New-borns

The first few months

Life with a new-born can often be daunting.  Hormones and sleep deprivation can take their toll.  Everyone has a different expert opinion and books seem to contradict each other…

I have worked with parents and their new born babies (including multiples) for over 30 years and have built up a wealth of experience and understanding of the difficulties and concerns experienced by parents.

I aim to guide you through your visions to a workable reality not by waving a magic wand but by giving parents the skills and confidence to enjoy this special time, watching your new-born waken into a baby and take on their full personality.

SERVICES OFFERED

Pre-birth consultation:  (at your home)

• A chance to ask all the questions you like about life after birth
• Make sure you have all you need and are ready for the reality of life with a new-born.
• What will life be like?
• Are you going to breast feed (and will bottles confuse?) or formula feed – or both?
• How to manage the first few days and begin to put gentle routines in place.
• Coping strategies and establishing a foundation from which to develop.
• Crying – what it is and what it isn’t – what to listen for and how to respond
• Sleep – how much, when, where, how often
• What exactly are a baby’s needs?
• How to manage multiples

The pre-birth consultation includes up to 7 post birth support telephone calls.

Consultation and Coaching:  (post birth – at your home)

• Assistance with problem solving.
• Gentle guidance.
• Hands-on help and demonstrations.
• How to soothe your baby.
• Thoughts to consider.
• Assistance with establishing workable routines.
• Assessing your baby’s needs.
• Sleep expectations and needs – yours and the baby’s!

This consultation includes up to 7 support telephone calls

Maternity Nursing

Mother and baby duties with support, advice and coaching.  24 hour support, 6 days a week for a minimum of 2 weeks.  I will always help the rest of the family adjust and ensure siblings feel included in the life of the new baby, providing a smooth transition.

Night Nannying

Often supplied in conjunction with an initial consultation session, this is an invaluable service for parents who don’t want a full maternity nurse.

Day Nannying

A chance for parents to receive coaching and hands-on guidance with their new-borns.  Parents often find it useful to combine occasional days with the Night Nanny service.

48 hour Troubleshoot and Re-set

This is a useful service when everything has gone so well and then, for whatever reason, things go awry!

Review routines.  Review the baby’s developmental needs.  Review “techniques”.

The 48 hours will give me a chance to make a thorough observation, give coaching and guidance and assist you in turning things around.

This service includes up to 7 support telephone calls.

Weaning Assessment, support and suggestions – this takes place in your home.  Clearly not for new-borns!

• Review current feeding and assess the baby’s readiness for weaning.
• Advice on how to start and how to progress.
• Practical guidance and demonstration.
• Food preparation and quantities.
• “Menu” suggestions.
• Advice on initial nutritional requirements and developing needs.

….not only did her warm, calm nature clearly have a very soothing effect on our baby boy, whose sleeping habits improved noticeably in the short time Annie was with us, but her willingness to share her expertise about babies and chat through all of my questions late into the night did wonders for alleviating my many new-mum stresses and helping me gain confidence.

She helped me to problem solve and I found her advice incredibly useful as I could make it work for me.  It also helped me feel much more relaxed.

I was immediately put at ease by her calm and confident demeanor.  I felt fully confident in her knowledge which she was able to share to enable me to make the right choice for my family.  She always offered sound reasons and evidence to back her suggestions and I was happy to follow her guidance.