MamaBabyBliss is a social enterprise and as part of our mission to support ALL women on their journey through motherhood, we are committed to supporting women who suffer from mental illnesses during pregnancy.
We are working closely with the NHS and supporting them in their efforts to intervene and alleviate the onset and affects of post-natal depression and psychosis in mothers. We currently do this by training nurses in Mother and Baby Units in psychiatric wings in hospitals around the country, with our Mother and Baby Yoga and Relaxation techniques.
NHS Wellbeing & Resilience Package
As we find ourselves in a second lockdown, we know that once again NHS staff are on the frontline looking after others. But who is looking after these NHS heroes? We are passionate about encouraging self-care not just those working in the parent and baby sector but EVERYONE which is why we have launched Wellbeing Wednesdays for NHS staff and all key workers. This is where you can book a session and enjoy a combination of mindfulness, yoga and other relaxation and self-care techniques to look after YOU. Find out more here
NHS resources
We have also put an NHS Support & Care package to support NHS staff who are still working on the frontline. This is our way of saying ‘Thank You’ for being so amazing and supporting others during COVID-19. Visit our NHS resources page.
Making a difference
We also have an amazing team of MamaBabyBliss Teachers and Therapists who regularly volunteer their time by running baby sessions and giving treatments to nurture the mums and babies in these units.
After volunteering her time at the units, along with the MamaBabyBliss Nottingham team of therapists and teachers, Vanessa Taylor, Head of Maternal Health and Wellbeing for MamaBabyBliss has helped turn just a few hours of help into a “sanctuary for women” admitted to the Unit.
Vanessa shares what motivates her:
For me, treating these amazing mummies means the world! I feel so privileged to spend a short time with all of these ladies, to listen to their stories and to take them away from the torment, guilt and sadness they feel. To see them relax, feel safe, open up and know they are not alone and to give them the love and pampering they deserve is so satisfying. The MamaBabyBliss Team in Nottingham are all equally passionate about the work we do and are always touched, moved and inspired by the women we support within the ‘Nottingham Healthcare Trust’s Mother and Baby Unit ‘.
To see a distressed mum, smile and her shoulders physically relax and release following a treatment is fabulous. The impact of this pamper /nurture time for the women is summed up powerfully by one previous patient on the ward:
I was lucky enough to benefit from a wonderful hand and foot massage when I was in the unit back in October. At a time when I didn’t feel like I deserved anything, let alone pampering, it was a challenge, but it helped me to start to change my attitude to myself. From self-denying and self-critical to appreciating what an enormous trauma my body and mind had been through following a long hospital stay, prior to and after my baby was born by C-section and after a really difficult/complicated pregnancy. I still struggle now with accepting that I deserve to be looked after, but when I think back to this ‘treat’ that I had in the MBU, it helps me to remember that my mental and physical health is every bit as important as my baby’s. Thank you MamaBabyBliss, Nottingham xxx
We are delighted to be able to make a difference to these mothers and babies and support the essential work that the amazing staff at the unit do.
To read about the impact that our work is having and the experience of one very brave mother who was in a Mother and Baby Unit, please read Rose’s blog post here.