Being a new mum means many things by Gabrielle Palma

I’ll never forget those first fleeting feelings when I felt my baby girl, Celine, could be Autistic.

Autism is a condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, interacts with others, and experiences their environment. It is a lifelong disability that starts when a person is born and stays with them into old age. Every Autistic person is different to every other. This is why autism is described as a ‘spectrum’.

I was new to motherhood, just turned 30, as ambitious as ever and pregnant with our second baby…life was sweet and oh how it quickly turned so bitterly sour. To be pregnant is an emotional journey in itself but to also endure the painful assessments to confirm Celine’s diagnosis, was heart-wrenching to say the least. 

Celine, our first-born baby girl, our sweet little angel, who was yet to say a word, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of 3 years, and I was 39 weeks pregnant, my beautiful baby boy joining us a week later. Our hands & heart were full, but we knew nothing of the journey we were about to embark on and how long it would last.

My husband and I have been together since we were 19…and had Celine at the age of 28, so we had many years together to grow and ultimately become one. We experienced so much before kids and truly were ready for the parenting journey. In many cases Autism, any disability or just children in general can bring strain on a marriage, but we believe we were dealt this card for a reason…it has made us very patient people and has brought us so close…we can get through anything together.

The next 3 years were a combination of constant therapy sessions, holistic and non-holistic medications, extremely strict diets, conventional and un-conventional treatments…you name it, we tried it, both here in Australia and abroad.

Unfortunately, not much really came from our efforts and we started to feel defeated.

Celine started at a wonderful school at the age of 7, and from here she really started to flourish. She is very affectionate and social, loves human connection and has started to develop new skills and receptive communication organically. She is still very limited expressively.  Celine and I share a connection like no other. She is my only daughter and we really have become one. Celine doesn’t need to talk to me for me to understand her needs and wants…I just know…it’s kind of like an intuition. 

8 years on, I am blessed to have 3 beautiful sons and finally having the chance and mental capability to follow my entrepreneurial calling. Snug as a Bub & Co. brings me purpose, an outlet for my creativity and a sense of contentment. I love being a mother, but I have always been very ambitious and thrive when creating (which can be so difficult as so consumed by my family and Celine’s challenges). I feel so lucky to be able to ultimately design for mama and bub, and for the first time in years, I feel so very excited about something! I am passionate about connecting with newborn mamas and sharing my journey and wisdom after having 4 babies myself…Snug as a Bub & Co. is my chance to embrace this new direction in my life.

The past 8 years has been a wild ride full of so many tears. I’m not going to lie…there are still many tears, but there are also so many laughs. Celine is really maturing; her speech and social interaction is improving and she surprises us each and every day.

I am really enjoying motherhood and so appreciative for the journey I am on.

I feel more at peace. We believe, Autism is merely different. Different is special.

We embrace Celine’s strengths and gifts. Everything happens for a reason and this unexpected path has allowed both my husband and I to see life in a different light and change our parenting approach from conventional to holistic…which we wouldn’t be doing if it wasn’t for Celine…and for this we are so grateful. 

Being a new mum means many things. 

It means the greatest joy you’ve ever felt. 

It means your heart feels filled to overflowing. 

It means more love than you could ever imagine.

But it can also be tough. 

It can bring feelings of insecurity, tiredness, and vulnerability.

It can leave you wondering if you’re doing a good job.

And if bub is a little unsettled, it can mean an anxious and weary mum.

I’ve experienced all these emotions, and after four little ones, I know how hard it can be. From this understanding, the seed for Snug as a Bub & Co. was sown. 

A labour of love born from a desire to help other mums.

Because I found the humble swaddle to be a lifesaver.

And I wanted to share this with new mums.

To create something beautiful that would help your little one, or the baby of a friend/family member, find soothing comfort.

Because every baby deserves a beautiful beginning, and motherhood, while sometimes messy and chaotic, should always feel like love.

Gabrielle is a mama of 4 from Sydney, Australia. Her fifth baby is Snug as a Bub & Co. which she wants to grow to be the go-to choice for all mums when purchasing baby swaddles and baby bedding throughout Australia.