Today we have a guest blog from a new venture in Beaconsfield which is very topical and very much needed. Read on ...
Isolation and loneliness have impacted so many of us over the last year, but one group of
people who have been hit particularly hard are new parents; especially if it’s their first baby.
Levels of postnatal depression and pregnancy anxiety have skyrocketed over the last 12months. In fact, a recent study from Mums Net found that 77% of pregnant mums surveyed
said they felt scared or isolated at some point during their pregnancy because of COVID
restrictions, while 88% of new mums said they felt lonely as they couldn’t attend parent and
baby groups.
If you’re a parent, you’ll know how important it is to socialise in those first few months of
your baby’s life. Baby groups and classes, coffee mornings, even just a friend or relative
making you a cuppa and holding your baby for an hour while you go for a shower or asleep
can make a huge difference to your mindset and happiness. So much has been taken away
from new parents and unfortunately, it’s easy to see why some are struggling with their
mental health.
And it’s not just the parents who are finding it hard. After a year of having their parents’
undivided attention 24/7, babies and toddlers are struggling to adapt to normal life. One local nursery has noticed a significant increase in separation anxiety and many instances of ‘lockdown babies’ crying when other babies or children come too near to them or try to touch them.
So what support is on offer?
Where can parents-to-be and new parents turn to if they need help? With traditional perinatal services still limited or under huge strain, large numbers of parents are falling through the gaps.
Step forward local company, Seed Wellness, who have just launched The Seed Childbirth
Collective, to offer much-needed pre and postnatal services in Bucks and Berks. Based in
Beaconsfield, Seed Wellness launched in 2018 with the sole purpose of making health and wellness accessible to the local community. Seed is a network of therapists, teachers and practitioners who work together to inform, inspire and empower their clients when it comes to looking after their own health.
Traditionally, Seed has offered a huge variety of services, from massage, osteopathy,
reflexology and nutritional therapy to yoga, Pilates, counselling, private GP AND much more.
The Seed Childbirth Collective was an idea born in lockdown after Seed Co-Founders, Kate
Kirrane and Jen Suri, witnessed first-hand through friends and family members how
pregnant women and first-time parents were struggling to find the care and community
they needed.
Women suffering miscarriages alone in hospitals without their partners to hold their hands;
new mums breaking down unable to cope with their newborn babies with little or no support; parents and babies going days or weeks without interacting with the outside world;
and the list goes on.
So, what exactly does Seed Childbirth Collective offer?
SCC covers 3 areas:
Preparing for Pregnancy; Pregnancy; and Birth and Beyond.
This includes specialist fertility nutrition, therapies and mental health support; specialist exercise including yoga, Pilates, and Core Restore; antenatal classes; hypnobirthing; nutritional support; local doulas and midwives for women wishing to give birth at home; sleep coaching; breastfeeding support; complementary therapies such as specialist
massage, osteopathy, craniosacral therapy, reiki; remedies such as naturopathy, homoeopathy; essential oils, medicinal herbs and flowers; appropriate skin and body care for mum and baby, scar tissue treatment; mental health support for postnatal depression /trauma and more.
Housed within the Seed Wellness website, The Seed Childbirth Collective will offer ongoing,
relevant information and advice, links to current topics, themes and conversations, blogs
and contact information for all therapists, teachers and practitioners. It is a community, a
place to offer non-judgemental support and advice – both online and after 17 th May in
person – through classes, coffee mornings and events.
Having a baby is an amazing and life-changing experience and although the journey to
childbirth and beyond can be both daunting and challenging, The Seed Childbirth
Collective’s aim is to be there to support local parents-to-be and new parents every step of
the way.
For more information and a full list of what The Seed Childbirth Collective offers, please visit
Or follow The Seed Childbirth Collective:
Facebook @seedchildbirthcollective
Instagram @seedchildbirthcollective