Hey mama,
Nothing — and I mean nothing — can prepare you for the first time your baby shows a sign that something might be wrong.
For me, it happened just a few days after we brought Ollie home from the hospital. He started vomiting after feeds — not just a little spit-up, but what felt like his entire feed coming right back up. I remember standing there, holding him, completely frozen, heart pounding.
We went to the GP. Everything seemed okay.
Then it happened again — and we went back.
On that second visit, the GP said, “If it happens again, take him straight to the emergency room.”
And, of course, it did.
There I was, first-time mum, alone at home, panicked and holding my baby who had just vomited everything up again. I called my husband, who immediately dropped everything and came home.
We took Ollie to the emergency department — and thank goodness, the paediatrician there had the same opinion as our GP: it was just reflux. Something common in newborns. Nothing serious. No underlying issues.
Still, that moment stuck with me.
The fear.
The unknown.
And the relief of being listened to — not dismissed — by every doctor we saw.
Because the truth is: no concern is ever “nothing” to a parent.
And no one should make you feel like you’re overreacting for seeking help.
Going to a doctor doesn’t just give you peace of mind — it could save your baby’s life.
So if your gut says something’s not right: go. Ask. Show up.
We changed Ollie’s formula to one made for reflux and switched to anti-reflux bottles — like the Baby Ollie “NanoSip” Gravity-Flow Silicone Bottle, which helped reduce the amount of air he swallowed during feeds.
Eventually, things improved. And now that he’s eating solids, it’s almost completely gone. But in those early days, I remember needing to clean him up after every feed, and that’s when our Baby Ollie Waterproof Cotton Bibs became daily lifesavers. (Side note: good waterproof bibs are actually super hard to find here in Australia, so I stocked up quick!)
Through it all, my husband never once said I was being dramatic or “just hormonal.” He was just as concerned as I was. Calm, steady, present — my rock, yet again.
If you’re a new parent and something feels off, don’t hesitate.
Call. Ask. Get it checked.
You are your baby’s best advocate.
And there’s nothing more powerful than a parent who trusts their instincts.
With empathy and encouragement,
Renata (Ollie’s mum) 💛