New service offers support and advice for mums through pregnancy and beyond.
A new support group to help expectant mums through their pregnancy, the birth of their babies and beyond has been launched in Ipswich.
For parents it is an exciting, exhilarating time when that first son or daughter is born. After paternity leave, dad may return to work leaving mum at home to juggle with meeting the needs of a new-born baby and her own physical and emotional well-being.
A recent study for the Co-op found that four out of five mums admitted feeling lonely and losing touch with friends, after the arrival of a new baby.
Now Nina Parnham, a medical practioner, specialist fitness instructor, nutritionist and massage therapist, aims to help them after launching Mama Wellness.
A midwife and a mother-of-two herself, Mrs Parnham hopes Mama Wellness will help women cope during pregnancy and after the arrival of their baby.
“Mama Wellness is a service that focuses on the needs of women during their childbearing years, and beyond.
“Women’s health and wellbeing is not often prioritised in pregnancy, and especially after babies are born.
“This time is so important for a mother to recover herself, her identity and sense of purpose.
“I was an older mum. I was 36 and 38 when my children were born. They are three and five years now.
“I had two home births. My daughter was 9lbs 4 ounces, she was huge, and I had a few problems afterwards. I had physical and emotional issues.”
Mama Wellness builds on the post-and pre natal aquanatal fitness classes Mrs Parnham already runs at the Holiday Inn swimming pool for groups of up to 25 women.
“I do mummy MOTs, one to one. Some women prefer to come in for classes. I have always been interested in women’s health.
“I have my medical training too. I have been a midwife 23 years, and trained at St Thomas’ and Guys in London. Now I am a community midwife.”
Her classes are about re-building muscle; core and pelvic exercises, rebuilding tone and strength.
A `mummy MOT’, sounds like a bit of a joke, but it is chance for a woman to have a full assessment of where she is, and where she wants to get to, she added.
mamawellness.co.uk
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