What I Know Now - the Suite Set Podcast

How do I host a baby shower?

What are the best baby shower presents?  (hint, a suite set)

What are the best baby shower ideas?

How do I do a virtual baby shower?


These are Google's top baby shower questions, and I have answered them all in one special podcast. This baby shower podcast is a great one for parents to be to listen to, but it is a ripper to pass on to anyone who has been given the honour of arranging a baby shower.

In this episode, you won't get any tips on balloon wreaths, or actual baby shower ideas - but you will get the most practical, positive steps to arrange a stress-free, inclusive and easy baby shower.

We've got tips on virtual baby showers too and some ideas on the most important sort of presents parents-to-be really need at their baby shower.

This podcast is presented by Dear Mama Store, and we've got two whopping shopping discounts for you in the episode.

Links

Ceci Fertility Hand
Polka Drop


Remember, the information here is from our research and fact-checking and based on our experience, so make sure to always seek your very own professional advice before making any individual medical or wellbeing decisions.

We acknowledge the Yugambeh people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Bundjalung land on which we live and run our business - where this podcast is recorded.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.⁠

What I know now, couldn't be a more apt title for this episode of the podcast.

I drank the odd wine when I was pregnant, a glass of celebratory champagne here and there. And I drank when I was breastfeeding, on one occasion (one of my bestie's 40th's) more than the odd wine. But I didn't know the information I know, now. And I would change that if I had the chance to again.

This was a really hard podcast to decide to do - because it's such a controversial topic, and we're always loath to sound like fun police and we are certainly not shaming anyone who chooses to drink - we're just sharing the latest information.

I was spurred on to do this podcast because I saw some simply wrong and not based in fact or evidence information on a new mum's site last week.

If you'd like more information on drinking and pregnancy here is the official govt download

Drinkwise campaign with Dr Andrew Rochford and Zoe Marshall links can be found here

FASD information hub here and The Feedsafe app here

For more on the suite set, and for your discount code  WIKN- please visit here

Remember, the information here is from our research and fact-checking and based on our experience, so make sure to always seek your very own professional advice before making any individual medical or wellbeing decisions.

We've collated the best online resources for pregnant people and parents. We know the online space is increasingly crowded, overwhelming and it's hard to determine where and who to trust with important parenting information.

It's hard to regulate the space, and sometimes it's hard to work out the best advice - so in this episode of What I know Now - the suite set podcast - I've done all the research for you.

These are mostly female funded and founded - and share the Suite Set values of robust information and service to families.

I do go on a little rant about cyber hygiene  - and people who pray on the vunerablities of parents to be, and new parents.

Here are the links I mentioned.

Online courses and great Instagram sources and Podcasts
Edwina at Birth Beat   
Tiny Hearts Education
Australian Birth Stories website and podcast
Parental As Anything
The Fitnest Mama podcast

Online factsheets and expert articles
Parents You've Got This
Murdoch Children's Research Institute factsheets
SIDS and kids safe sleep - what's a safe cot.
Royal Children's Hospital factsheets

Mental Health Support
Beyond Blue
PANDA
COPE

Genetic Testing here from Mackenzie's Mission.

Apps
Family HQ - download it here This is hands-down the best app I've purchased as a parent.

For information on taking away the overwhelm when it comes to working out what clothes baby needs for year one, visit us here

For more on the suite set, and for your discount code - please visit here

Remember, the information here is from our research and fact-checking and based on our experience, so make sure to always seek your very own professional advice before making any individual medical or wellbeing decisions.

I see so many forums online ask What do I really need for Baby? and there is so much information out there, most of it tied to a product. The lists that the big stores give you for free are really just marketing tools - so we set to reviewing almost every baby product on the market and put it into one good downloadable. You can read the detailed PDF here
by clicking on The Ultimate Shopping Guide for Baby.

In this episode, I run through a few products on the list and focus on ways things can feel a bit calmer.

My key tips - 

• Don't panic buy.
• You don't need all the things immediately.
•  Don't buy in bulk until you've well and truly product tested
• For some products cheap is better - save your money for the good things.

It's important to remember your own safety and budget considerations when shopping for a baby, and know that there are many ways to get good baby products that are right for your family.

Show links here -
 
Our online course on everything you need to know to buy clothes and dress baby for year one  For less than the cost of a wondersuite - you can get all the info you need in videos and downloadable lists - here ).
The winner of the workhorse, best ever product for shopping is the humble terry-towelling nappy
Our choice of the best newborn clothes - soft, safe for baby.
For the first two weeks - this is the sort of singlet I know to be best.
When I talk about bottom button singlets - this is what I mean.
Rearview mirror for baby here - don't splurge.
Scroll down in this article for information on doonas, bumpers etc.
ACCC on product safety for cots and sleeping here
Baby sleep suits we used and loved, for ease.

Control what you can. The rest? Come what may. And it may......


Welcome back to What I Know Now, and welcome to the new year. If you’re a new parent, a parent to be or a wishing to be parent - our mission is to provide you with researched and evidence-based information, backed by our real-life experiences.

Today’s podcast is an easy entry into the podcasting year for us - we wanted to start by sharing some really practical ideas on how to get calm before the baby arrives. It is all (evidence) based on the concept of taking small action steps to feel calmer. It’s about controlling the controllable. There is a lot that we can’t control going into giving birth, but there are some things we can do to be best prepared. Now it’s important to recognise the difference between the two, and to know that by controlling what we can, it helps to have some confidence when the uncontrollable happens.

In this episode, we talk about - 

👶The peace be with you  - easy, 14 email course, anti overwhelm deep dive into proven ways to get calm. You can sign up for free here - it's our way to really help.

👶The importance of a list, and how rather than being overwhelming, lists can reduce your stress.

I’ve included a link to trello here if you’re a digital parent. I work off these lists here for all manner of things, but it wasn’t around when Big M was born, so I worked from a big A4 list. If you want a trello template - send me an email to [email protected] with the title TRELLO PLEASE.

👶The best “weeks” to get organised, and when to crack into the real organisation, including when to pack your bags.

👶The best way to start packing your hospital bag at 32 weeks, including detergents. This is the one I still use 

👶 The positives of doing laundry - goodness me, I know. Who even am I?

👶 A few thoughts on panic buying.

👶 Getting your hospital “getting to hospital” process planned.

👶 Getting your car prepared for labour…..

 Here is a reel for a quick reference. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CKvZV3In-fB/

Here is some extra info about car seat fitting and a link to an all-female team of car fitters in QLD https://mylittlefriends.com.au

For more on the suite set, please visit us at The Suite Set

Remember, the information here is from our research and fact-checking and based on our experience, so make sure to always seek your very own professional advice before making any individual medical or wellbeing decisions.

We acknowledge the Yugambeh people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Bundjalung land on which our family lives and on which we run our business. ⁠ We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.⁠

How can I choose a good prenatal vitamin?

We've shaken up our format for today's bonus podcast - because it's such an important topic, I really needed to call in the big guns. Today on the podcast we have the amazing Brittany Darling, BHSc Nutr speaking about the importance of good supplementation for prenatal, pregnancy and postnatal.

I am passionate about sharing the best, researched and science-based information and Brittany has dedicated her career to supporting women with robust information and evidence-based nutritional medicine so it made sense to get some serious expertise in on the podcast today. This will be the longest podcast we do I think, but there was just so much to talk about.

Pre and anti-natal vitamins are the ultimate in overwhelm, it's important to get it right and I know for a fact that it's hard to work out what is best. It's also important to find something that works for you in those early stages of pregnancy when you just want to lay on the floor, sleep or vomit.

In this episode of what I know now, we talk about all things to consider when choosing a prenatal and postnatal vitamin.

Brittany explains
What to look for in a vitamin or supplementation
folate and/or folic acid  - and the MTHR gene.
Choline, the methylation process and baby's brain development.

We also myth bust about lifestyle and need for supplementation and we navigate micronutrients. We talk about coming off the pill and what that means for supplement support too.

And we round out the episode by talking about the top snacks for breastfeeding mums and do some more myth-busting about snacks and breastfeeding.


Some helpful Instagram posts from Brittany at https://www.instagram.com/wholefoodhealing/

PRENATAL SUPPLEMENT SHOPPING GUIDE -
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMqQlAKD763/

HOW-TO DECODE PRENATAL SUPPLEMENT LABELS//
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMsuDsSDcf8/

FOLIC ACID
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMwLO_sDV2v/

Brittney's other accounts to follow -
https://www.instagram.com/im.nutrients/

For those parents thinking of starting solids, and moving into eating here is a great free downloadable. https://wholefoodhealing.sellfy.store/p/jzqa/

For more on the suite set, please visit us at https://www.thesuiteset.com/pages/our-gift-to-you.

Remember, the information here is from our research and fact-checking and based on our experience, so make sure to always seek your very own professional advice before making any individual medical or wellbeing decisions.

The best tips for introducing your baby to your dog  - with some extra cat tips too.

In today's episode, we cover a really common step many parents of new babies have to take, introducing them to your fur baby and four-legged friends. This episode is supported by the amazing team at Dogshare.

Getting this right is really important, you, your baby and your dog deserve this to be well-thought-out and done to the best of everyone's ability. It's a topic to take really seriously, and one of those things where it pays to do the work in getting it right.

It's a massive topic and can be really complicated. In this podcast, we've touched on the following points

-Pet wellness before a baby is born.
-Preparing the nursery and other big-ticket items.
-Rewards and baby crying sounds - link here
-Importance of having a well-exercised pet before and when baby is home. 
-Introduction to baby (link here to Terry towelling nappies - an absolute must-have for any parent of a new baby, dog or not ).
-Pet aggressions
-Enrichments and rewards  - link to likimat here
- Language and speaking to babies about pets
- pets and sleeping spaces, spaces for pets
- active supervision (the baby gates we used here )

Because it is such a huge topic, I've included some resources and good links here.

Dogshare – Get some regular walking and/or company for your dog in the lead up to and after babies’ arrival

Family Paws – Parent Education to support new families with dogs and to find a suitably qualified trainer: https://www.familypaws.com/

Cooper & Kids – Dog Trainer in Melbourne, Specialises in creating safe environments for dogs and children: https://cooperandkids.com/

And just because I'm obsessed, here is the adairs dog bed I really want!

Myth v Reality of bringing baby home.

This episode has been fact-checked. For more on the suite set, please visit us here and use the code in our podcast for a whopping 20% off all our site.

Remember, the information here is from our research and fact-checking and based on our experience, so make sure to always seek your very own professional advice before making any individual medical or wellbeing decisions.

We acknowledge the Yugambeh people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Bundjalung land on which our family lives and on which we recorded this episode.  We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.⁠

For many of us, when we have a baby in a hospital setting, it is a rare occasion to be a patient in the hospital. Hopefully, our experiences of being in a hospital are limited and so, therefore, hospitals can seem unfamiliar and can be daunting.

One criticism of hospitals is that they’re “too institutionalised”, well, yes, hospitals are an institution, but they're also very safe, accessible, and caring spaces to have a baby and become a family. They’re also spaces that can be filled with great love and support.

Here are a few ideas on how you can make a hospital feel more like home for that short time you’re there.

Our key points

Do your research
Make the most of the access to health professionals and midwives
You can say no to visitors - if they're allowed under restrictions
Don't give a s@it what anyone else thinks
BYO
And some special tips on aromatherapy and other things we like to take to the hospital - is it a yes or a no?
and The one thing that truly makes a hospital feel like home.

Hospital safe aromatherapy
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding safe brightening, exfoliating mask here because we need all the bright we can Mama! And this lovely face oil adds some extra lux, this one is nourishing and brightening too here. If you're in the market for the best birth suite lip balm, it's here
Earbuds here
Non-candle, candle here
A suite playlist for your hospital room "My wishes for you" here
If you're in Melbourne and want some pampering in the hospital room, have a look at the gorgeous Jayney here

This episode is fact-checked and supported by www.familyhq.com.au - thanks Liz and Sarah.

For more on the suite set, please visit us at here  and to say thanks for listening, use our WIKN20 code for a whopping discount.

Remember, the information here is from our research and fact-checking and based on our experience, so make sure to always seek your very own professional advice before making any individual medical or wellbeing decisions.

What is Group B strep?

Oh hi, it's me and my little podcast with a topic for a podcast that does not sound like true crime at all. Group B streptococcus (GBS, or group B strep) is a bacteria that can be carried by about 20% of all women, however, it is often undetected. 

As my 5 year old would say "Bap bowm. Not a winner".

Not a winner, but super important to be across. Sorry for being boring. true crime fans.

It's really important to know about Group B strep, because not all hospitals and doctors order the tests and so it's great to have some extra information around your risk profile and what group B strep actually is so you can talk to your GP or care provider about it.

In women, it’s found in the intestine and vagina. In most pregnancies, it causes no problem but in a small number of pregnancies, it can lead to infection for baby. This can happen just before or during labour, that is called early-onset infection. It can also affect babies some weeks or months down the track. It is really important to be clear - if you carry Group B Strep it's not a sign of poor hygiene or "uncleanliness"  it's normal bacteria  - so it is nothing to feel shame about. 

You may come across some info online about the use of probiotics during pregnancy to prevent GBS infection and or ways to "fix" it with food and supplements.  It's useful to research this information but equally important to remember that although the infection numbers are low, severe GBS infection is a very serious infection when it occurs. 

For information on Group B strep, here are the Australian Government's health resources, they're pretty technical.
 https://www.health.gov.au/resources/pregnancy-care-guidelines/part-f-routine-maternal-health-tests/group-b-streptococcus

For an easier to read version, but still detailed here is extra information from The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 
https://ranzcog.edu.au/womens-health/patient-information-resources/group-b-streptococcus

This episode is fact-checked and supported by www.familyhq.com.au - thanks Liz and Sarah.

For more on the suite set, please visit us at https://www.thesuiteset.com/pages/our-gift-to-you and in this episode we share a whopping discount for our What I know now listeners. 

Remember, the information here is from our research and fact-checking and based on our experience, so make sure to always seek your very own professional advice before making any individual medical or wellbeing decisions.

We had such a big response to our post on Instagram on re-entry into "real life" when you're pregnant or have a new baby. A lot of the feedback was about the tips for visitors and how handy they were.  We decided to record it quickly today as a podcast.

Please share it with anyone you know for some practical tips on having visitors, being social or visiting with a newborn. This podcast is broken down into two parts.

The first is for parents and at 13 min mark, it's for visitors.

So what now for parents?
Lockdowns are being lifted, but that doesn't mean you feel like doing all the things, or maybe you're feeling a bit anxious about reentry. Here we go through ways to manage this. 

Well done you. You’ve had a baby in a pandemic. You’ve had a lockdown baby. You are awesome and your baby is so lucky it has you. I am proud and a bit in awe of you.

As the parent,  it’s your job to protect your baby and your home - physically and emotionally.

The only thing you need to focus on is this - Your baby comes first - not anyone else’s feelings or needs or wants. Not your in-laws, not your parents or your siblings, not your besties or your elderly neighbours who just want to pop in after they've been to chaddy. 

So let's set about making sure we can make sure the next few weeks of reentry are as ok as they can be. It is ok to want to do all the things and see all the people, but it's also totally ok and natural to want to stay in your newborn lockdown cocoon.

Keep a close eye on your mental health, if you feel your baseline is slipping, click here for tips from Dr Aileen, make a telehealth appt asap with your GP or with your maternal health service - call PANDA or COPE or beyond blue. 

At 13.15  For Visitors:

We get it - one of your besties or your sister has had her baby and you are FINALLY. ALLOWED. TO. VISIT. And it is big and massive and if you’re anything like me  - you can not wait a second more to get your hands on the bebe. Also, if you’re like me you watched a lot of Schitts in lockdown. 

If you're visiting new parents be really mindful that everything is new for them - everything, this little person has turned their world upside down and they’re surviving on dopamine and caffeine. Add in a pandemic and case numbers that sound super high -and it will be pretty common that new parents - and indeed pregnant people - to feel some significant anxiety. 

First and foremost, this isn’t about you. Said in the most loving and caring way. For many of you  - the thought of meeting this baby has got you through some tough moments, but it’s important to be mindful that baby needs to come first. 

Everyone loves company and help with a newborn, but this “new normal” isn’t normal - so let’s be super kind and supportive. Let's take it gently.

with love xo