Your baby is 7 weeks old already, how time flies when you are changing nappies! In this week's email, we have everything you need to know about protein, plus some tips for soothing your baby.
P.S. Not at week 7? Update your baby's birth date here.
You and your baby
Week 7 News
Your little one might be having their first proper growth spurt this week – but they're still so fragile and tiny. In fact, your baby might be susceptible to allergies – especially if there's a family history. There are steps you can take to help reduce your baby's risk of developing allergies. See our allergy risk chart to check your baby's risk.
Protein is amazing stuff. It's vital for the healthy growth of your baby, so it's good to know as much as possible about it. We've put together a simple guide to help. Did you know, for example, that the amount of protein in breast milk changes with your baby's age?
The muscles of your 'pelvic floor' do a lot of work during birth, so they may feel numb or weak afterwards. You can start pelvic floor strengthening exercises as soon as you feel able. These keep the muscles working and help you keep bladder control.
Exercising has lots of benefits for new mums, including increased energy and stress relief. Start with gentle exercises, like swimming at a post-natal group, to get your body back into the swing of things. If you had a Caesarean or a difficult birth, talk to your GP first.
If you're having trouble getting your little one to sleep, try soothing them with white noise, like washing machines or vacuum cleaners. It sounds strange, but can be a real lifesaver for mums!
Remember our Careline team is always on hand to help. You can talk to our expert mums about pelvic floor exercises or anything else that's on your mind. Get in touch 24/7 using our live chat, by phone or by email.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The best way to feed a baby is to breastfeed, as breast milk provides the ideal balanced diet and protection against illness for your baby and also many non-nutritional benefits for both baby and mother. We recommend that you speak to your healthcare professional when deciding on your choice of feeding your baby. Professional guidance should also be sought on the preparation for and maintenance of breastfeeding. If you do choose to breastfeed, it's important to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Infant formula is intended to replace breast milk when mothers choose not to breastfeed or if for some reason they are unable to do so. A decision not to breastfeed, or to introduce partial bottle-feeding, will reduce the supply of breast milk. If for any reason you choose not to breastfeed, do remember that such a decision can be difficult to reverse. Using infant formula also has social and financial implications which must be considered. Infant formula should always be prepared, used and stored as instructed on the label, in order to avoid risks to a baby's health.
