When a new baby arrives, so much of the conversation naturally shifts toward feeding, sleeping, weight gain, nappies, and milestones. These things matter. But somewhere amongst the appointments, advice, and checklists, it's easy for one very important person to get overlooked: Mum.
Introducing Cathy McCormick, founder of HolisticBaby
We recently sat down with Cathy McCormick, founder of HolisticBaby, who offers Birthcare antenatal classes, lactation consultancy and midwifery support, to talk about what new mothers really need in those precious (and often overwhelming) first weeks after birth.
Not, "Is baby feeding well?" or "How many wet nappies today?" Not another checklist or appointment that moves quickly from one milestone to the next. Simply, "How are things going for you?" Then, perhaps even more importantly, silence.
It sounds so simple, but Cathy believes those few quiet moments can change everything. When we rush to fill the silence with advice or questions, we often miss what is really going on. New mothers don't always have the words immediately. Sometimes the answer arrives as tears that have been waiting for permission to fall. Sometimes it's a long yawn from complete exhaustion, or the way a mother looks at her baby before she speaks. Those small moments often reveal far more than any checklist ever could.
What follows that pause is usually where the real conversation begins. A mother who initially says she's "fine" might quietly admit she's been crying every day. Another might finally ask about sore nipples after convincing herself she should have breastfeeding figured out by now. Someone else might confess that the nights feel overwhelming or that she's worried she's doing everything wrong. Those are the moments Cathy loves most, because meaningful support starts from what a mother is ready to share, not from what someone else assumes she needs.
The first few weeks after birth are unlike anything else. You're healing physically while your hormones are changing dramatically. You're learning an entirely new little person while simultaneously becoming someone new yourself. It's easy to believe you should instinctively know what you're doing, but the truth is that confidence isn't something that appears overnight. It grows slowly through experience, through support, and through the countless tiny moments where you begin to understand your baby and, just as importantly, trust yourself.
Cathy often reminds mothers that in these early weeks, everything can feel difficult simply because everything is new—for both you and your baby. With practice, patience and the right support, most things become easier over time. It doesn't mean every challenge disappears, but what once felt impossible slowly becomes familiar. Looking back, many mothers can't quite pinpoint when that shift happened. They just realise one day that they're responding instinctively, trusting themselves a little more, and finding their own rhythm.
One of the biggest misconceptions Cathy sees is the belief that if a mother just tried harder, read another book or followed every piece of advice perfectly, everything would finally click into place. But motherhood isn't about getting it right. It's about discovering what works for you and your baby. Every baby is different. Every mother is different. Every birth story is different. There is no universal blueprint, and there doesn't need to be.
At Vital Bits, we love this perspective because it gently shifts the focus away from perfection and back to the mother herself. We believe babies deserve wonderful care, but so do the women who brought them into the world. Healing isn't just physical. It's emotional. It's relational. It's learning to trust your own instincts while giving yourself permission to ask for help when you need it.
So if you're reading this in the middle of those hazy newborn weeks, let this be your reminder that you don't have to have all the answers. You don't have to earn support by struggling in silence. And if nobody has asked you today, we'll ask instead.
How are you really doing?
We're incredibly grateful to have Cathy and HolisticBaby as part of the Vital Bits community. If there's a specific question about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding or postpartum that you'd love us to explore in a future conversation, we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to us on our socials and we'll do our best to cover it.
Want to join an Antenatal Class? Head over here to learn more.
