THE most exciting thing about babies is that they make you feel positive about life. Whatever challenges each generation of parents faces, the one constant that remains is love and the desire to nurture and protect.

On finding out I was expecting my first child, Annalise, in 1998, I was overwhelmed with a huge range of emotions, most memorably a sense of responsibility and maturity.

Although I felt lousy with morning sickness, it was an amazing turning point. I had only just qualified as a midwife and although I had done the theory, I was now going to have to put it into practice.

The information out there for mums was different even 12 years ago. Since then, I have witnessed a growing acceptance that women want to be fully informed and in control of their own care.

The view that women prefer to hand over responsibility for their care to the professionals is changing and women are now playing a more active role in their maternity care.

Although the information and advice available through different forms of media can be helpful, rumours and tales – even from friends and family – can be confusing, wrong or even dangerous. The role of the midwife is to unpick these and to prepare women in your care for pregnancy, labour and birth. And of course, the concerns go beyond the birth to how will I be a good parent?

One of the key fears many new mums often raise is how to cope with breast-feeding. The bottom line is that "breast is best" and as health professionals, midwives promote the benefits of breast-feeding for mother and child.

I do agree with the official recommendation that, where possible, breast-feed as much as you can for the first six months and, having fed all three of my children by breast for the best part of 18 months each, I know how wonderful it can be.

I haven't forgotten what a difficult a skill it was to learn the first time, though.

Like any new skill, some take to it quickly, others need more time. What is key to successful breast-feeding is the support.

Good antenatal preparation is fundamental. An article in the medical journal The Lancet said that if a new vaccine became available that could prevent one million or more child deaths a year and was cheap, safe and administered orally, it would become an immediate public health imperative.

Breast-feeding can do all of this and more but mums do require support right from the first breast-feed, as soon as the baby arrives. Keeping a baby skin to skin and near the mother's breasts increases the chances of him or her breast- feeding in the first hour.

Making the move from hospital to home, then to breast-feeding in public can be a testing journey for some mums but being able to feed in public gives women such freedom.

It's really important not to get cooped up in the house and we're lucky that Exeter has so many shops and cafes set up to support breast-feeding mothers. If you're in the right place, wearing the right clothing, it doesn't have to be embarrassing or difficult.

West Exe Children's Centre has produced a breast-feeding directory, listing all the places mums can go in Exeter.

Of course, in the current economic climate, fewer mums have the freedom to stay off work long enough to be concerned about whether or not they'll mind breast-feeding in public, and I'll be interested to see what the take-up will be of the new paternity law.

Whether it's mum or dad who provides the care in those early days, what many parents struggle with now is the huge pressures they put themselves under to get parenting right.

But there is no right or wrong way, just relax and do the best you can. Enjoy the moment because babies grow fast.

I have a poem on my fridge door and often give it to mums I look after to put on theirs, too. It's called 'I Took His Hand and Followed', author unknown.

It reminds you to treasure those moments when your baby is young and avoid obsessing about everything else.

The essence of Parentwise is to equip mums and either dads or birth partners for the experiences of which they have little knowledge.

Most of my clients are expecting their first baby. I aim to give them strategies for coping with what lies ahead, always making sure I give realistic advice on birth and parenting.

I don't believe that you can learn how to be a successful parent by reading books alone or by consulting websites. You have to trust in your own ability and know there is more than one way of parenting.

Motherhood is fun, challenging, draining, exciting, emotional and mind-blowing.

And for me, a Kilimanjaro-sized pile of ironing awaits, there's tea to cook, homework to help with and a dirty house that hasn't heard the dulcet tones of a vacuum cleaner for a while. Hey ho - Happy Mother's Day!

For more information about Parentwise courses visit www. parent-wise.co.uk or contact Paddy on 07733 327161.