Snuggle and Stretch Baby Massage and Baby Yoga

14/10/2023

My baby turned four the other day - every birthday is special, but it feels like he’s no longer a baby - he’s now a little boy. He’s become more independent, can tell me about his new friends at nursery and actually sleeps through the night more often than not now.

I’m so thankful for him every day.

His birthday brought me right back to when he was born, to the sleep deprivation that only another parent can fully comprehend, to the lonely week I had to spend in hospital after he was born as they brought my BP down.

I remember how much I loved showing him off to people, but how at times, their timings were overwhelming to me. I remember the first couple of months when I was unable to drive due to a c-sec and how restrictive that felt (despite so many willing family taxi drivers!).

I remember loving the baby classes when I finally got out, chatting to other mums at the same stage, realising the hard things were normal and most of us were exhausted and overthinking. I remember when the world shut down and suddenly I didn’t have any classes or mums and tots to go to. I don’t think I fully appreciated how important they were, especially as a first time mum. I was lucky as I have a great husband, great family and great friends….but I now realise nothing can quite replace those other ‘mum friends’ you make with babies at the same stage as you. And at times I still grieve for the things I missed out as a first (and even a second time) mum because of Covid.

This, along with having two colicky babies of my own, are the two main reasons I started Baby Massage and Yoga classes - I wanted to make sure other mums had the opportunity to meet their ‘mum friends’, to provide a fun, safe space for them to meet, connect & provide a new skill to support their babies during those early days. One of my favourite things to do - a real privilege to be a part of these mamas lives 😊

09/10/2023

One week today!
Cannot wait until Baby Massage classes start up again!

Come join us for a 5 week course learning massage techniques to help with sleep, constipation, colds, teething and much, much more!

DM to book
❤️

08/10/2023

Another top 5 favourite things about Baby Massage classes.

1. Learning Baby Massage techniques for a happy baby 🙂
2. Babies love meeting and seeing other babies 👶
3. Making new friends (so important as a new mum, regardless of how many kids you already have!)
4. Having a great reason to get out of the house (it’s never easy, but so worth it when you do!)
5. Looking forward to the next class each week!

I love our small classes where Mums actually get a chance to chat and make friends with other mums at the same stage as them.

02/10/2023

So one of my lovely mums sent me her 5 favourite things about coming to Baby Massage classes - absolutely love these 🥰

30/09/2023

How amazing is this?! Up to 5 hours more sleep!!!!!
As a mum of two babies who weren’t great sleepers….I wish I had been able to attend baby massage classes!!!!

DM for more info on the next set of classes.

25/09/2023

These two little people are the reason I’ve been AWOL. It’s been a busy summer keeping up with them, spending time with them, having adventures with them and soaking up all the lovely parts of this stage. This month has been filled with settling in days and adjusting to our new routines and rhythm.

These two boys are also the very reason I chose to become a Baby Massage & Baby Yoga instructor. I realised how important classes were as a new or seasoned mum. Meeting with other mums at the same stage, getting to share the highs whilst remembering that you aren’t alone in the harder parts. A mum network makes those early days a little easier and a little more fun!

AND even better….learning techniques from classes that help baby and that continue to be useful even now that my babies 2 and almost 4 (they love a massage to finish the day!).

Cannot wait to start the next block of classes - come join us!

DM for more info or to book
snuggleandstretch.co.I’m

18/09/2023

05/08/2023

My two babies….well they aren’t babies any more but this is where my breastfeeding story began.

I was so lucky that breastfeeding was fairly easy, natural and intuitive for me overall.
Don’t get me wrong…I had my fair share of BF problems. I got a horrible lump under my arm 3 days after my first was born that would mean that I was sent to see the consultant in the ulster, I had so many blocked ducts that I could even begin to guess the number, I had mastitis (if u know, you know!) and I had thrush (the pain was something else!).

So when I say it was relatively easy, I mean my babies latched, they fed well, I didn’t worry about how much milk they were getting (quite the opposite as my milk seemed to come flying out).

I am a massive advocate of breastfeeding, IF YOU CAN AND IF IT IS RIGHT FOR YOU AND BABY!
There are so many amazing benefits for both of you, it seemed like an easier option on most occasions as I didn’t have to listen to the hunger cries for any longer than it took me to undo my bra. But i was too lazy to pump plus my boys were not fooled by the bottle so I exclusively breastfed meaning that I had to be there 24/7 pretty much for the first 15 months of their lives. It was hard at times, it was beyond exhausting but it was so special.

As I said earlier, I think it’s great if it works for you and your baby, but I also know that not everyone has my journey and for some it’s really tough, it doesn’t work out or it just doesn’t work for their lives. Please, please know that it is not the be all and end all. Please know that a healthy baby and healthy mum is by far, more important in my opinion. Please do what is right for you and do not beat yourself up.

But please also know that if you want to bf and are finding it tough, keep asking for support until you get the right kind.

I hope everyone who comes across Snuggle and Stretch feels welcome regardless of their feeding choice and feeding journey. I hope everyone knows that I am always willing to chat or listen.

You Mamas are doing an amazing job - keep going. Some day you will be amazed at the little person your little one has turned into 😊

04/08/2023

Breastival happening tomorrow
Ulster Museum and Botanic gardens

05/07/2023

Considering doing a one off summer special of Baby Massage and/or Baby Yoga special. If you would be interested, send me a
message.