The Honest Confessions of a NICU Mum on…. Baby Classes Norfolk 2018
So, it seems that once you’ve got the baby out of you then you have to then suddenly fill your calendar with sensory classes, baby massage and bounce and rhyme classes.
During my pregnancy with my eldest, I can’t really remember finding local baby classes or planning to attend them. It was more than likely the fact others were doing it and me feeling like I should too!
I was quite fortunate to live a few minutes from a local children’s centre where they held most of the baby classes in my town.
Even looking back now I remember baby classes with conflicting emotions.
Elijah had colic so someone had suggested baby massage and I did put our names down to see if it would help.
By this point, we had endured a NICU stay, and were waiting for a surgery date. I began to decline mentally and certainly remember feeling panicky about attending the class.
Luckily my friend also attended with me, but I still feeling some afraid that people would pick out me as the NICU Mum, and I didn’t want their pity. I was going through a really bad time of accepting what we had been through, and also what we would have to go through and meeting other mums with their healthy babies was hard.
I briefly mentioned it to the teacher in case there was any sort of medical restriction and I saw the pity in her eyes.
I did what I do best, and deflected it, providing some distraction was also Elijah who had projectile vomited all over one of those brightly coloured mats.
As much as baby classes are great for getting you out of the house, for meeting other mums I think there is also a slightly darker side to them, well that’s my experience anyway.
I found I was always comparing myself to others, and my baby too, who was bigger, was sleeping better, who was doing what.
There is also a fear of judgement when I whipped my Tommee Tippee out of the changing bag, I felt like I was failing.
This is likely just a representation of my mental state at the time, and I am even now, very socially awkward.
I did find it quite hard to go into a room full of parents I didn’t know and to me felt as though I was being put on trial.
I tended to feel comfortable with certain mum friends and would prefer just a house playdate rather than sitting in a circle singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Over the first 18 months with Elijah, we attended them sporadically, but I just don’t think we found the right fit for us. We also had a lot going on with NICU surgery, recovery etc they were just not on my top list of priorities.
I think there is a stigma surrounding baby classes too, I know of some wonderful ladies whom I have met who run their own classes and I am sure they would have certainly been better suited to us.
There are some great baby classes now on offer that are now offering something different from the norm that also helps the parents out too (links below).
Greg always felt the odd one out as he tended to be the only dad and I just didn’t feel comfortable enough to keep going back.
I haven’t actually taken Harlow to a baby class and I do beat myself up he is missing out but the truth is with two kids, and a trillion schedules to manage we just don’t have time. He is quite happy to play with Elijah and friends.
It has saddened me that many Children’s Centres are closing and this is where many baby classes are held, and despite me not using them much I know how important they are to others and having the access of them.
It is funny how we as parents put so much pressure on ourselves to sensor the hell out of our little ones believing it is what we should be doing at a detriment to ourselves.
I worry about this unnecessary pressure on vulnerable new mums and wish I could go back and tell that panicked mum it was all okay and it doesn’t matter because you are just doing your best.
Happy mum/dad, happy baby whether you go to baby class or not.
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Vicki Cockerill is a Freelance Content Writer and NICU/CHD Mum to two boys, she authors The Honest Confessions Of A NICU Mum Blog and co-founded the @KnackeredandNorwich Social Club and campaigns for NICU and MMH issues. You can contact her via her blog or social media;
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