Congratulations! Your baby is finally here and you’re embracing motherhood. While the joy of welcoming your little one can be overwhelming, the postpartum period, or ‘fourth trimester’, comes with its own challenges. Here are some tips on tackling the physical and emotional symptoms you might be experiencing right now. What is the Fourth Trimester? The fourth trimester covers the first three months after childbirth. It’s a phase where your body and mind both need time to recover from birth and adjust to your new role. Here are some common symptoms you may face during this period: Physical sym ..read more

A woman’s pregnancy is a beautiful and exciting time in her life, full of anticipation and hope. But for some women who suffer from allergies, it can also be a time of pain and trouble. During this time, allergies can be especially hard to deal with because you cannot take medication to ease the symptoms. If you’re expecting and struggling with allergies, here are some natural remedies for allergies during pregnancy. What can you do to ease symptoms in a natural way? The first step in dealing with allergies while pregnant is to figure out what irritates you and causes your symptoms. Pollen, d ..read more

Thinking of heading off for a holiday or short break with your bump? To make sure that your travel plans go smoothly, we’ve put together some top tips on travel during pregnancy. When to travel Most health experts will agree that travelling during the second trimester is best.  You will have gotten through those early months when you might have had morning sickness and were just not feeling tip-top. During the second trimester, mums-to-be normally have more energy and are feeling good but their burgeoning bump is not too heavy. In the third trimester, walking around in the heat or sittin ..read more

St Patrick’s Day, March 17th is Ireland’s national holiday, and an opportunity to celebrate Irish history and culture. If you are expecting a baby soon, you may be still thinking of names. So, to celebrate the day that’s in it, we have 10 gorgeous Irish baby girl names and 10 beautiful baby boy names for you to consider. 10 Gorgeous Irish Baby Girl Names Aoife Pronounced ‘Eefa’, this name is one of the oldest Irish names, appearing in ancient myths and legends of Celtic origin. Meaning ‘beauty’. Blathnaid Pronounced ‘Blanid’, Blathnaid, or Bláithín (Blawheen) means ‘little flower’. A gorgeous ..read more

If you are expecting a baby, you are probably very alert to all the changes happening in your body. Growing a little person is an entirely new experience so it’s worth knowing what to expect. Every twinge or ache can cause concern, so knowing about Braxton Hicks contractions can help put your mind at ease. What are Braxton Hicks contractions? Braxton Hicks contractions (so named for the doctor who defined them) are muscle contractions that happen periodically in the uterus. These can occur as early as 6 weeks, but you’re not likely to feel them until the second or third trimester. What do the ..read more

If you are expecting your first child, you have probably heard the term ‘babymoon’ being mentioned. But what is a babymoon? For first time parents-to-be, this is a final holiday or short break together before you become a family. So when should you take a babymoon, and where should you go? We’ve got some great babymoon tips to inspire you. When to take a babymoon? Being pregnant, you want to be able enjoy your babymoon to the full, so it’s best to go some time during your second trimester. Ideally between 14 and 28 weeks. That way, you will be over the early queasiness but not too heavily pre ..read more

Choosing a cot mattress? While the focus is usually on the cot itself, it’s also important to make sure that you select a good mattress to go with it. Because if baby sleeps well, so do you! At ClevaMama, we’ve been supplying mattresses since 2003, so we think we’ve learned a thing or two about them. Here are some key points to help you choose: Comfort The number one most important factor is comfort. Your baby needs a mattress that will help your little one to sleep comfortably. So, whether you choose a ClevaFoam Mattress, our award-winning Pocket-Sprung Mattress or one of our more specialise ..read more

During pregnancy, it’s so important that you sleep well. Your body is doing amazing work growing a new tiny human and this takes a lot of energy. However, your growing bump and pregnancy symptoms like heartburn, leg cramps and general restlessness can sometimes make sleep difficult. Don’t worry though. We’ve got you covered with 7 tips to help you sleep well. Take regular exercise Staying active will in turn, help you rest more fully at night but always be sure to check with your doctor to ensure you are doing suitable exercise. Get some fresh air A daily walk outdoors helps to oxygenate the ..read more

For a woman, giving birth is a momentous event. You’re bringing a new life into the world, which is a huge mental and physical task. So you want to have a positive birth experience.  Advance preparation will help you to enter the experience feeling empowered and ready. Here are 5 ways you can do that. Take a class Whether you choose the standard prenatal, hypnobirthing or any other type of class, these are a great way to prepare your body and mind for birth. You will most likely do gentle exercises and learn techniques for managing contractions during labour.  These classes will arm ..read more

If you’re reading this, you will probably have already experienced some of these symptoms of pregnancy and are wondering how to deal with them.  We can’t promise to have all the answers, but we do have some tips to make coping with them easier. Morning sickness If you are one of the 30% of women who don’t get morning sickness during pregnancy, lucky you! The other 70% will experience nausea, queasiness or vomiting at some point, usually in the first 3 months. Ginger is helpful for settling the stomach and beating nausea so start the day with a ginger biscuit or some crystallised ginger ..read more