Local Resources
Sometimes knowing where to look for support in the first place is the biggest challenge. This is a directory of trusted local organisations and service providers to help you in your motherhood journey. If you personally recommend a service that you think other local mums should know about, please get in touch so we can add it to our list.
Breastfeeding Support
Gloucestershire Breastfeeding Supporters Network offers 1:1 support and advice and a network of brilliant peer support groups.
La Leche League offers 1:1 support and advice, and regular meetings for pregnant women and breastfeeding parents.
Grace is an IBCLC offering 1:1 breastfeeding support throughout the Cotswolds. Please note she is currently on maternity leave.
Lucy is an IBCLC offering 1:1 breastfeeding support virtually and is able to travel to offer in person support
Anna Wilson is a Gloucestershire-based IBCLC who offers home visits, and is a tongue tie practitioner who can offer tongue tie division in your home if required.
Paediatric Osteopaths
Osteopathy can often help address issues such as tension and imbalance due to birth trauma, and can help with issues around colic, unsettled sleep, and discomfort.
A well-respected clinic offering infant osteopathy for over 45 years.
Laura works from Churchdown Osteopaths and her home clinic in Horsley. She works with infants as well as mothers pre-and post-natally and has specific training in post-partum support.
Postnatal Mental Health Support
Home Start run several "Mothers in Mind" groups in and around Stroud, which offer peer support to mothers experiencing moderate to severe mental health challenges postnatally.
Shine offer creative therapy, peer support, weekly drop-in and meet-up sessions for mothers dealing with depression, anxiety, isolation or overwhelm. Groups are based in Cirencester, Fairford, Dursley and Swindon.
Footsteps offers compassionate counselling and care for anyone in the Gloucestershire area affected by pregnancy-related issues, the loss of a baby for any reason, traumatic birth, fertility problems and pregnancy-related mental health issues.
Hayley is a birth and postnatal doula and experienced counsellor offering support throughout the perinatal period.
Birth Debriefs
Oli is an experienced NHS midwife and yoga teacher, who brings deep understanding of both the physiology and psychology of birth to her private birth debriefs.
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A session with Oli offers a supportive and nourishing space to be heard and feel into any gaps, to ask questions, to better understand what happened and hopefully, why. The aim is that helping you process the event - or more importantly, the feelings about the event, helps you move forward, releasing birth-related trauma and giving you options for future births, as well as repairing any birth confidence you may have lost. You can contact her on 07967 003916.
Jane Allen is an experienced NHS midwife offering birth debriefs and rewind therapy in the Dursley area.
Pregnancy and Postpartum Massage
Anna Booth at the Lansdown Clinic offers wonderful pregnancy and postpartum treatments.
Cotswold Mobile Massage can visit you at home for massage treatments pre- and post-natally.
Advanced clinical massage therapy for pregnancy and postnatal, including myofascial release and scarwork
Nutritional Therapy
Grace specialises in supporting women's health through nutritional therapy and sees clients in Stroud.
Antenatal education and birth preparation
Gillian Holmes is an experienced and highly-regarded local doula and antenatal educator
Natalie Jones offers antenatal preparation, perinatal emotional support, and beautiful affirmation cards to help your preparation for birth.
Food
The Long Table offers freshly cooked pay as you can meals from their site in Brimscombe, with particularly child friendly dinners on Thursday nights from 5pm. They also have a network of "Freezers of Love" where you can collect frozen meals to heat at home.
Hearty and delicious home-made meals made by a local vegan chef and delivered to your door. Perfect for filling the freezer for early postpartum days or periods where you need more support.
Creative Spaces for New Mums
This is a program featuring a series of workshops for people who have recently given birth. It offers supported creative practice in a group, as a way to address connection, emotional health & wellbeing for health professionals and people with new babies.
These singing groups are for pregnant women and new mums & babies up to 12 months old, held every Thursday morning in Stroud. They have been running in Stroud in association with Stroud Maternity Unit since 2017.
Support for Dads
Dudes & Dogs is a Community Interest Group spanning across the UK & Ireland created with one simple premise. To get men out in the fresh air together for a walk and talk. We want men to understand that it's not just okay to talk, it's important.
Dad Matters offers Outreach services/drop-ins at maternity centres, and community venues, Provide 1:1 peer support to dads, Signpost and support dads to access services and information to help make sense of being a dad and supporting dads with anxiety, stress and mental health awareness