About Me

Who am I?

I’m your average, working-class, first time mum (FTM)!  Born & raised in the U.K., I moved to Melbourne (Australia) in 2010.  As a qualified Paediatric Nurse, I have worked at major hospitals in the U.K. and Australia. 

I met my (now) husband in Australia in 2016.  In 2020, we conceived for the first time.  Sadly, this resulted in a very traumatic miscarriage, in the form
of a blighted ovum.  We experienced a second miscarriage later that same year, in the form of a chemical pregnancy.  Our journey to parenthood continued to be bumpy, including a diagnosis of a partial (50%) DQ Alpha match, LMIT treatment, immunosuppressive treatment, diagnosis of an “incompetent cervix” and surgery to treat this. 

In 2021, we were truly blessed to welcome our son into our world  Due to medical reasons, I always knew that I would have to deliver via elective c-section. 

Our son, who is now 5 months old, has added incredible joy to our lives.  The last 5 months have provided us with invaluable learning opportunities.  From being new parents, recovering from a c-section (I say “us” because it really does require a partnership!), surviving the difficult days of caring for a baby with acid reflux (before diagnosis and treatment), navigating life as a family of 3 and for me, learning to breastfeed. 

Given that we were living in a Covid lockdown for most of my pregnancy here in Melbourne, our baby purchases were all made online.  The exception was our pram, which we were able to select and purchase in-person when “in-between” lockdowns!  Unable to view, compare and get a “feel” for products in-person, a lot of time was spent researching online.  Being new parents, it’s so easy to become overwhelmed by choices when it comes to baby “essentials”.  Where do you draw the line on reading reviews on the best bassinet?  The safest bassinet?  The safest mattress?  The best bassinet linen?  A bassinet with or without wheels?  A co-sleeper, or not?  To swaddle, or not to swaddle?  Sooooo many questions!  The more you read, the more questions arise.  Until you find yourself scrolling aimlessly, reading blogs, reading professional articles, reading reviews, watching YouTubevideos….the list goes on!  And still unable to make a decision on which to purchase!  And then you turn to friends who are parents and seek their advice, what worked for them….and every friend has different recommendations which adds to the confusion!  The truth is, what works for one won’t necessarily work for another.  Your baby is unique, your lifestyle and parenting style are also unique.  Your budget is very personal.  I guess in 2022, it’s a case of “you do you”! 

And so, why then, would you want to read my blog and recommendations?

Firstly, when I was travelling the bumpy road to parenthood alongside my husband, I turned to google searches to find other women who had experienced similar challenges.  I did not find anything that resonated with me, which led me to share my experiences.  If you’re that person looking for the same, I hope that you find resonance in my personal accounts.  I hope that you realise that you are not alone, and that this provides some comfort to you.

Secondly, here I am on the back of my self-directed research, simply sharing what baby items we have trialled.  Most importantly, what works, what doesn’t and the WHY!  Hopefully you will find the why helpful and be able to apply this when deciding on products that will work for you and your family. 
Many friends often ask us about any purchases that we “regret”, and to date, we don’t have any, so we feel that our dollars have been spent wisely! 

So, here goes….feel free to read at your leisure.  If you’re a new parent yourself, this light reading may help you to stay awake during those night feeds….I know that I needed something to keep my eyes open!  My husband would then wake up to many WhatsApp messages where I had shared lots of links to baby items that I thought we should purchase!!! 

What you won’t find here….

– me doing selfies, videos or dances in front of the camera whilst pointing into the air captions !!!

-me glammed up and filled with Botox, fake tan and false nails!  The reality is, I’m just your average, suburban mummy and tying my hair up and showering before midday is all the glamour I need (and can realistically achieve!) 

– photos of our son.  I believe in respecting his privacy and not portraying his image all over social media.

-medical advice.  All that I am sharing is from my experience as a new, first time mummy

*DISCLAIMER – all information shared on this https://ftminmelbourne.com/ website is from personal experience as a parent.  No medical advice is provided and it is recommended that you seek medical advice and care by your treating practitioner.