Pregnancy and baby experts all under one roof? Yes please. If you have awkward questions you can't find a Google answer for, then find your place in Empowa's Pregnant and Popped community, connecting mums and experts.
Those months and weeks leading up to birth can be overwhelming. Not only are you growing at a rapid rate with surges of energy combined with feeling more exhausted than you ever experienced, it’s hard to think further than the birth. Thoughts of your new baby and trying to think of everything they’ll need can be all-consuming. But in the midst of pregnancy, and immediately afterwards, it is vital that you don’t forget about the other star of the birth show – yourself.
Transforming into a new mum is literally life changing. But you don’t have to do it alone. There are a whole host of experts and supporting partners that you can turn to for care and support. Best bit: you can find them all in one place at the boutique baby fair for mums, Pregnant and Popped, which has now expanded to become a community and network of support for new parents. The whole shebang is led by Kathy, a postpartum doula from Empowa. Here’s our advice on how to make the most of a visit to a Baby Fair, and what you can expect. We even got the lowdown from the curator herself, and real life feedback from mums who have attended!
1. Have a list of questions and don’t be afraid to ask. Take notes to refer to later (baby brain is REAL)
Have you got burning questions that you’ve been frantically Googling, with conflicting results? Stop scrolling Facebook forums and get firsthand, personalised advice. Our first tip is to make a list of everything you’ve been wondering about, and take a pad and pen with you. Or be prepared to use the voice note function on your phone! Do not be embarrassed to ask anything and everything. Chances are, we have all been there, and if anyone will know, these professionals will. Baby brain is a real thing, so take notes. There is no point in asking all of the questions and gaining invaluable insights and answers if you can’t remember them later. Or worse, you remember the advice incorrectly.
At Pregnant and Popped, curator Kathy from Empowa has brought a whole host of experts together under one roof. This is the place to go to ask any and all of your embarrassing questions, and find answers to your specific personal problems from real professionals – goodbye Dr Google! As Kathy says, “The toughest thing I’ve ever done is the transition to becoming a mother, and I simply couldn’t bear the thought that other women might feel as lost, or unprepared as I did. It seemed that mums were being informed about many gadgets and gizmos that pertained to help them, but they weren’t being informed about the perinatal services that could literally transform their postpartum recovery. That’s where the idea for the Pregnant and Popped Baby Fair came in.”
2. Become part of the Pregnant and Popped community, invaluable for new parents
While medical advice should still be sought from your doctor, if you’re looking for answers to questions on anything pregnancy and birth related, you need to book yourself a ticket to a Pregnant and Popped baby fair. Topics covered in workshops and at expert booths include nutrition and safe exercise, sex during and after pregnancy, and even osteopathic support for you and your baby. You can seek advice on what baby products are essential and what you could do without. Attend a free talk or masterclass and learn from all of these guardian angels, all in one place. The network has expanded to include financial advisers and legal will preparation specialists, family photographers, first aid courses and health professionals. There’s even specialist women’s physios performing real time ultrasound checks for diastasic rects; and osteopaths offering introductory therapy sessions for mum, dad and baby onsite!
Kathy shared more about how this came to be. “Pregnant and Popped started ever so simply as a way to introduce pregnant and new mums in Singapore to service providers that could make a real difference to their motherhood journey. Through the Fairs, the vendors have connected on an unexpected level, and now work in partnerships where their services complement each other. I started to foster this, and now we have a whole community of mums and service providers finding each other!”
3. Get Baby Fair ready: Be prepared and make appointments before you go
If you’re heading to a Baby Fair, it’s essential you register online before you go. You don’t want to miss out on a goodie bag because there aren’t enough to go around if you haven’t pre-registered. Check out the schedule of talks and workshops and make sure you know where to go at what time. You can also check out the list of vendors, and make appointments with them directly for after the Baby Fair. Use the Fair as an initial free meeting and discussion, so you can get right to the heart of your personal issues when you attend your first (paid for) private appointment.
A great thing about Empowa’s Pregnant and Popped is that the fun doesn’t start or end at the Baby Fair itself. There are online workshops, classes and events happening all year round. From fitness classes with childcare included, to mama meetups and masterclasses, keep checking in to see what else you can learn and utilise the support on offer. And of course, you can always chat to Kathy to secure her postpartum doula services directly.
4. Who can you expect to see at a Baby Fair, and what services do you really need?
Pregnant and Popped is a Baby Fair for mums. Yes, there are baby products and tiny fashion to coo over, but the best part of this intimate get together is that you can speak directly with professionals for first-hand, personalised info. Know nothing about the benefits of osteopathy for infants? Chat to an osteopath. Thinking about hiring a doula? There are several on hand to answer all your enquiries. Not sure if you can eat sushi while pregnant? Ask a nutritionist for their advice. This is a literal treasure trove of information that you can curate yourself, and tailor for your own needs. You’ll discover experts in fields you didn’t know you needed, but will be thankful for after meeting them. Just check the list of service providers to get an idea of who you want to engage with.
5. Be open to finding your tribe – it takes a ‘Village’
A Baby Fair is the perfect place to connect with other new and expecting mums who are in the exact same life stage as you are! Say hello, dish out friendly smiles and be brave enough to share your number with anyone you vibe with. The months ahead can be lonely, especially if friends with no or older children aren’t as empathetic with what you’re going through. Finding a tribe of pregnant ladies to compare notes, worry over symptoms and compare cravings, share maternity fashion or caffeine-free lattes with can be a mind saver, and inject a load of fun into your pregnancy journey. You’re also building a little mini tribe of first friends for your baby, when your new friend crew all give birth as well!
Attending the Pregnant and Popped baby fair means you have the choice to opt in to the ‘Village’ WhatsApp chat, which currently has over 400 mums sharing information and supporting one another.
6. Here’s what mums love about Pregnant and Popped baby Fairs, in their own words
“I met so many kind, passionate and extremely knowledgeable people! With the added bonus of talks and freebies.”
– Anna
“Really enjoyed talking to vendors, where I was able to learn something new, or find a new product that would be helpful. The talk on First Aid was incredibly helpful, and goes a long way to help me understand some of the basics of choking.”
– Rebecca
“A great collection of mommy-centric vendors and practical advice and expertise all within one roof! Kathy is ever approachable and with this Baby Fair she is really empowering mums with information to make well informed decisions for themselves and their babies.”
– Bron
“As a new mum to be, I learned a lot on various topics from fitness and diet, breastfeeding, and mummy and baby essential kits. I’m one step more prepared for motherhood, and feel more able to make informed decisions now I know things to look out for!”
– Chiara
What: Pregnant and Popped: The Baby Fair for Mums
When: Next Fair: 11 May 2024
Where: Trehaus Funan Mall, Level 7, 107 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 179105
Keep an eye on Empowa’s website for details, and we’ll see you at the Baby Fair!
