Zoe, baby care advisor and mum

New mums I speak to tend to have lots of worries about their babies but I remind them that loving their baby is the best thing they can do. In my experience building the bond is crucial. It’s far more important to babies that you spend time cuddling them and playing together than achieving a perfect nappy change.

Zoe, baby care advisor and mum

My top tips

• You are their world; the responsibility can seem overwhelming at first but it eventually starts to feel astonishingly natural.
• Be confident in yourself and your abilities. There is loads of information out there and it can feel overwhelming. Take a deep breath, relax and follow your instincts.
• Be led by your baby, they will let you know if they don’t need to eat any more.

About me

It’s in my nature to worry, so I did have a tendency to fret about anything and everything during my pregnancies (although I did love feeling them move). On reflection, I would have enjoyed things far more if I’d been a bit more relaxed. 

Whether they’re your life partner or a friend, I recommend every pregnant woman to have a birth partner. I was lucky enough to have my fantastic and supportive partner with me. He even coped when I pulled his chest hair by mistake when grabbing his shirt during a rather painful contraction!