The OxytocInn

Support for whichever path your family's journey takes. Fun family ideas, babywearing, sign language and breast friend support in Southend.

[joannewebb82]

With the weather starting to take a turn for the colder side I thought it was time to share a few safety tips for layering clothing when carrying your little ones. X.

❄️ Layering is key! Several layers of lighter weight removable clothing is better than one thick layer. Think about how you can adjust both of your temperatures easily. Wrap around cardigans, sling covers, a coat over the both of you, etc. Thick layers can lead to babies overheating very quickly.

❄️Remember that you count as a layer of clothing and so does your carrier/sling. Trust me, shared body heat is an amazing thing! Those squishy warm snuggles are just like carrying around a hot water bottle!

❄️Make sure baby's airway is not obscured by any fabric from thick clothing (theirs or yours).

❄️If wearing them over the top of your coat make sure they do not slump or slip around in the carrier.

❄️Cover your little ones extremities - a snuggly hat to keep those ears warm, gloves for little fingers, and those tiny toes need protecting too! Remember sock layering is amazing for you as well as them. Lightweight cotton, then thicker woolly socks, then shoes/moccons/booties is an amazing combination.

❄️Just like with a car seat, padded a snowsuit means you cannot tighten your carrier straps correctly. This can lead to not only safety issues, but can also be very uncomfortable for you both as well!

❄️A good pair of grippy boots! This one is for you, not your little one, but it is just as important. X. A decent grippy pair of boots, especially in colder, icy weather will mean you can grip the ground better. A very simple tip worth remembering even if you don't carry your children!

❄️If in doubt come along to one of the sessions I attend with Bump to Breast - ABSS breastfeeding group support, or pop along to your local sling library. X

https://www.carryingmatters.co.uk/snowsuits-scarves-slings-and-safety/

[joannewebb82]

Change. It is down to us to bring about the changes we most wish to see!

Be it removing stigma around mental health, making breastfeeding seen as normal and acceptable everywhere, changes in the way we treat our beautiful planet or bringing about change in our local communities. Even just one small change is a step in the right direction.

As an ABSS Parent Champion I have found a way to have a voice and start to bring about the change we need to see for our children, and their children after!

Which small change will you make today?

[joannewebb82]

Superheros are everywhere!

Not all superheros wear capes, in fact most of the time they are lucky if they have had chance for a hot drink and a trip to the toilet on their own!

To me parents are the real superheros, and as a mother to five wonderful, loony, monstrous nightmares, I wear my cape and powerpants with pride! It's been one big learning curve full of ups, downs and all that goes in between, but without that journey I would not be where I am today.

So where am I? Right where I need to be! Helping local families in Southend however I can. I am a UNICEF trained breastfeeding peer supporter, a Born to Carry trained babywearing peer supporter and A Better Start Southend trained Parent Champion. Everyone has a story to tell and sometimes all it takes is a friendly ear and a hot drink to let that story fill the pages, and that's where I step in.

I volunteer with the YMCA and ABSS (A Better Start Southend) to help support local families on their breastfeeding journeys, no matter what that journey looks like, be it direct from breast, exclusively pumping or combi-feeding and offer that friendly ear and reassurance whenever it is needed. I have trained as a babywearing peer supporter, this means I can help parents learn how to safely carry their babies in a wide variety of different baby carriers. Not only does this help parents juggle multiple children, but it also helps with bonding which is an amazing way to build up those Oxytocin levels that make us feel happy, relaxed and loved (they also help with breastfeeding, it really is an amazing thing!).

What is a Parent Champion? We are local volunteer parents that work with ABSS to get families voices heard! We create family activites, organise workshops and consult with ABSS on projects they are planning for the community on a co-production level. So far I have been involved in the Southend Supports Breastfeeding scheme, the breastfeeding group support project, have attended several courses including Henry and Being a Parent, attend monthly forum meetings, have been a newsletter editor and have my first engagement activity coming up soon.

ABSS has reminded me what it is to be a person again, not just mum and for that I will be ever thankful. Taking on these volunteer roles has re-sparked a passion in me that will only burn brighter as my journey progresses. Next on the cards? Finishing my diet and nutrition course, and maybe a project management one too?

Please reach out if you need a friendly ear and a hot drink, or if you are interested in learning how you could make your business more breastfeeding friendly.

Joanne. X. 💋

[joannewebb82]

Boobs! Today was all about boobs at a study day by the National Breastfeeding Helpline and the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers.  It was held at one of favourite new places to visit: Do.It.Like.A.Mother_HQ. The wonderful Lizzie is the lady who put me through my paces on my sling peer supporter course. ;)

Today we had talks by Kathryn Stagg IBCLC and Sarah March IBCLC about tongue tie, high pallets, reflux and dropping formula top ups, and how to help mothers in these situations.  And, after today’s study day I have decided to add a ABM Mother Supporter course to my to do list.

Whilst I had access to some lactation consultants I spoke to them a little about Esmereldas’ weight gain (or lack of it).  Sarah very kindly looked and it turns out Esmerelda has a posterior tongue tie as well as a high pallet, no wonder we can’t get her onto a line on the centile chart! 

Looks like this mummy needs to go to the doctors and get her booked in for a referral appointment before it starts to effect my milk supply... 

If you have any questions or issues, don’t hesitate to find your local support group, send me a message, or call the National Breastfeeding Helpline which is staffed by fully trained breastfeeding support workers. We are not meant to do this alone

Time to get the monsters to bed, but I promise I will keep you updated on our tongue tie journey.

Speak soon.

Jo 💋

[joannewebb82]

Really looking forward to today's course!

[joannewebb82]

Good morning!

Yesterday I said I was going to the first BetterStart Kursaal ward parent forum meeting since I became one of the newsletter editors. They all loved it, so that means I can now breathe again and start on the next edition!

It's been quite enjoyable playing around with Canva again if I'm honest. And, if I'm being brutally honest, it's been amazing doing something that makes me feel like Jo again and not just mummy.... Don't get me wrong, I love being mummy and wouldn't change it for the world, but I was starting to loose Jo, and I needed her back. I've always needed to be a busy person, wether it be crafting, playing, working etc and working with BetterStart Southend is just what I needed!

It's just been a very quick one for now as I have a house to de-monster now they are at school for the day, but I will be back later

Speak soon

Jo. 💋

[joannewebb82]

Yesterday was a day for learning new techniques. I attended a feeding in slings workshop to expand my knowledge base for myself and for my peer supporter side. There was ring slings, stretchies, woven wraps and structured buckle carriers, and we learnt how to safely feed in them all. :)

I love my woven wraps, and I am not ashamed to admit that I am a Lenny Lamb addict! They create such beautiful patterns and colour combinations, and once broken in they become SO soft. In fact the wrap squish is on my back in is my favourite Lenny wrap - a Dark Rainbow Symphony, size 5.

I have also learnt how to back carry my littlest squish this week! A tad scary the first few times but I actually feel quite confident putting her up there now (well when I'm at home, not confident enough to superman her up there in public yet!).

Today's new technique is going to be a front reinforced carry with a pond fancy finish, all going well I will share that one with you tomorrow. ;)

Right, that's it for now as I have to corral little monsters and get ready for my first BetterStart parent forum meeting since I joined the newsletter crew! Fingers crossed the parent champions like what we did.... 🙏 Oh, I will share our first edition with you later as well, I'm actually quite proud of it...

Speak soon.

Jo. 💋

[joannewebb82]

It's been quite a while since my last waffle at you all! So what have I been up to?

Well there's a new addition to the family and her name is Esmerelda. 😀 The last newborn you all saw is 2 next month, and the eldest is now 17!!!

What else is there to share? Well Esmerelda makes it a five aside team, I am now a breastfeeding peer supporter, I became a babywearing peer supporter last Friday, am one of a small team who write a monthly newsletter for our betterstart area, am booked on to the local betterstarts parent champion course, have a feeding in slings workshop I'm attending tomorrow and a breastfeeding information session I'm attending on Saturday... Lol.

Basically, I decided to be busy and take my knowledge and experience and put it to some good use. 😆

Hopefully I will be able to start using this blog again more often and will keep sharing what is going on in this crazy crazy home!

Speak again soon!

Jo. X

[joannewebb82]

The ramblings of this tired mummy's brain at 6:30 am... Please feel free to share if it sounds familiar! Lol.

[joannewebb82]

Peppermint creams This is a no raw egg white version of peppermint creams, so is suitable for young children and very easy to make. Preparation : 20 minutes Cooking : 0 Inactive : 240 minutes Total : 4 h 20 Yield : depends on thickness and size of cutter. Ingredients 225g Royal icing mix. Cooled, boiled water (anything between 1 and 4 tbsps). A few drops peppermint essence (to taste). A few drops green food colouring. 25g to 50g melted chocolate to decorate. Recipe * Place the Royal icing mix into a large bowl. * Add one tablespoon of water to start with and mix well. * Add more water 1 teaspoon at a time until the mixture forms a stiff, kneadable paste texture. * Add some peppermint essence (to taste, I used just under a capful), and a drop or two of food colouring. Mix well, then turn the mixture out onto some Greaseproof paper on the worktop. * Knead the mixture until the colour has mixed through evenly. If it becomes too sticky sprinkle some icing sugar onto the Greaseproof and continue to knead to a firm paste. * Using a rolling pin, roll out the mixture to your desired thickness, keeping it on the Greaseproof paper to avoid it sticking to your worktops, and using a sprinkle of icing sugar to stop the pin sticking. (for children I do 5mm thickness and use a 2cm cookie cutter, adults may prefer 10mm thickness, to make them more like chocolate covered creams found in tins of sweets). * Using your chosen cutter, cut out your shapes and place them on a Greaseproof lined tin to dry for 2 hours. * After 2 hours melt the chocolate and decorate either by dipping the peppermint creams into the chocolate or drizzling it over them. * Leave to dry for another 2 hours. * Place in an Airtight container and eat within one week. Comments Royal icing mix is usually next to the icing sugar in most large supermarkets. It contains dried, pasteurised egg white, making it safe for young children and pregnant ladies. This mixture can also be used to make other types of "creams". Lemon/orange creams: use juice or extract instead of the peppermint extract and change the food colouring to yellow or orange. Coffee creams: make up a mixture of 2 teaspoons coffee in 4 tablespoons of boiling water, and use this in the place of water and peppermint essence. Cookware Large mixing bowl. Scales. Wooden spoon. Tablespoon. Teaspoon. Rolling pin. Cookie cutters. Greaseproof paper. Drying rack/tray. Airtight container.

[joannewebb82]

Fifteens (magic sweeties) A sweet treat made with crushed digestives and condensed milk Preparation : 30 minutes Cooking : 0 Inactive : 60 minutes Total : 1 h 30 Yield : 30 (depending on size you make) Ingredients 1 packet digestive biscuits. 1 can condensed milk. 30 glace cherries (halved). 30 mini marshmallows. 2 handfuls dessicated coconut. Recipe * Crush the digestives into a large mixing bowl. * Add the glace cherries and the mini marshmallows. * Mix the can of condensed milk into the dry ingredients. * Place in fridge for 10 minutes to allow the mixture to become slightly less sticky. * Remove from fridge, roll mixture into small balls (tablespoon amount is a good portion), and roll each ball in the dessicated coconut to coat. * Place coated balls in the fridge for at least one hour to set before eating. Comments The amounts of glace cherries and mini marshmallows are guidelines only, I add whatever I feel like at the time! You can also use the following as "fillings" : Chocolate chunks Malteasers Dried fruit Fudge Nuts Or why not add a little cocoa powder to the condensed milk to make chocolate Fifteens! Cookware Large mixing bowl Wooden spoon Table spoon Large plate Bowl #handmadesweets #sweettreats #handmadechristmas #christmastreats #recipes #easysweetrecipes #yum #fifteens #magicsweeties

[joannewebb82]

With Christmas starting to look it is time to start experimenting with handmade sweet recipes! Lots to trial, lots to taste.... 😇 As and when new ones are successful I will share them here for you all. #handmadesweets #sweettreats #handmadechristmas #christmastreats #recipes #fudge #coconutice #fifteens #peppermintcreams #rumtruffles #welshcakes #muffins #spreadablesaltedcaramel

[joannewebb82]

[joannewebb82]

Anyone else's little monkey do this?

[joannewebb82]

So this is what happens when I am stuck on the sofa because of clusterfeeding! I hope you enjoy it, and please do share. A smile really does mean so much. X

[joannewebb82]

Breastfeeding Awareness.

[joannewebb82]

Breastfeeding Awareness Week. Helping to normalise one of the most natural things a mother can do for her child. * Is it easy? No not always. * Can it hurt? Sometimes yes, latch issues, tongue ties, high pallets, babies with oral thrush, teething... all of these can be painful at times. * Can every one succeed? No, not always, and there is no shame in that at all! I only managed to feed my first three children till they were six weeks old and then had to put them onto formula. I was upset I couldn't last any longer, but as a mother i knew what was best for my child at the time! * Is it worth it? Definitely!!!!! The bond that forms between mother and child is amazing. The love you feel when looking at that little face, knowing you are able to provide them with what they need is a wonderful feeling and no matter how tired or hungry I am, no matter that I'm supposed to be packing to move, I will always love that feeling. Please help us make Breastfeeding in public a normal thing to see. It can be very stressful for us mums to do! Being frowned at, tutted at, told that you should really go somewhere discreet, to feel like you should hide away.... All we want is a smile of encouragement, a place to sit and feel like we don't have to hide away, normally a cuppa and a biscuit or two to keep us going as we provide all the nutrients our babies need to survive. Lets get the world understanding that it's a normal thing to do. One small smile is all it can take to make a breastfeeding mum feel like she belongs in the cafe/restaurant/shopping centre just as much as the mum sat at another table bottle feeding. Neither is wrong, both are just doing their best to provide for their most precious bundles, exactly as it should be! Is breast best? In some cases yes, however in my experience, fed is best, be that by breast or bottle. Being able to do that without feeling judged is something every parent should be able to do, no matter where they are! Please share this and spread the word, smile, and make a mother's day just that little less stressful! X Speak again Soon! Joanne. 💋