'The Must Do Course for Mums with New Babies'
Exeter Location ~ Tuesday lunchtimes
Since 2014 I have hosted hundreds of my unique, award-winning postnatal groups for mums with new babies (whether that's your first of fourth!) so I am so excited to be running the Postnatal Pod out of the fantastic Baby Room in Exeter.
Born from the struggles I experienced in the first year of having my first baby, I wanted & needed to have a weekly
get-together where I could meet other local mums who had babies of a similar age & be supported by experts who would share their knowledge & tips on all the need-to-know topics that are so important during the first 6 months or so.
We are extremely lucky to have a team of some of the most qualified and experienced well-being experts in Devon,
to ensure that what we deliver is the very best.
This is a course for YOU (Mummy) to come along to with baby.
Sit back, relax & enjoy each week in the warm, welcoming hub of The Baby Room right in the heart of Exeter city centre.
This course is perfect for anyone who has given birth in 2023/2024 and would like to meet and build friendships with other local mums, over a period of 6 weeks.
Places are limited and do get booked up quickly so be sure to head to the Bookings page for more
details & how to secure your place.
If you have any questions regarding this course please feel free to message me or book a call for an informal chat.
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** Please note: The team of specialists may vary so check the bookings page for the most up to date information regarding who will be hosting the weekly sessions for the dates that you are considering. **
WEEK ONE
Hosted by Rebecca Rees
& Qualified Midwife Lynn Goreing
Sharing your birth story alongside peers/other mums (who have recently given birth too and can really identify with what and how you are feeling) can be so powerful.
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By doing so, not only does this bond and bring us together in such a unique way but it is vital to continue to share, talk, educate, bond, nurture and support each other, so those of use with more challenging birth stories to share, also get to hear & feel empowered during our first session together.
(It goes without saying that there will be tea & cake provided during these weekly get-togethers)
As a qualified Nurse, Midwife and Specialist Community Health Nurse, Lynne is the perfect specialist to host our first session together.
Lynne’s knowledge, experience and superpower to listen & nurture ensures a comfortable and welcoming start to our 6 weeks together.
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Lynne’s two children are now grown and flown the nest but she still remembers and appreciates the power of a birth story especially as she has herself experienced both a medicalised and ‘natural birth’.
WEEK TWO
In our second week, we welcome Senior Physiotherapist Nancy Osborne whose knowledge and years of experience (both professionally and as a parent) means she is able to clearly explain the changes in our pregnant and postnatal bodies, giving you advice that you rarely get to hear these days.
This is relevant whatever type of birth you have had be that a physiological or abdominal birth.
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This easy to understand breakdown of how your postnatal body has changed, what it (and you) have been through these past 9 months as you have grown your baby and how you can make slow, informed choices and changes to recover and get your body feeling strong over time in the right way for you.
What is covered in this session: We cover some of the following:
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pelvic floor
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core restore and what this means
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how to check your tummy gap and tension
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functional movement
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scar massage for abdominal/ cesarean section surgery
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pain
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prolapse
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returning to exercise
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postnatal running guidelines
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postnatal Pilates
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and how you’re doing as mum as you find your ‘new normal’
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The Mummy MOT
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WEEK THREE
Hosted by Vicky Cooksley
Infant, Child and Autism
Sleep Specialist
Not getting enough sleep can be so detrimental to all family members so little tips & tricks to know right from the start, really can make the world of difference.
Vicky is a certified sleep consultant who helps families create bespoke sleep routines to eliminate those sleep battles for good.
Vicky joins us to hear more about what support she can give to you and your family at this time.
Discover valuable insights into knowing how to observe your baby’s sleep cues, asleep & awake windows, the importance of naps and feel empowered to look forward to bedtime as you slowly establish longer sleep times so both you & baby get the rest you need.
What is covered in this session:
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Sleep & Awake times
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Playtime
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Naps & nap lengths
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Should you wake a sleeping baby & if so when?
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Bathtime
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Bedtime
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Sleep props/aids - white noise/ dummy etc
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Consistency
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Discussion and questions
As with all of our Postnatal Pod sessions, these are to encourage and empower you and the choices you make for you and your family.
There is no right or wrong way, we are here to listen, share knowledge and tips so that you can choose whether to implement any suggestions which resonate with you.
WEEK FOUR
Have you done a first aid course specifically aimed at parents?
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The Postnatal Pod are thrilled to have Liz Watt of Mini First Aid Exeter & South Devon join us for our fourth session.
Liz, is a busy mum of 3 young boys, and is passionate to share her wealth of knowledge providing parents with first aid tips which will give you the confidence to know what actions to take if faced with a medical emergency.
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Mini First Aid’s Multi Award winning classes are delivered in a relaxed and comfortable style and Liz is happy to talk more about what is covered in her full course and what to expect once you have booked on to a Baby & Child First Aid class at a later date.
What is covered in this session:
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An overview of Liz’s background, experiences and classes
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Common Infant illnesses such as Coughs, Colds and Gastroentoritis
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Understanding and knowing what to do about temperatures
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Seasonal Awareness e.g. Best practice when the weather is very hot
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Time for Questions
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Overview of what to do if an infant is choking
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This is not a Mini First Aid FULL course, however, if you would like to book onto one of Liz’s popular courses you will have the opportunity to find out more and when/how to book.
WEEK FIVE
Hosted by Rebecca Rees
Founder of the Postnatal Pod/ Devon Aquanatal &
6 Week Social
Meeting the needs of mums with new babies is a massive focus of the Postnatal Pod course and why I (Rebecca) created it almost a decade ago when I was on the rollercoaster ride of being mummy to my first baby.
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Living miles away from my hometown in Devon, I felt like a fish out of water & with needing to recover from a c-section & the emotional fallout of struggling so much when it came to breastfeeding I knew that having a strong network of other local mums was going to make life so much easier.
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I started a group that I called 6 Week Social in Hertfordshire & am now so excited to bring a similar offering to & for the mums in Exeter & surrounding areas.
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In our penultimate or final session (sometimes we switch these ones round) Rebecca covers baby's first 6 months to a year & how we can offer them so much during this formative period.
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By profession Rebecca is an Early Years Specialist and AMI Qualified Montessori Teacher.
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Rebecca was thrilled to put her Montessori knowledge & practice into her parenting journey with both her boys & is excited to share some key experiences for you to consider in your child's early months & years.
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Some of what we will cover:
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An overview of what Montessori is
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The four planes of development
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Sensitive periods
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Follow the child
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Development, e.g. Grasping/ Hand/eye co-ordination
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Toys
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Books
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Tummy time
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And so much more...
WEEK SIX
Hosted by Ruth Harvey
Pod & Pea Nutritionist
Our final session is with Ruth, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with over 12 years experience in the NHS and mummy to two children aged 5 and 7.
It was Ruth’s own journey into motherhood that inspired her to set up her business Pod & Pea Nutrition to enable parents to access unbiased, evidence based nutrition advice for themselves and their children.
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Ruth’s workshops in The Baby Room, Exeter consistently sell out as mums endeavour to find out more information ahead of weaning their little ones.
We will chat about this a little more in this session and Ruth will of course answer any questions you may have.
However, as always with our weekly Postnatal Pod meet-ups, the focus is on you and your needs as mummy to your baby so we will cover healthy food options and quick/simple ways to boost your energy.
Some suggestions and knowledge to gain more understanding of beneficial food groups and how to easily incorporate this into your every-day.
And top tips for quick meals and healthy snacks to balance up all those treats that let's face it - you really do deserve :)
Join Us
Throughout the Postnatal Pod course, mums get to know each other as a group and individually over a period of time. They support, empathise and encourage because they are all going through similar things.
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Having a new baby can be tough and this is when you need your village around you.
Equally, it is just as important and special to celebrate and cheer on the triumphs.
And with new found friendships developed and fantastic information each week from the experts who join us - this is time for you, to keep moving confidently forward in your journey of motherhood.