A health minister and Suffolk MP has voiced his support for an organisation which offers help to mothers during and after pregnancy.

East Anglian Daily Times: Dr Dan Poulter MP is at the Daisy Birthing antenatal class at Cedarwood Primary School in Ipswich.Dr Dan Poulter MP is at the Daisy Birthing antenatal class at Cedarwood Primary School in Ipswich. (Image: Archant)

The Daisy Foundation not-for-profit organisation in east Suffolk holds classes and workshops for women through various stages of pregnancy and the early days of parenthood.

East Anglian Daily Times: Dr Dan Poulter MP is at the Daisy Birthing antenatal class at Cedarwood Primary School in Ipswich.Dr Dan Poulter MP is at the Daisy Birthing antenatal class at Cedarwood Primary School in Ipswich. (Image: Archant)

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Dr Dan Poulter visited the organisation’s birthing class at Cedarwood Primary School, Kesgrave, last week, and highlighted the vital role it can play.

East Anglian Daily Times: Dr Dan Poulter MP is at the Daisy Birthing antenatal class at Cedarwood Primary School in Ipswich.Dr Dan Poulter MP is at the Daisy Birthing antenatal class at Cedarwood Primary School in Ipswich. (Image: Archant)

He said: “As a practising NHS maternity doctor, I know how important it is for pregnant women and new mums to get the right physical and emotional support.

“The birth of a new baby is often a very exciting and happy time but it can also present challenges. “It was great to see the personalised care provided by the team at Daisy Birthing to all the women they look after during pregnancy and after a baby is born.”

Jo Cresdee, managing director of the Daisy Foundation in east Suffolk, said Ipswich already had an award-winning maternity unit.

But she said support for new mums could be even better if they had more information about the wide-ranging services available.

“There are limited opportunities to make pregnant women aware of the emotional support, education and workshops available outside the NHS. Most doctors and midwives are not allowed to give out information on services other than those by the NHS.

“Midwives cannot always provide the kind of emotional support they used to because the NHS is so overstretched,” she added.

The only information distributed is of NHS services and material distributed in Bounty Packs given to mums for their newborn babies.

Ms Cresdee added: “Unless you are a big enough company to get into Bounty Packs, your information won’t get distributed, and it doesn’t offer women all the support they need.

“Even if mums just need to talk that is very much what we do, as well as classes that give health benefits.”

The Daisy Foundation, which began teaching classes in Ipswich more than 10 years ago as Lazy Daisy, has been approved by the Federation of Antenatal Educators and puts all profits back into its classes.