So long, Dr Doom

By Victoria Farncombe on Feb 3, 08 11:15 AM

If you go down to the women's hospital and sit in the antenatal waiting room, you'll be treated to Baby TV.

On a loop, it's a series of adverts for prams and whatnot, interspersed with gems of advice from a truly terrifying doctor lady. Actually she might be a nurse or a midwife, I'm not sure. All I know is she is TERRIFYING.

She never smiles and dispenses warnings about baby care with a voice of doom. Just watching her turns me into a drivelling, neurotic mess convinced I'm going to mess up and Kill My Baby.

Lately I've taken to plugging my fingers in my ears and la-la-la-ing every time her stern face comes on screen with its talk of cot death and sterilising and breast pumps.

Anyway, other than Her, a manual from the NHS and a weekly visit from the community nurse, there doesn't seem much help available to virgin parents.

Thirty years ago mums spent a week in hospital recovering from labour and being shown the rudiments of bathing, breastfeeding and nappy changing.

These days we're lucky to stay more than one night in the maternity wing before being packed off home with vulnerable bundle in tow.

It's no wonder most women suffer the baby blues three or four days later when the enormity of their responsibility hits home.

With this in mind, I was very excited to hear the Tories are considering a scheme to give new parents dedicated maternity nurses in their homes for up to six hours a day in the first week of their babies' lives.

At up to £500 per family, it's not cheap. But the long-term effects of happier babies and happier mums are surely immeasurable.

On a personal note, I'm hoping it brings down Dr Doom...