Diary of a First-time Mum
New parents can easily be overwhelmed by the amount of information available on sleeping, feeding, burping, weighing and changing their new baby. So how do you wade through it all and find out what life with your new baby will really be like?
Diary of a First-time Mum is an unusual achievement.
The author, Nicole Hall, documented her life as a
new parent, jotting down her thoughts in the wee
hours of the morning as she breastfed. The result is
a comprehensive account of all the stuff that really
happens when you become a mum for the fi rst
time.
Nicole says: ‘When I came home with my new baby
I was aware I may have a lot to learn. I mean I was
aware of some things, like the fact that new babies
need regular feeds and sleeps, but the rest (i.e.
everything else) I discovered only as they suddenly
occurred. Having a baby is a huge learning curve and
there are some things you can only learn by going
through them yourself.
‘I wrote this book for pregnant women (and their
partners) and for new mothers. Everything I share
here, everything I’ve learned and found out about
being a new mum, I wish I had before my babies were
born. I hope it will provide invaluable pre and post
birth insights and be a useful companion to all eagerto-
be mums like I once was / still am.’
At times hilarious and sad, poignant and quirky,
Nicole’s diary shares her intimate experiences
of everything from labour to changing nappies,
endless poo, mastitis, sleep patterns, changes in her
body and the joy of getting to know her new sons.
She also shares her inner thoughts on her transition
from being a professional working woman to fulltime
stay-at-home mum.
Nicole says the support of family, friends and health
workers was invaluable: ‘I had so few ideas about
babies or parenting. I had no idea how it would feel to
have a little one attached to me all the time, I had no
idea what to do with a sick baby. These people became
our instruction manual.
‘Now I have children, the way we live seems
nonsensical to me. We, the primary parents, are all
slaving away in our little boxes; all doing the same
thing, all coming up against the same challenges. I
imagine that in tribal communities fi rst-time mothers
do not have such a diffi cult time.
‘Speaking from my own experience I would advise
any new mum not to struggle on their own. It may be
the most rewarding job in the world, but it’s also the
hardest. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family,
friends and community services, and join a mother’s
group - you will quickly fi nd everyone is in the same
boat!’
Nicole Hall is a clinical psychologist and (nowadays)
34-year-old mother of two young sons. Nicole has a
Bachelor of Science (Honours), a Graduate Diploma of
Psychology and a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology. She has
worked as a clinical psychologist with adolescents and young
adults in public health and more recently, in private practice.
Nicole is currently involved in mental health research.
Diary of a First-time Mum
Finch Publishing
Author: Nicole Hall
ISBN 9781921462122
RRP: $26.95
