When women come together, something magical happens. We deepen our connections with each other and with ourselves. We learn so much from each other. Come together and be seen and heard. This blog was written by Tracy Derrett, LushTums & WiggleBums teacher in Monmouth, Wales.

Dr Natasha Bijlani, a consultant psychiatrist at Priory Hospital Roehampton with a specialist interest in women’s mental health issues and pregnancy-related mood disorders, has put together information and advice on how to…

Here are some top tips to help when preparing for birth during the later stages of your pregnancy

We’ve put together this Birthing Wish List Template for you to fill in. There will be some things that apply to you and your baby and others that do not. Amend, add and edit as you see fit and share it with the people who will be present at the birth

We’ve put together some useful information if you are hoping to have your baby in hospital or a midwife-led birth unit or at home. Many women choose to have their babies in hospital where there is everything you need to help you birth your baby.

Dealing with due date pressure It is very exciting having a baby and when someone tells you your baby will arrive on this date you can’t help but get attached to that date. However as we know the realities of that happening are very slim.

To create the perfect birthing environment there are five elements that will help you feel relaxed and secure to birth your baby.

We’ve put together this Birthing Wish List Template for you lovely ladies that are electing to have a c-section. Some of the things in this template will apply, others will not; just use it as a guide. Amend, add and edit as you see fit and share it with the people who will be present at the birth.

Lots of women go on to have a vaginal birth after having a caesarean. Here’s some information to help you make that decision between a VBAC and another c-section.

I’ve just had a catch up with one of LushTums students, who is now a friend, and we were talking about “how, when and what for exactly” does retuning to exercise look like for most women post having a baby.

With mental health problems in British children at an all-time high, many people have realised that these are not always all in the mind, and that the wrong nutrition and poor sleep are contributing to the problem.

During the school holidays my usual Mum & Baby Yoga courses are suspended so that I can spend time with my own children. I wanted to do a one off session in the park to bring as many mums together as possible and…

Another week, another horror story about local postnatal exercise classes. This week it’s the online group course requiring women to practice burpees and star-jumps just 8 weeks after birth…

When our mums’ generation gave birth, it was standard practice for them to spend the following ten days in hospital, recuperating. Their bundles of joy would be brought to them for feeding, but otherwise…

Before I had children I remember vaguely hearing about ‘baby brain’ but I honestly thought it was just one of those patronising things men occasionally say. You know, a little like asking you if it's 'that time of the month' if you show signs of being the slightest bit grumpy. Images sprang to mind of women giving birth to large brains instead of babies, the stuff of nightmares; so I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind. However, when I became pregnant with my first child I suddenly realised that ‘baby brain’ is actually a real thing...

Ok, so you may have heard the term ‘placenta encapsulation’, but still be confused about how it works, what the benefits are and what it costs (or even what it ACTUALLY is). Well, you’ve come to the right place! Our Lushtums Bristol teacher Nicole has specialised in the preparation of placenta remedies for over 7 years, and is here to explain....

Do you view pregnancy as a good excuse to take things easy? Or has pregnancy motivated you to
embrace a healthier lifestyle in readiness for your new baby?
Tempting as it might be to simply sit down and put your feet up when you are pregnant (and let’s
face it, there will be times when this is what you absolutely need to do), experts, including the Royal
College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, agree that you should ideally be aiming for at least 30
minutes of exercise, at least five days of the week.

Lots of people think yoga is not for them. I often hear people say they like to sweat when they exercise (I always suggest Bikram), or they like to know how many calories they are burning- perhaps they feel that in order for exercise to be beneficial it should be punishing in some way. But I believe the many physical and emotional benefits of yoga can help everyone. And so I ask, shamelessly ripping off John Cleese and Monty Python …

Understanding what your immune system does and where it is found will help you to
understand how best to support it, and give yourself a fighting chance of staying well and
energised through the long winter months.

Many of my childhood memories involve the great outdoors but as I grew up I have to admit, I became a little lazy. When I had my first child I didn’t put a great deal of emphasis on outdoor play, but now a few years down the line and mother to a 6 year old and 4 year old, I am really trying to change things for the better.