As part of our ‘five minutes on motherhood‘ series, we chat with new mum and Water Wipes ambassador Millie Mackintosh.
Q: Thanks so much for chatting with us today Millie; like many of our readers you recently became a first time mum during the pandemic: how have you found adapting to motherhood in such strange times?
A: Thanks for having me! It has been a very weird time but actually, for us, I think it has been a blessing in some ways because we have had so much uninterrupted time at home as a family. I feel very grateful that we have had Sienna to keep us busy and make us laugh.
Q: If you had to sum up motherhood in just one word, what would it be?
A; Messy! in the best possible way…
Q: You’re open about breastfeeding on your Instagram; can you tell us about your breastfeeding journey? How long did you breastfeed for (or are you still feeding now?) and did you find it challenging?
A: I breastfed Sienna for 4 months, it was something I really wanted to experience and I am so glad I did but I definitely found it challenging at times.
We didn’t realise but Sienna had silent reflux which would lead to her being really unsettled and crying for the last few hours of the day. It was after I read the book ‘the sensational baby sleep plan’
I realised Sienna’s symptoms were a sign of silent reflux. we got referred to a gastric specialist and put sienna on medication and prescribed formula which has made a big difference and she is now a very content and happy baby who sleeps through the night!
Q: That’s amazing! What tip would you share with first time mums to make life that little bit easier?
A: One thing that really helped me to recover after the birth was taking naps in the day when Sienna was asleep!
Q: Lots of us worry about being as eco-friendly as possible when becoming a mum; have you made any changes to your mum and baby routine to make it a little more eco-friendly?
A; One product I have used since Sienna was born is WaterWipes, they have seen us through lots of sticky situations and I always have a pack near by!
They have just launched their new biodegradable wipes which I am very excited about, they still contain only two ingredients, 99.9% water and a hint of fruit extract, and are still purer than cotton wool and water. So, I feel confident knowing they are still very gentle on Sienna’s skin and not harmful to the environment.
Q: What’s one thing you wish somebody had prepared you for when it came to pregnancy, childbirth or becoming a mum?
A: I tried to prepare myself in lots of ways before sienna was born but honestly have found that you learn as you go along! I had lots of ideas about how I wanted to do things but most of that went out the window once Sienna arrived and reality hit!
Q: That’s so true! you’ve spoken openly about your postnatal mental health which is a topic we cover a lot at Mumernity. What advice would you give new mums who might feel they’re struggling with this?
A: For me, things that helped were – speaking honestly about my feelings to friends and family and midwife/obstetrician. daily walks to the park to be around nature, taking time to do something for me like having a nice bath and watching a favourite show on netflix or cooking a favourite comfort food for dinner
Q: Finally, tell us five items that are always in your changing bag?
WaterWipes of course!
Boots baby nappy cream
Dr Barbara Stürm baby face cream
Lansinoh nipple cream – I love this as a lip balm!
Anti-bacterial gel
Millie Mackintosh is working with WaterWipes, which since 2021 WaterWipes are now 100% biodegradable* and compostable* wipes. For more information, please visit https://www.waterwipes.com/uk/en/community/we-are-biodegradable.
Where next?
15 free online mum and baby classes to try this week.
What to do if you’re worried about your baby’s or toddler’s development during COVID