This week is Maternal Mental Health Week.
Looking after yourself and recognising that you might need a little support are signs that you are doing a great job and being a great Mum. It’s important to know that It’s OK not to be OK and that there is lots of support to help you.
Lewisham Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) has developed this page on Lewisham Councils website for women and their partners, friends and family, as a resource for getting help when they are experiencing some kind of mental distress, however mild or severe it may be. www.lewisham.gov.uk/notfeelingok
At the Children Centres we have a rolling programme of courses, workshops and sessions for you and your baby to come and have fun and meet new friends including Little Explorers, Baby Massage and OWL Babies. Visit our timetable page for more information.
You can also contact us via our enquiry form if you would like support or advice.
The Mindful Mums sessions are a great way to connect with other new Mums. Run by MIND with qualified peer supporters, these sessions can help you process some of your feelings around your pregnancy, birth and becoming a new parent in a positive and supportive group. If you have had a baby in the last year, please do contact them and book a place on one of their five week courses or join their Zoom Drop-in sessions.
Session are run online and in our centres, visit their website for more information and our timetable for details of the next sessions.
Mindful Mums online Antenatal Group
The Mindful Mums Antenatal Group aims to help you flourish during your pregnancy and beyond.
Led by trained volunteers, the group offers emotional and wellbeing support for women who are 12 weeks pregnant to full-term.
June – July 2023
Course length: five weeks
When: to be confirmed
Where: online via Zoom. We will send you login details after you have registered
To register your interest in the above group, please click the ‘Register now’ button on this page.
LGBTQ+ Parents Group
Having a baby is rarely without its challenges, but having a baby when you’re also LGBTQ+ can bring additional experiences and difficulties to navigate.
Mindful Mums new wellbeing group provides a safe space for LGBTQ+ parents of babies 0-12 months to talk about the complexities of parenting and issues related to their wellbeing. The group offers a non-judgmental space for LGBTQ+ parents to talk freely about their experiences as new parents.
The groups are led by trained volunteers with their own personal experiences of being a LGBTQ+ parent and managing the challenges of early parenthood. As well as being a place to share similarities and celebrate differences, the five-week courses offer an opportunity to connect with other parents and learn tips and techniques for looking after your wellbeing.
June – July 2023
Course length: five weeks
Delivery: online and in-person
In-person sessions: Thursday 15 June, Thursday 29 June, Thursday 13 July
Where: Clyde Family Hub, Alverton Street, Deptford, SE8 5NH – map
Zoom sessions: Thursday 22 June, Thursday 6 June
Time: all sessions run from 1pm – 2.30pm
NB: Booking is essential due to limited spaces; places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Diversity Matters
Mindful Mums new Diversity Matters group provides a safe space for mothers of babies 0-12 months to talk about the complexities and issues related to their culture, upbringing and heritage with balancing the challenges of early motherhood. The group offers a non-judgmental space for women from diverse communities to talk freely about their experiences as new mums.
Diversity Matters is led by trained volunteers with their own personal experiences of managing the challenges of early motherhood from a Black, Asian or Ethnic Minority perspective. As well as being a place to share similarities and celebrate differences, the five-week courses offer an opportunity to connect with other pregnant women and new mums and learn tips and techniques for looking after your wellbeing.
June – July 2023 Group 1
Course length: five weeks
When: Wednesdays, 12.30pm – 2pm, 14 June – 12 July
Where: The Village London, Corbett Library & Community Centre, Torridon Road, London, SE6 1RQ – MAP
June – July 2023 Group 2
Course length: five weeks
When: Fridays, 11am – 12.30pm, 16 June – 14 July
Where: local park or green space, such as Beckenham Place Park
Young Mindful Mums
Having a baby isn’t easy at the best of times, and having a baby when you’re also a young mum can bring additional difficulties to navigate.
Mindful Mums Young Mindful Mums groups for 16-22 year olds will help you navigate the path of new parenthood and provide a safe space for parents of babies 0-12 months to talk about the complexities of parenting and issues related to their wellbeing.
The Mindful Mums Postnatal group is a supportive, five-week course for mothers aged 16-22 who have babies 0-12 months old.
Led by trained volunteers with their own lived experience of being a young mum, the group offers emotional and wellbeing support, as well as the opportunity to connect with other new mums in your area.
June – July 2023
Course length: five weeks
Day: Thursdays
When: 15 June – 13 July, 10.30am- 12pm
Where: Bellingham Children’s Centre, 109A Randlesdown Road, Catford SE6 3HB – map
NB: Booking is essential due to limited spaces; places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
To register your interest in the above group, please click the ‘Register now’ button on this page.
More Support & Information
The National Childbirth Trust help over a million mums and dads each year through pregnancy, birth and early days of parenthood. They offer antenatal and postnatal courses, local support and reliable information to help all parents. The NCT also have some really helpful articles on your life as a new parent covering topics for both you and your partner such as bonding, how you might be feeling, and how you might be feeling about your new post-partum body.
Postnatal Helpline: 0300 330 0773
Pandas Foundation vision is to support every individual with pre or postnatal depression in England. Pandas helpline offers advice to all and much more
Helpline 0843 28 98 401
Remember you’re not alone, we hope to see you and your little one in our centres very soon and you can also contact us via our enquiry form if you would like any support or advice.
www.lewisham.gov.uk/notfeelingok
