon your chest

That you avoid your friends

jealousy burning

their perfect lives

perfect babies

not crushed by despair

That you push your partner aside

thinking you don't deserve

to be held

to be touched

to be loved

It's too hard to admit

That you feel like you are the only one

silently drowning

flailing

in front of everyone's eyes

but no one can see you

hear you

or will ever understand

that you want to walk away, leave the house and never come back

You are not alone

It's OK not to be OK

It doesn't matter if it's your first baby, or your fifth, postnatal depression can affect anyone.

1 in 5 mums suffer from maternal mental health issues, and this figure could be more, because so many women are never diagnosed.

Your mental health matters, on so many levels. Getting help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. I know it will feel terrifying. I know that you may make that appointment and cancel it. And cancel it again. But you need to let someone know how you feel.

Write it down. Let a trusted friend read it, then take them with you and let the doctor read it if you can't speak. Hold their hand and know you are doing the right thing. The Perinatal Mental Health Partnership page is a huge wealth of information, including videos on how to approach health professionals about postnatal depression.

Working with new mums, I have became all too aware of just how mums were suffering on their own, in silence, because they didn't know where to turn. Postnatal depression and maternal mental health issues in general, should not be something we are scared to talk about. By opening the dialogue we pave the way for mums in the future knowing that help is there, and not feeling ashamed to access it.

If you recognise yourself in the words above, please get in touch with one of the following - they might not be able to make everything instantly better, but they can get you on to the road of feeling like you again

Your health visitor or GP

Your local NCT Branch NCT Aberdeen City & Shire if you're local

Pandas Foundation (Pre And PostNatal Depression Advice and Support)

Deeside Pandas Support Group (for those in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)

PND and Me

Maternal Mental Health Scotland Change Agents - Information Page

01/06/2018

Making new mum friends can be a terrifying thought, but it really doesn't have to be - here's some ideas to help you find your mama tribe

https://www.solastamama.com/solasta-mama-blog/2018/6/1/your-mama-tribe-and-how-to-find-them

10/05/2018

Remember to head over to Solasta Mama and The Fourth Trimester Group Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire for updates, news and squishy baby pictures! This page will eventually be archived ♡

* EUROPEAN BABYWEARING WEEK - GIVEAWAY*

To celebrate EBW, I'm launching a fabulous giveaway over in The Fourth Trimester Group Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire tonight! If you're expecting a baby, or are a new mum, then there will be lots of lovely things that you'll want to get your hands on! Tag a friend and let them know to join in too ♡

Click here - The Fourth Trimester Group Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

(This giveaway is not in conjunction with, or endorsed by Facebook in any way)

28/04/2018

Remember I've now moved over to the Solasta Mama page, along with the SOLASTA MAMAS group. Gearing up to share lots of important information about Maternal Mental Health Matters week from 30th April

* SHARE YOUR STORY *

Maternal Mental Health Matters Week begins on the 30th April, and throughout the week I will be sharing information and articles about maternal mental health, how to find support and taking care of yourself as a new mother.

If you would like to share your maternal mental health story here on the page (anonymously if you prefer) with other mums, then please get in touch. All messages will be treated in the strictest of confidence

24/04/2018

Remember that I have now moved over to my Solasta Mama page, please join me there!

I often have parents ask when they are 'meant' to start back carrying their babies, or worrying about 'still' front carrying their older babies and children. Some feel like their child might need a 'better view' or that there is an expectation to back carry once your child reaches a certain age.

While our babywearing moments are becoming less and less now that she is 3, I carried Molly yesterday and started to put her on my back as I normally would. She stopped me and said 'I don't want to go on your back Mummy, I can't see your face when I'm there'. So we enjoyed a cuddle instead, and our bus journey home involved a gorgeous sleepy nap with her arms round my neck.

Very often, back carrying makes sense for certain activities, and depending on your child, will prevent you having a dental inspection from a My Little Pony toy 😂 But as long as you feel able and safe to carry your older child on your front, there's no rule to say you must back carry after a certain age. Enjoy those snuggles and deep inhalations of baby hair for as long as you can ♡

(Forgot to take a picture yesterday so here's a throwback sleepy face)

28/03/2018

Looking forward to the next two days, filled with squishy babies ready to get wrapped up close to their mamas! Remember that this page will be inactive as of 4th April, so please make your way over to Solasta Mama to keep up to date with sling news/events and information. You can also join the group www.facebook.com/groups/solastamamameetups to keep in touch with other local mums

For information on my newborn consultations, visit www.solastamama.com

25/03/2018

SOME NEWS....

Not sure if it qualifies as exciting news but here goes! With my recent change to only seeing parents and new babies in their fourth trimester, and an increasingly busy work/home life, I've made the decision to amalgamate Sling Fling - Aberdeen Sling Library and Babywearing Consultant with Solasta Mama and provide my babywearing consultancy services under the Solasta Mama umbrella. I'll still be offering one to one consultations, but as of April 4th, I'll be closing this page down. I'd love it if you could all join me over on the Solasta Mama page or SOLASTA MAMAS group to keep up to date with my usual random mutterings and baby/sling chat.

See you on the other side!

23/03/2018

I wish I had something like this to read when I had my first baby and was nervously navigating those early weeks, not really knowing what I was doing!

https://www.solastamama.com/solasta-mama-blog/wordsfornewmamas

Solasta Mama

Photo - Vivienne Elizabeth Photography