Unii Babies

Unii Midwives Katie Benyohai and Leila Zahedi: “We myth bust for pregnant women...”

Senior NHS midwives Katie Benyohai and Leila Zahedi, who lead Unii’s upcoming Ultimate Antenatal Course, are back for the Unii Babies Antenatal Care episode, part two! Host Dr. Saranya’s first postpartum episode focusses on pregnancy mythbusting, the most common second opinions mums-to-be want to hear, and empowering women to ask more questions about their labour, birth and breastfeeding journeys. How do you get yourself closer to your ideal birth experience? Leila and Katie know all about it! We hope you enjoy this episode, and please check out part one! This is Unii Babies.
 
00:00 Intro and personal message from Dr. Saranya
00:52 Questioning induction of labour...and everything that worries you!
02:57 A midwife’s role in labour—they've got you!
06:45 Most common second opinions mums ask for from the Unii midwives.
09:51 The Unii midwives bust some myths about natural induction—and tell you what works!
11:20 What can you do to ripen your cervix?
12:18 Getting started with labour pain relief—climb the ladder of pain relief!
13:45 When should you go to the hospital (including Katie’s labour story!)?
15:46 What if the hospital sends me home when I’m in early labour?
17:24 What if I'm in active labour and labour slows down?
21:31 Leila and Katie’s funniest birth stories!
24:38 Midwife support in the fourth trimester—and how to plan for this time, incl. recovery and visitors!
26:42 Discussing your labour and birth experience with your partner.
31:10 Dr. Saranya’s breastfeeding journey and the Unii midwives advice for new mums.
38:26 When it feels like everyone else’s newborn parenting experience is perfect...
40:11 How often should a newborn be feeding? What’s normal? When should you worry?
43:55 When a baby feeds to relieve pain.
46:40 Finding your village to raise your child.
47:35 How Dr. Saranya used Unii.com’s Journey video courses on her pregnancy and newborn journeys.
50:23 Caring for your baby’s skin. Which products are best?
53:38 What should I buy for the first trimester?
55:35 The truth about sterilisers. 
56:59 Dr. Saranya’s outro and thank you.
 
Watch Unii Babies on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUsquXGqmM6afQHlyytEKYA 
Follow Unii on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ask.unii/ 
Watch Unii’s Pregnancy Journey video course with Dr. Shree Datta: https://unii.com/en/journey/pregnancy 
Watch Unii’s Giving Birth Journey with Dr. Keith Duncan: https://unii.com/en/journey/giving-birth 

Unii Midwives Katie Benyohai and Leila Zahedi: “Here’s when you need to call the midwife…”

Midwives are specialists in what’s normal in pregnancy and birth, and there aren’t many questions Unii midwives Katie Benyohai and Leila Zahedi, co-founders of Better Births London, haven’t heard! In part one of the Unii Babies Antenatal Care episode, they speak to host Dr. Saranya about mums’ FAQs, why they are so passionate about maternal choice in labour and birth, pregnancy red flags you shouldn’t ignore, why they think more men should do midwifery, and so much more. 
 
01:53 Expose the Expert: Get to know Leila and Katie
05:06 What inspired Leila and Katie to become midwives
10:25 What midwives do for pregnant women vs. obstetric care
12:54 What does midwife-led pregnancy and birthcare mean?
14:29 What are the advantages and disadvantages of midwifery care?
16:04 Dr. Saranya’s midwife experience during the birth of her child
19:00 How can a maternal medicine expert help you in pregnancy?
20:13 Maternal choice in high-risk pregnancy and birth
24:37 How Katie and Leila met and started Better Births London
29:42 How becoming a mum changes you as a midwife. Mums trust midwives more when they have children!
32:05 What Katie and Leila think about empowering men to become midwives!
35:28 Katie and Leila’s essential advice for student midwives
38:18 What should you expect and ask at your first midwife appointment (the booking appointment)?
41:19 How likely are you to see the same midwife throughout your pregnancy care? 
42:33 What is the evidence on how continuity of midwifery care and pregnancy and postnatal outcomes?
45:11 Maternal stress at midwife appointments, induction positivity, and how to cope. 
46:30 Dr. Saranya’s personal birth preferences experience in pregnancy
47:01 Midwife care after birth.
47:31 Why antenatal classes like Unii.com’s Ultimate Antenatal Course are so important for creating community, as well as empowered pregnancy and birth!
49:57 How the midwives and the unii.com Journey courses fill in information gaps for expectant mothers.
51:52 Katie’s personal antenatal course experience.
52:32 How Katie and Leila help pregnant women with morning sickness.
53:46 Should you be taking antiemetics when you are vomiting in pregnancy?
55:51 Anaemia, blood tests at around 28 weeks pregnancy, hepcidin, and when and how to take iron supplements.
58:37 Bleeding in pregnancy.
1:00:41 Brown discharge towards the end of pregnancy.
1:01:21 Pregnancy growth scans, questions about a baby measuring small, difference in sonographers/abdominal measurements.
1:04:56 Popular food safety questions in pregnancy– answered by Unii’s midwives!
1:06:50 Nutritional guidelines for pregnancy– when they change.
1:07:33 Monitoring foetal movements, what to look for, and disproved guidance. 
 
Unii Babies Podcast Home: https://unii.com/en/podcast/unii-babies 
Follow Unii Babies on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ask.unii/

Unii’s Dr. Su Laurent: “It’s OK for your baby to SKIP these milestones.”

Dr. Su Laurent, Unii.com’s top consultant paediatrician, sits down with Unii Babies host Dr. Saranya for a chat about baby development, covering everything from milestones to autism, talking, teething, and tummy time. You’ll even hear Dr. Su’s golden rules of parenting. Dr. Su has supported hundreds of parents in some of London’s busiest hospitals over the last thirty years. She can do the same for you from the comfort of your own phone, laptop, or other device when you take her Baby Development Journey video course at unii.com. 
 
Unii Babies Episode Highlights
 
02:27 What if your baby isn’t meeting their milestones?
02:49 Dr. Su’s Golden Rules of Parenting
04:50 Premature and overdue babies’ milestones
05:49 Baby development milestones that it’s OK to skip
06:28 Babies who resist standing, hypermobility in babies
07:14 Babies that don’t like tummy time
08:00 Dummies and baby development, teething pain, and talking
9:58 Bilingualism and babies: speech delays and brain development
11:24 Baby talk vs. speaking to babies with proper grammar and vocabulary
12:32 Are babies born with fully developed personalities?
13:34 Can you spoil a baby by holding it?
14:53 How Dr. Su introduced her eldest child to a new sibling. Why small age differences make things harder
16:21 Encouraging parents to celebrate each child’s milestones as the happen
17:11 Delayed development and autism diagnosis in babies
18:59 Getting to know your baby
19:32 The benefits of reading to babies
20:00 The benefits of singing to babies
20:57 Dr. Su’s songs for her babies
21:30 Having autism symptoms investigated
22:13 Creating a stimulating, nurturing environment for your baby
23:52 How safe is screen time for a baby’s development?
25:37 Where should you put a baby to sleep? When do you put your baby in the nursery?
27:04 Baby development and swimming
27:25 Baby development and exploring the world. Which toys should you buy?
28:13 Keeping babies safe while they explore
 
Unii Babies Podcast Home: https://unii.com/en/podcast/unii-babies 
Take Unii’s Baby Development Journey video course: https://unii.com/en/journey/baby-development 
Learn more about Dr. Su Laurent: https://unii.com/en/expert/dr-su-laurent  
Follow Unii on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ask.unii/

Unii Baby Nutrition Expert Dr. Venita Patel: “This is how to introduce new foods to your baby…”

Unii Baby Nutrition Expert Dr. Venita Patel is an NHS community paediatrician and registered nutritional therapist with over thirty years' experience. She’s helped hundreds of parents with their babies' eating and can support you anywhere and supports them 24/7 at unii.com through her Baby Nutrition Journey video course. She joined host Dr. Saranya Ravindran in Unii Babies’ London studio to talk about baby nutrition from pregnancy through the first year of life, covering everything from gut health to allergies, feeding routines, and the best food and drink choices. Don’t miss this essential episode of Unii Babies!
00:00 Intro 01:45 Dr. Venita’s typical days as an NHS paediatrician and registered nutritional therapist03:10 What inspired Dr. Venita to become a community paediatrician03:45 Why Dr. Venita went into nutritional therapy04:28 What is the difference between a dietitian, nutritionist, and nutritional therapist?05:58 How becoming a mum changed Dr. Venita as a doctor07:15 The baby nutrition questions she gets most often — vomiting, reflux, colic, and constipation—and her approach.08:45 What would Dr. Venita do to help with baby nutrition information if she were a world leader?09:51 The importance of a baby's first 1000 days for their nutrition10:58 The best source of baby nutrition11:46 Baby gut health: microbiota and oligosaccharides13:30 Baby gut health and Caesarean section14:44 Symbiotics and baby gut health15:44 Preventing mastitis with probiotics17:20 Where can we get gut information about gut health in pregnancy and for our baby after birth?17:56 Can you wean your baby earlier than six months?18:42 Baby allergies and weaning20:00 Genetic inheritance of allergies20:26 Your baby’s first meals22:17 Iron consumption and babies23:38 Starting your baby on fish—types and precautions24:23 Vegan and vegetarian diets for babies25:13 Introducing cow’s milk to your baby’s diet25:53 The best fruits and vegetables for weaning26:47 Is “five a day” manageable for babies? Do you need to peel fruits and vegetables?28:15 Homemade vs. shop-bought food for babies30:00 Organic vs. inorganic food for babies30:40 Restricting salt and sugar for babies31:30 The health benefits of seasoning baby food with spices 33:00 The best food textures for babies—how can they help with your baby’s development?35:00 The best supplements for babies36:23 Picky eating and food refusal37:20 How dummies impact weaning38:18 Do you need a feeding routine for your baby?39:29 Including a baby in family meals40:23 Where should parents go for baby nutrition help?41:05 Baby-led weaning: Pros and Cons42:51 Babies and water43:59 Babies and healthy fats44:58 Supplements Omega 3 for Baby45:25 Babies watching you eating46:31 The benefits of letting your baby play with food47:26 How do I know if my baby is eating too little or too much?48:45 Mistaking your baby’s feeding cues49:44 When should you worry about your baby’s weight?51:05 Signs of nutritional deficiencies 51:54 Food disrupting sleep and food diaries53:28 Dr. Saranya’s quick quiz: Expose the Expert
Watch Dr. Venita Patel’s Unii Baby Nutrition Journey here: https://unii.com/en/journey/baby-nutrition
Follow Unii on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ask.unii/

Unii’s Baby Feeding Expert: “In reality, THIS is when breastfeeding should end.”

Unii Baby Feeding Expert Wendy Lever, IBCLC, was inspired to become a lactation consultant by her own maternal experience, and we're constantly impressed by the breadth of her expertise. She is also a total feeding nerd, and her passion for her work is infectious. She speaks to our host, A&E paediatric consultant Dr. Saranya Ravindran, about breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, and weaning, from what's normal to when to resist the marketing directed at parents. She’ll give you her expert opinion on the best bottle and formula to buy, as well as how to know when breastfeeding is going well, when to stop, and what to choose as your baby’s first foods. Wendy shares the facts and busts some myths along the way. 
 
00:00 Intro
01:32 How can you tell when breastfeeding is going well?
02:50 Why breastfeeding is for lazy mums
03:07 When should breastfeeding stop? The WHO’s view vs. Wendy’s!
04:27 Is weaning mum’s choice or baby’s?
04:52 Choosing the right bottle and teats
05:50 Letting the baby stop and start bottle feeding at their own pace
06:18 The only bottles Wendy DOESN’T recommend
06:56 How to choose the right baby formula
07:28 What do leading formula brands have that others don’t? 
08:39 How close are baby formulas to breastmilk?
09:15 Why breastmilk is superior to formula.
09:47 How your specific breastmilk helps to cure your specific baby’s first cold.
11:20 The important vitamin breastmilk canNOT provide
12:22 How baby formula evolves with each generation
13:42 The best ways to cope with baby reflux, including conservative management
16:18 The power of a good latch in breastfeeding
17:02 Does hungry baby formula help?
17:30 How bottle-feeding parents can replicate natural breastfeeding.
18:46 How frequently should a newborn baby be feeding? What does feeding on demand mean?
20:05 Look out for these newborn feeding milestones. 
20:53 How Wendy fed her own newborns! What is a contact baby?
21:55 How to deal with tongue-tie that impacts feeding.
23:37 Coping with feeding “two under two.” Breastfeeding in pregnancy and tandem feeding.
25:02 How do you know when your baby is ready to wean? Signs of readiness for solid foods.
26:30 Introducing water to your newborn’s diet. When is it really needed?
27:55 The best first foods to wean your baby onto
28:50 Are purees good for your baby’s weaning process?
29:31 Homemade purees vs. shop-bought baby foods
30:44 Safe seasoning for baby’s foods
 
Watch Wendy’s first Unii Babies episode: https://unii.com/en/podcast/unii-babies/episode/podcast-wendy-part-1
Watch Wendy’s Unii Baby Feeding Journey Video Course: https://unii.com/en/journey/baby-feeding
Follow Unii on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ask.unii/

Unii’s Dr. Su: “I’m a paediatrician; this is what many parents miss when a baby is crying.”

Unii Paediatrics Expert Dr. Su Laurent, MBBS, FRCPCH, is a consultant paediatrician with over three decades of experience. She leads our Unii.com Journey video courses on newborns and baby health and development. In this Unii Babies episode, Dr. Su speaks to our host, consultant paediatrician Dr. Saranya Ravindran (whom she trained!) about a baby's health in their first year, how to identify common problems, and when to reach out to a doctor. This is an essential one!
 
00:00 Intro
01:07 Connecting with parents through unii.com
01:53 How becoming a parent changes you as a doctor
02:28 Noisy baby sleep
04:07 Rewarding baby and child cases Dr. Su’s experienced
04:57 Baby and toddler constipation
05:55 Taking your baby's temperature
08:16 Supporting your baby when they’re distressed
09:16 Psychological impact of chronic eczema on babies
10:41 Baby vaccinations
11:56 Your baby in the hospital
13:30 Baby’s internalising your stress
14:56 Baby head banging 
16:07 Baby safety precautions 
18:28 Nappies—what to buy, what’s normal, when to change them, and nappy rash
21:29 How clean is too clean? Do germs benefit babies?
22:39 Trapped wind and baby-burping advice
23:45 Bathing your baby
24:50 Is a baby massage class worth it?
27:00 Coping with crying 
28:53 Taking babies on airplanes
30:11 Dealing with your baby's fever 
31:26 Baby-safe pain medication
32:25 Baby vomiting: what's normal?
Watch Dr. Su’s Unii Baby Health video course:
https://unii.com/en/journey/baby-health
 
Watch this episode at unii.com: 
https://unii.com/en/episode/heres-something-parents-worry-about-far-too-much
 
 Follow Unii: @ask.unii

Dr. Shree: "I'm an obstetrician and gynaecologist; this is what I’d like every pregnant woman to know."

Unii Pregnancy Expert Dr. Shree Datta is an award-winning obstetrician and gynaecologist with over two decades of experience at some of London's most prestigious hospitals. She co-created video courses for couples on pregnancy and conceiving a baby with Unii.com and joins Dr. Saranya Ravindran, Unii Babies host and consultant paediatrician, to talk about early signs of pregnancy, the best lifestyle changes to make, miscarriage, and other frequently asked questions about the three trimesters. This episode was filmed at Unii's London headquarters towards the end of Dr. Saranya's first pregnancy. We're delighted to share such a special conversation between two members of our Unii.com family with mums-to-be. Enjoy!
 
00:00 Intro
01:48 Why Dr. Shree chose obstetrics and gynaecology
03:10 An average workday for Dr.Shree
04:31 Increasing women's comfort with discussing intimate health, Davina McCall and fibroids
07:26 Pregnancy scans
08:01 Eating in pregnancy
09:02 Baby movements in pregnancy
10:33 Geriatric pregnancy
12:50 Dying hair in pregnancy
13:31 Managing stretch marks in pregnancy
14:47 Recognising the baby's sex from how you're carrying them
16:08 Safe amounts and types of caffeine in pregnancy
17:29 A glass of wine in pregnancy
17:49 Eating for two
19:41 Pregnancy safety and electromagnetic fields
21:12 Choosing a pregnancy test
23:29 Choosing contraception
25:07 When to share your pregnancy news
26:40 Choosing your obstetrician
29:23 Morning sickness
29:50 Prenatal supplements
33:10 Normal first trimester weight gain and other symptoms
34:39 Risk of miscarriage and potential symptoms
36:47 Getting pregnant after a miscarriage
41:50 And are there any specific do's and don'ts in the second trimester?
44:20 Lifting heavy objects while pregnant
46:26 Weight gain in late pregnancy
48:21 Are there any beauty products that may not be safe in pregnancy?
50:13 Cutest moments that Shree’s had in clinic 
51:38 What is the oral glucose tolerance test? 
54:36 How can I monitor foetal movements?
58:05 How accurate are due dates?
01:00:11 What are some signs of premature labour?
01:02:44 What if I’m anxious about or afraid of delivery?
01:04:25 How should I approach my birth plan?
01:08:10 Does Dr. Shree recommend hypnobirthing?
01:11:36 How can I deal with pain and swelling in the third trimester?
01:15:05 How can I sleep better in the third trimester?
01:17:32 When should I avoid sex in pregnancy?
01:19:09 What are some red flags in the third trimester?
 
Go to Unii Babies episode page: https://unii.com/en/article/podcast-shree
Take Dr. Shree’s Unii Pregnancy video course: https://unii.com/en/journey/pregnancy

Unii Babies Sleep Expert: "This is my No. 1 baby-sleep tool. I'd use it for my children now if I could."

For Unii Babies Ep. 3, Baby and Toddler Sleep, host and paediatrician Dr. Saranya Ravindran sits down with Unii sleep expert Sam Sadighi. She’s an award-winning sleep coach who works with babies, children and adults to help them get the best rest possible. Join Sam and Saranya as they discuss how much sleep babies need, how to make sure they get it, and overcoming common problems right through to the toddler years. One in three new parents struggles to get their babies to sleep and, when unii.com was founded, we knew we needed Sam. This is an essential episode for any new or expectant parent!
00:00 Intro
02:20 How poor sleep affects overall wellbeing
04:04 How her personal experience as a mum and insomniac has helped her professionally
06:53 How a sleep coach works with you and your family
10:52 Why sleep is so important for babies and toddlers
11:59 Children who don't meet sleep requirements
14:40 Baby sleep equipment to buy before birth
16:16 Co-sleeping for mum and baby
19:11 Is falling asleep with a bottle OK?
20:26 What poor sleep in childhood looks like
22:20 Sleep crutches: tips and tricks
26:03 When to remove dummies
27:20 Head banging for sleep
29.53 Screen time and sleep: recent research suggestions
31:54 Diet and sleep
34:24 Crying and sleep: letting a baby bawl
37:36 Sam's favourite bedtime stories
39:27 The best sleeping conditions for babies and toddlers
43:18 Sleep training: myths and facts
45:30 When to move your baby from a cot to a bed
47:57 Fear of the dark and night visits from toddlers
49:46 Toddlers testing boundaries
52:00 Snoring and identifying problems
54:14 Sleepwalking
57:04 Childhood nightmares and night terrors
59:06 Are lie-ins on weekends beneficial?
01:03:22 Bedtimes in different cultures
01:07:47 What if your child's too tired to stick to their sleep routine?
01:10:02 Sam's most challenging cases
01:13:16 More sleep routine hurdles
01:15:27 Tracking your baby's sleep
01:19:43 Prescription sleep medication for children (including melatonin)
01:22:07 Sam's no.1 piece of sleep advice for parents
01:23:07 How much sleep babies and toddlers should be getting
01:24:12 What you'll get out of Sam's Unii Journeys: Baby Sleep and Toddler Sleep
Go to Unii’s episode page: https://unii.com/en/episode/the-sleep-expert-this-is-how-you-and-your-child-can-sleep-better
Watch Sam's Baby Sleep Journey here: https://unii.com/en/journey/baby-sleep
Watch Sam's Toddler Sleep Journey here: https://unii.com/en/journey/toddler-sleep
 
DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the Unii Babies podcast or on the unii.com website.

Unii's Baby Feeding Expert: “Generally, if you're breastfeeding and want a glass of wine, enjoy it!”

Unii Baby Feeding Expert Wendy Lever IBCLC was inspired to become a lactation consultant by her own maternal experience, and we're constantly impressed by the breadth of her knowledge. She speaks to Unii Babies' host Dr. Saranya Ravindran about all things breastfeeding and formula feeding, from what to eat and how much breastmilk is required to which formula brands are best. Wendy expresses facts and busts some myths along the way!
 
00:00 Intro
01:05 Wendy's Baby Feeding Journey with Unii
01:59 Becoming a lactation consultant
08:05 Main feeding issues Wendy observes
09:15 Hindmilk myths and light babies
11:05 When most mums contact Wendy
11:57 Sleep issues vs. feeding issues
13:07 Is breastfeeding right for me?
13:55 UNICEF and WHO Baby Friendly Initiative/Benefits of breastfeeding for mum
15:01 Breastfeeding and child obesity
16:24 Breastfeeding and child allergies/respiratory problems
17:30 Choosing not to breastfeed
20:54 Preparing to breastfeed
21:33 Colostrum harvesting
24:08 Benefits of colostrum
25:25 Milk production
26:10 Mum’s diet and breastmilk
27:42 Food and your milk’s flavour
29:10 Alcohol and breastfeeding
31:04 The pump-and-dump theory
31:56 Smoking, vaping and breastfeeding
32:30 Caffeine and breastfeeding
33:16 Tasting breastmilk
34:00 Light babies and milk coming through
35:34 Breastfeeding and nappies
37:27 What if latching hurts?
38:07 Sore or bleeding nipples: What's Normal?
40:01 How much milk does a baby need?
41:01 Expressing and your breastfeeding schedule
42:27 If expressing milk is not for you
44:17 Feeding outside the home
46:11 Breastfeeding in different cultures
47:15 Dressing for breastfeeding
48:30 What if my baby is sleepy when I want to feed them?
49:29: Can dummies disrupt good feeding habits?
 
Watch Part 2 of this Unii Babies Podcast here:
Watch Wendy's Unii Baby Feeding Journey here:
Follow Wendy:
Follow Unii:

Unii's Relationship Expert: "After working with me, her jealousy dissolved, and he proposed!"

Unii Relationship Expert Natalie Mossayebi helps women master emotional triggers and build their best-ever relationships. The relationship coach joins Dr. Saranya, Unii Babies host and paediatrician, to talk about love, , and your romantic relationship after childbirth. Unii and Natalie created a Love, , and Parenting video course for the unii.com platform to help new parents connect and grow as a team after having a baby.