Bringing your baby home is one of life's most unforgettable moments. It can also be one of the most overwhelming.

Feeding, sleeping, nappies, crying and weight loss, those first few weeks are filled with questions. How do you know what's normal? When should you ask for help? And why does everyone seem to have different advice?

In this episode of Family Health by Mini First Aid, Kate is joined by NHS paediatrician Dr Lillie Parker to guide parents through the realities of life with a newborn.

Drawing on both her professional expertise and her own recent experience as a new mum, Dr Parker explains what parents can realistically expect during those first days and weeks after birth.

Together they discuss newborn feeding, understanding weight loss, sleep patterns, recognising normal newborn behaviour and why preparation before your baby arrives can make those early weeks feel a little less overwhelming.

This episode is packed with practical advice and gentle reassurance for anyone adjusting to life with a brand new baby.

In this episode:

• What life with a newborn is really like
• Why those first weeks can feel overwhelming
• Newborn feeding and recognising when baby is full
• Breastfeeding, formula feeding and establishing routines
• Why babies lose weight after birth
• Sleep expectations during the newborn period
• Normal newborn behaviour
• Preparing before your baby arrives
• When to seek advice from healthcare professionals

To find your nearest Mini First Aid class or browse our range of trusted first aid products, visit www.minifirstaid.co.uk.

Mini First Aid Family First Aid Kit - Platinum Award-winning first aid kit, voted a Best Buy in the Loved By Parents Awards 2021, is a comprehensive first aid kit for all the family. Containing 115 essential items, it is ideal for keeping in your car or at home for any first aid emergencies.

Find out more about our multi-award-winning two-hour Baby & Child first aid classes here, delivered in a relaxed and comfortable style to give you the confidence to know what actions to take if faced with a medical emergency.

For press enquiries and to contact Mini First Aid, email info@minifirstaid.co.uk

Dr. Lillie Parker is an NHS paediatrician dedicated to providing expert, compassionate care. Her Instagram page @doctor.lils offers parents and carers a reliable source of health advice amidst the overwhelming noise of unregulated information online. Her mission is to create a supportive community and empower parents to confidently manage their children’s health using trusted, evidence based advice and information.

This podcast is brought to you by Mini First Aid, the UK's leading family first aid provider. Whether you're preparing for a new baby, stocking up at home or equipping a workplace, you'll find trusted first aid kits, defibrillators, burns care, eyewash and everyday essentials at https://minifirstaidshop.co.uk/

Family Health Podcast listeners can also get 10% off Mini First Aid own-brand products online with code PODCAST10 until the end of October 2026.

Most parents will meet a health visitor after their baby is born, but many aren't quite sure what a health visitor actually does.

Do they simply weigh your baby? When should you contact them? Can they support your own wellbeing as well as your baby's?

In this episode of Family Health by Mini First Aid, Kate chats with registered health visitor Ruth Watts to explore the vital role health visitors play throughout pregnancy and the early years.

Ruth explains that health visitors are there for much more than routine weight checks. They support families from pregnancy through to school age, offering advice on feeding, sleep, child development, emotional wellbeing, safe sleep, parenting and much more.

Together, Kate and Ruth discuss how health visitors work alongside midwives and other healthcare professionals, the routine appointments parents can expect, and why asking questions, however small they may seem, is always encouraged.

They also have an honest conversation about maternal mental health, building your support network and why every family's journey is different.

Whether you're expecting your first baby or already navigating life with little ones, this episode will help you understand how your health visitor can become one of your greatest sources of support.

In this episode:

• When you'll first meet your health visitor
• What happens during antenatal and postnatal appointments
• Why health visitors are about so much more than weighing babies
• Support with feeding, sleep and safe sleep
• Maternal mental health and emotional wellbeing
• The importance of family support networks
• How health visitors work alongside midwives
• When you should contact your health visitor between appointments
• Common misconceptions about the role

NHS Services & Support for Parents

Home Start - Help for Struggling Families: Support for families struggling with post-natal depression, isolation, physical health problems, bereavement and many other issues.

The Lullaby Trust, Safe Sleep Advice

Find a Family Hub near you.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline

Information, advice and directory: The Breast Feeding Network

Find a Baby Bank near you.

Mini First Aid Family First Aid Kit - Platinum Award-winning first aid kit, voted a Best Buy in the Loved By Parents Awards 2021, is a comprehensive first aid kit for all the family. Containing 115 essential items, it is ideal for keeping in your car or at home for any first aid emergencies.

Find out more about our multi-award-winning two-hour Baby & Child first aid classes here, delivered in a relaxed and comfortable style to give you the confidence to know what actions to take if faced with a medical emergency.

For press enquiries and to contact Mini First Aid, email info@minifirstaid.co.uk

Ruth Watts has been a registered health visitor in England for over 10 years. Her greatest passion is to empower parents and support them with feeling confident in their decisions whilst trying to listen to their gut instinct. Her Instagram page @ahealthvisitor provides vital information to support parents on their parenting journey.

This podcast is brought to you by Mini First Aid, the UK's leading family first aid provider. Whether you're preparing for a new baby, stocking up at home or equipping a workplace, you'll find trusted first aid kits, defibrillators, burns care, eyewash and everyday essentials at https://minifirstaidshop.co.uk/

Family Health Podcast listeners can also get 10% off Mini First Aid own-brand products online with code PODCAST10 until the end of October 2026.

No parent expects their baby to need neonatal care, but thousands of families experience this journey every year.

For families whose baby is born prematurely, needs support after birth or requires specialist treatment, the neonatal unit can feel like an unfamiliar and overwhelming place.

In this episode of Family Health by Mini First Aid, Kate is joined by NHS paediatrician Dr Lillie Parker for an honest and reassuring conversation about neonatal intensive care.

Drawing on both her clinical experience and Kate's own personal experience of having twins cared for in the neonatal unit, they explain what parents can expect if their baby is admitted to NICU or a Special Care Baby Unit.

Dr Lils discusses the different levels of neonatal care, why babies may need extra support with breathing, feeding or temperature regulation, and explains some of the equipment and terminology parents are likely to encounter.

Most importantly, this episode aims to remove some of the fear surrounding neonatal care by helping parents understand the incredible expertise and support available throughout their baby's journey.

In this episode:

• What NICU, NNU and SCBU mean
• Why babies are admitted to neonatal care
• Premature birth explained
• Breathing support and feeding tubes
• Understanding incubators, monitors and alarms
• Supporting babies born early
• Why some full-term babies also need neonatal care
• How parents are supported throughout their stay
• What happens as babies prepare to go home

Although nobody hopes to need neonatal care, understanding what happens inside a neonatal unit can make an unexpected journey feel just a little less frightening.

NHS Guide to Special Care

Bliss Charity - Support for Parents

SuperDinky - Clothing for Premature NICU Babies

Pampers Preemie Nappies

To find your nearest Mini First Aid class or browse our range of trusted first aid products, visit www.minifirstaid.co.uk.

Mini First Aid Family First Aid Kit - Platinum Award-winning first aid kit, voted a Best Buy in the Loved By Parents Awards 2021, is a comprehensive first aid kit for all the family. Containing 115 essential items, it is ideal for keeping in your car or at home for any first aid emergencies.

Find out more about our multi-award-winning two-hour Baby & Child first aid classes here, delivered in a relaxed and comfortable style to give you the confidence to know what actions to take if faced with a medical emergency.

For press enquiries and to contact Mini First Aid, email info@minifirstaid.co.uk

Dr. Lillie Parker is an NHS paediatrician dedicated to providing expert, compassionate care. Her Instagram page @doctor.lils offers parents and carers a reliable source of health advice amidst the overwhelming noise of unregulated information online. Her mission is to create a supportive community and empower parents to confidently manage their children’s health using trusted, evidence based advice and information.