Mother’s Day magic for Mel

THIS Mother’s Day, Melissa Byard wants what all new mums and dads dream of: sleep.
“Sleep, there’s nothing better than sleep. I’m obsessed with it at the moment, Brent (my partner) and I talk about it every day,” Ms Byard said.
“We had four hours of uninterrupted sleep last night, that’s a win for us, we thought ‘Oh my gosh, this is unbelievable’.”
Melissa and her partner Brent welcomed son Clayton Williamson on March 11, and despite the challenges of Stage 3 restrictions and social isolation, are loving being new parents.
“Having a newborn is such a big adjustment, figuring out sleep patterns. When you have visitors all the time, as much as you love it, sometimes you might miss out on a bit more sleep,” she said.
“With the lockdown we’ve had more time with just us. We go for walks and get a coffee, or sometimes Clayton and I will sit in the car, while Brent goes in and gets groceries. Even if it’s just walking around the backyard, we try and get fresh air every day.”
Melissa said she’s had to navigate challenges like breastfeeding without regular Maternal Child Health (MCH) appointments but has been able to access support via the phone.
“I’ve called the breastfeeding hotline when I’ve needed a bit of reassurance, and the maternal health nurses have been great. They do phone consults, and if we’re really concerned, we’re able to go in and see them.
“I’m doing my first mother’s group meeting on Zoom next week. The doctor said there’s been an influx of new babies born in the region, so there’s a few new mums in the same situation.”
And while this Mother’s Day might just be their immediate family of three, Melissa said she’s looking forward to introducing Clayton to her extended family and friends in the future.
“I have elderly grandparents that haven’t been able to meet him yet, and friends that are dying to see meet him. For now, we’re just enjoying being present in the moment.
“You hear everyone say they grow so quickly, and you miss those newborn cuddles, so even though we’re sleep deprived, we’re just enjoying the moment for what it is.”