Tales of poo

The topic of poo must surely rank at the top of new parents conversations. Childless, poo was taboo. As a new mum I could talk about poo with friends, family and strangers on the bus, in a shop or at the park. A year on I still have poo stories to tell my husband when he comes home from the office. Occasionally I even shout for help if two hands just aren’t enough to change Edward and I’m always happy to let my mum or sister change Edward when we’re visiting them.

My first thoughts on poo were formed when I attended an NCT antenatal course. One of the sessions covered the contents of newborns’ nappies. Our group looked on in horror as the course leader put A4 laminated photographs of nappies filled with poo (practically all the colours of the rainbow) on the floor for us all to crowd around and universally shudder.

The only upside of my c-section was that it incapacitated me enough to give me a few days respite from changing Edward’s nappies so I was spared those first few nappies where the contents went through the complete colour spectrum. I have faint memories of my husband exclaiming loudly over those first nappies and it’s almost like a badge of honour (to him) that he coped, not just as a new dad, but also as chief nappy changer.

The best advice I remember from those NCT classes was the leader saying by the end of the first day we’d all be experts at nappy changing. And she was right. Nappies have come and gone, we’ve tried all brands, reuseable and disposable, as well as nappy creams, changing mats, changing bags. The poo has been pretty constant, barring the odd occurence of constipation. We’ve survived the poo and my message to new parents is that you will too 🙂