 Pregnant mamas—booking a maternity shoot? Here are the questions to ask to make sure your photographer is the one.  Timing
Our Maternity Sessions are fully flexible around you - we can accommodate most requests, all you have to do is ask! Click HERE to head to our Maternity Sessions information page, we hope it answers most of your questions.  Bringing home a newborn is magical—and exhausting. But doing it with toddlers or small children in the house? That’s a whole new level of chaos. You’re not just managing sleepless nights and cluster feeds—you’re also answering "Why?" a hundred times a day and refereeing battles over snack cups.
It’s intense. But it’s doable. Here’s how to keep your sanity (mostly) intact during this beautifully messy time. 1. Lower the Bar. No, Lower. The dishes can wait. The toys on the floor won’t kill anyone. Let go of perfection. If everyone is fed, safe, and mostly clothed, you're doing great. Your house might look like a toy tornado met a laundry volcano—and that’s OK. This isn’t the season for spotless counters. It’s the season for survival. 2. Prep “Yes” Zones Designate safe areas where your older child(ren) can play independently. Think soft mats, puzzles, picture books, or bins of rotating toys. These are areas where they can go wild without constant redirection—so you can feed or rock the baby without panic. Pro tip: rotate toys every few days to keep things fresh without buying more. 3. Tag Team When You Can If you have a partner, coordinate shifts. One of you handles bedtime with the toddler, the other gets baby duty. Even small chunks of alone time—like 15 minutes to shower or scroll in silence—can recharge your spirit. And if you're flying solo? Don’t be afraid to phone a friend, hire a sitter, or lean on family. This isn’t the time to do it all alone. 4. Let the Big Kids “Help” Toddlers love to feel important. Give them baby-safe “jobs”: bringing nappies, singing songs to the baby, helping with muslin cloths. It gives them a sense of inclusion and reduces jealousy. Are they actually helping? Maybe not. But their enthusiasm is worth it. 5. Snack Stations & Busy Bins Keep easy-to-reach snack baskets and water bottles for older kids to grab themselves. Pair this with “busy bins”—prepped activities like colouring books, stickers, or magnetic tiles they can pull out during feeds or fussy baby moments. Minimal effort, maximum peace. 6. Get Outside (Even If It’s Just the Patio) A change of scenery works wonders. Fresh air calms babies and kids. Don’t aim for a big outing—just stepping into the back garden or going for a short walk can shift everyone’s mood (especially yours). Bonus: outdoor time = better naps later. 7. Screen Time is Not the Enemy This is your permission slip. Paw Patrol can help. Bluey is your co-parent. This is not the time to stress over screen limits. You’ll get back to your usual boundaries later. Right now, you need rest, recovery, and sanity. 8. Rest However You Can You might not be able to “sleep when the baby sleeps” when you’ve got other kids. But can you lie on the couch while they play? Can you nap with cartoons on in the background? Rest doesn’t have to mean sleep. Give your body downtime in whatever form you can. 9. Grace. So Much Grace. You will have moments when you cry with the baby. Days where everyone eats cereal for dinner. Times when you feel like you’re doing everything “wrong.” That’s normal. You’re not failing—you’re just in the trenches of one of the hardest and most beautiful phases of parenthood. Give yourself grace. And snacks. Final ThoughtsThese early days are intense—but they’re temporary. The chaos will calm. Your bigger kids will adjust. Your newborn will sleep (eventually). And you’ll look back and marvel at how you did it all—even when it felt impossible. Until then? Deep breaths, coffee if you like it, and remember: you’ve got this.  Bringing a new baby into the world is an incredible experience, and while much of the focus is often on labour and delivery, the postpartum period is just as important—and full of its own set of changes, challenges, and care. If you've recently given birth or are preparing to, here's what you can expect after delivering your baby. 1. Immediate Post-Birth Care Right after your baby is born, you’ll likely remain in the delivery room for a couple of hours for initial recovery. During this time: your baby will be checked over by midwives (Apgar score, weight, etc.). You'll be offered skin-to-skin contact and support with the first feed. The placenta will be delivered, and if necessary, any stitches will be done. If all is well, you might be discharged within a few hours (if it’s a straightforward birth) or stay overnight or longer if there were complications or you had a C-section. 2. Hospital Stay Postnatal wards vary, but in general: You’ll be monitored for bleeding, blood pressure, and overall well-being. Midwives and support staff will help you with feeding (breast or bottle). Your baby may receive vitamin K and a newborn hearing test. You may be offered pain relief and advice on managing stitches or wounds.  3. Going Home and Community Midwife Visits After you're discharged, care continues at home: A community midwife will visit you at home for up to 10 days (sometimes longer). They check your physical recovery, your baby's weight, feeding, and general health. They’re also there to support your emotional wellbeing—don’t hesitate to speak up about any concerns, including signs of baby blues or postnatal depression. 4. Health Visitor Support Around 10–14 days post-birth, care typically transitions to a health visitor: They monitor your baby’s development up to 5 years old. They offer advice on feeding, sleep, vaccinations, and parenting support. You’ll have scheduled reviews at around 6–8 weeks, then later at 1 year and 2–2.5 years. 5. Postnatal Check (6–8 Weeks) You and your baby will both be seen by your GP for a check-up. This includes: Discussing your physical and mental recovery. Checking in on contraception, periods, and pelvic health. Reviewing baby’s growth, feeding, and development.  6. Mental Health Matters
The NHS takes maternal mental health seriously: You may be asked about your mood during midwife and GP checkups. If you’re struggling, you can access support via your GP, health visitor, or perinatal mental health teams. Charities like PANDAS Foundation, Mind, and Tommy’s also offer help. 7. Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Support Whether you breastfeed, formula-feed, or mix-feed, support is available: Midwives and health visitors are your first point of contact. Many areas have infant feeding teams, drop-in clinics, and lactation consultants. The National Breastfeeding Helpline (0300 100 0212) is open every day. 8. Registering the Birth You must register your baby’s birth within 42 days in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, or 21 days in Scotland. This is done at your local registry office. 9. Claiming Benefits and Childcare Support Don’t forget to: Apply for Child Benefit within 3 months of birth. Look into Universal Credit or other support if eligible. Explore options like Tax-Free Childcare and free nursery hours when your baby gets older. We hope you find this post helpful, and wish you the best of luck with the arrival of your new baby! |
AuthorThe ramblings of Emma, Little Cherubs photographer in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire Archives
April 2025
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Little Cherubs Photography
Professional maternity, newborn, baby and family photographer in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire Chatteris PE16 6TN |
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