Blog

Never miss out on our latest blog and news articles.

Yes, you’ve probably heard of them but are not too sure what they are – don’t worry, you’re not alone!  Braxton Hicks contractions are your body’s way of preparing for labour and are usually experienced towards the end of your pregnancy.  While you gear up......

Your pelvic floor muscles go through a lot during pregnancy. They surround and support all the organs in your pelvic area, including your womb, bladder and bowels.  During pregnancy, your pelvic floor muscles naturally loosen thanks to all of the hormonal changes in your body.......

Exercising during your pregnancy is healthy, safe and not dangerous for you or your baby.  In fact, the more fit and active you are during your pregnancy, the more manageable your body will find adapting to weight gain and changing shape. Staying active throughout pregnancy......

Being pregnant, whether for the first time or if you’ve had several children, is a major life event that shouldn’t be underestimated.   It is completely natural throughout your pregnancy and following giving birth to feel a host of different emotions all at once, and feel......

Being pregnant, like anything else, is unique to the individual. Every pregnancy is different and every woman could experience early pregnancy symptoms differently. Symptoms could even differ for the same woman but different pregnancies.   There are some common first signs that could indicate that you’re......

Summer Time has officially begun, and it is fair to say that over the last few days the summer season hasn’t failed to deliver scorching temperatures and a taste of what this summer has in store.  While we adults revel in the summer heat, your......

Breastfeeding your newborn is a natural and wonderfully rewarding experience for both mother and baby, but it isn’t always as straightforward as it may seem. While breastfeeding can be an intensely loving, bonding experience, it can equally be a stressful and tearful time if things......

Hosted by Louise May, Midwife and Mum of 3, and joined by a special guest each week, The Last Push podcast focuses on all things pregnancy and parenthood...

A goodnight’s sleep is key to feeling and looking good during pregnancy.  While you sleep your body delivers fluid to organs and tissues that need replenishing...

Hosted by Louise May, Midwife and Mum of 3, and joined by a special guest each week, The Last Push podcast focuses on all things pregnancy and parenthood...

A goodnight’s sleep is key to feeling and looking good during pregnancy.  While you sleep your body delivers fluid to organs and tissues that need replenishing...

Hosted by Louise May, Midwife and Mum of 3, and joined by a special guest each week, The Last Push podcast focuses on all things pregnancy and parenthood...

A goodnight’s sleep is key to feeling and looking good during pregnancy.  While you sleep your body delivers fluid to organs and tissues that need replenishing...

A goodnight’s sleep is key to feeling and looking good during pregnancy.  While you sleep your body delivers fluid to organs and tissues that need replenishing...

A goodnight’s sleep is key to feeling and looking good during pregnancy.  While you sleep your body delivers fluid to organs and tissues that need replenishing...

Hosted by Louise May, Midwife and Mum of 3, and joined by a special guest each week, The Last Push podcast focuses on all things pregnancy and parenthood...

Hosted by Louise May, Midwife and Mum of 3, and joined by a special guest each week, The Last Push podcast focuses on all things pregnancy and parenthood...

A goodnight’s sleep is key to feeling and looking good during pregnancy.  While you sleep your body delivers fluid to organs and tissues that need replenishing...

Flying can cause discomfort at the best of times. While pregnant, it can exacerbate the discomfort you're already experiencing. Symptoms like a blocked nose or ears, swollen legs, and morning sickness can all get worse at 30,000 feet...

2021 has been a roller coaster of a year for The Baby Academy in which we helped over 500,000 families as they began their journey into parenthood and we can't wait to see that number grow....

Seona is a midwife with over 10 years of experience working in all areas of midwifery. She is hugely passionate about breastfeeding and formalised this passion by becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant....

Hydration is an essential component of your health during pregnancy. Your body is adapting to pregnancy, where among the huge range of changes occurring...

Packing correctly for your baby benefits both you and your baby. In this blog, I will discuss the travel essentials you need when traveling on a plane...

Sinéad is a qualified Lactation Consultant and very passionate about supporting families throughout their breastfeeding journey...

Vitamin K is a vitamin that is essential for natural blood clotting. The vitamin activates molecules in our bodies that are necessary for clotting...

Mums are in the spotlight after pregnancy, and rightly so. But their partners need love and support too!...

Flathead syndrome is also known as plagiocephaly. Baby’s heads are extremely malleable so anything that applies pressure to the skull has the ability to mold. ...

A ‘Keto Diet’, short for Ketogenic Diet, consists of 75%  fats, 15-20% proteins, and >10% carbohydrates. While other diets would reduce complex sugars like white bread and pasta, Keto Dieting cuts out all carbs, including most fruit and vegetables, cereals, and grains. ...

As I’m sure you’ve noticed already, newborn babies sleep a lot! However, it’s important that they wake every three hours or so to feed until they are back to their birth weight usually by 2 weeks old. ...

Bringing home a new baby can be a bit of a shock for everyone, especially older siblings who are used to being the centre of attention. Here are some great tips for reassuring your older kids that they’re not being replaced or forgotten about....

There are a few reasons why you will experience vaginal bleeding after the birth of your baby....

Here at The Baby Academy, we are incredibly passionate about making pregnancy and parental education accessible to all, so we are delighted to have partnered with Lupilu to launch our Free Mum’s Health Workshop....

We are delighted to launch our Free Perinatal Mental Health Workshop, the first of its kind globally. This 2-hour online workshop is ideal for existing and expectant parents....

Many babies, in the first few months of life, go through fussy periods. Babies tend to fuss most in the evening or afternoon but each baby is different! ...

Now that your toddler is roaming freely, there are a few things to keep in mind when dressing them....

Our online classes are delivered by the most highly qualified and experienced midwives, who are engaging and inspiring. Our classes allow you to learn from the best and gain confidence to make the best decisions for you and baby throughout your pregnancy journey....

Every pregnant mother holds a vivid image in their mind of their little one snuggled up in the womb, sucking his thumb or resting his chin against his hand....

Almost every mom, at one time or another, has felt the shame and anger that is triggered by the phenomenon of ‘mom-shaming’ and I’m sorry to tell any soon-to-be moms that you will probably experience it too....

Keeping your baby hydrated is important at all times, as the effects of severe dehydration can be serious. If your child is very thirsty, they are probably already dehydrated. Their little bodies can help but struggle to hold fluids so dehydration can happen fast so it's important to be aware of the signs of dehydration:...

Sonia began her midwifery training in 2009 after working as a nurse in a busy Irish Hospital....

It’s normal to feel like you're in a daze during pregnancy. Doctor appointments and new medical information abound as you prepare for what’s ahead....

We get a lot of anxious emails from soon-to-be mothers wondering why their baby isn’t kicking yet, and when they should expect the kicking to start. ...

Louise began her midwifery career in 2007 after initially training as a Nurse and brings her extensive experience to The Baby Academy....

What That Dark Line on Your Pregnant Belly Is, And Why You Shouldn’t Worry About It...

Jean is a Midwife with over 15 year’s experience and also a Mum of two. She has been providing antenatal education for 7 years....

Aisling is a Midwife working in one of Ireland’s largest maternity departments. With extensive experience in the labour ward and postnatal ward....

If you’re a mum of twins, breastfeeding can be doubly challenging at first: After all, you’ve got two mouths to feed, two little bodies to balance and three people who need to figure out this whole breastfeeding thing....

Sue is a Midwife, Antenatal Instructor and a busy Mum of two. With over 15 years’ experience, Sue has worked in all areas of Midwifery such as Delivery Suite, Antenatal wards, Postnatal wards, the DOMINO program and currently manages The Antenatal Education Department in one of Ireland’s largest Maternity Hospitals....

If you’re a mum of twins, breastfeeding can be doubly challenging at first: After all, you’ve got two mouths to feed, two little bodies to balance and three people who need to figure out this whole breastfeeding thing....

Finding out you are expecting is super exciting but this also might be your first time stepping into the realm of a hospital care and with prolonged periods of time alongside healthcare professionals you'll likely be hearing dozens of long-sounding words used to describe your pregnancy....

Usually one of the first things people ask once you’ve had your baby is “how much do they weigh?!”...

Jaundice is a slight yellow discolouration of your baby’s skin and the whites of their eyes which occurs a few days after they're born and is very common....

It is highly recommended that women should get a flu vaccine at any stage when you are pregnant. During pregnancy, her immune system changes and so she can accommodate carrying the baby. ...

Haemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus or lower rectum and downward pressure during labour has the potential for these swollen veins to pop!...

Having a baby is a fundamental part of human nature and some people don't see any reason to attend an antenatal class, after all, women have been having babies for thousands of years and there weren’t antenatal classes available way back when....

What do Braxton Hicks feel like? Braxton Hicks contractions are painless tightenings of the uterine muscles and normal throughout your pregnancy as long as they’re painless and irregular....

First of all, every woman, her pregnancy and her birth experience is very different. What you may experience can vary widely from what your friend or sister or mother may have experienced....

More than 1 in 5 pregnancies end in miscarriage, around 14,000 women in Ireland each year experience the loss of their baby at some stage throughout their pregnancy. Many women are not well informed about why a miscarriage happens, which can make the whole situation frightening and more distressing....

When a pregnancy results in a miscarriage, the mother and father both grieve a tragic loss....

A big thank you to Killian for sharing your story with us and helping us to help dad's and partners feel more included in the the journey from bump to baby....

Safe sleep is one of the main topics we teach in our FREE Baby Care Workshop which we run for first time expectant parents....

Fetal hiccups are very normal. This comes from advice that hiccups should not be the only movements you feel, as they are involuntary....

Breastfeeding colostrum for the first few days is a great start for your baby...

Baby Zeke came into the world 3 weeks early, after an unexpected induction because of an IUGR...

Yes it’s ok, due to the anatomy of blood vessels in the body you may feel weak or woozy lying on your back in pregnancy, just tilt to the side of this is the case....

For a planned section, you can bring your baby’s first outfit and nappies packed in a little bag, and that is all you’ll need to go to theatre, the hospital will supply the gown you wear for the birth....