A midwife has reassured new parents who may feel terrified or uncertain after bringing a baby into the world. Claire Wilson Metcalfe, known as theproudmidwife on TikTok and a practicing midwife for nearly 14 years, urged parents to ask for help with tasks like changing nappies, burping, or holding a newborn.
She emphasised that it is normal not to know these skills if you have never cared for a baby before. 'If you don't know, please do me a favour and ask,' she said, adding that midwives are happy to demonstrate because it can be daunting to have a tiny human.
Metcalfe also stressed that asking questions is not needy but a way to protect a baby's safety. 'It's not a stupid question,' she said, encouraging parents to check they are doing things correctly.
Parents shared their own experiences online. One mother recalled being 19 and alone in hospital, crying because she didn't know how to put on a nappy. A student midwife spent hours helping her. Another expectant parent said they are worried about feeding and winding their first baby due in a month.
