About Me
I am an antenatal practitioner/childbirth educator and postnatal group facilitator, qualified through the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) in the United Kingdom. I am passionate about supporting new parents and parents-to-be as they prepare for birth and their journey into parenthood and hope to provide them with empowerment, confidence and a strong support network as they embark on the greatest journey of their lives! My practice is mainly based in and around Zürich, Switzerland where I support both parents-to-be as well as those in the early stages of parenthood. I also hold an NCT Licence to Practice in the UK, and mainly support parents in Yorkshire and the North of England.
This is a somewhat new journey for me too, and I've had a varied career to get me to this point. I have always had an interest in pregnancy, birth and babies, but didn't start off life as perinatal facilitator; instead, after completing a BSc in Biomedical Sciences in Canada, I embarked on a PhD, based at the University of Oxford in the UK, studying the immunology of pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. Although I was fascinated by what happens to the human body during pregnancy, and particularly during pre-eclamptic pregnancies, I knew that life in a laboratory wasn't for me. From there, I moved into health research funding administration with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in London, UK. Although this role moved me slightly further away from my interests in pregnancy and birth, it allowed me to work closely with the research world, in relation to many different clinical areas. It also reinforced my appreciation of the need for a strong evidence-base for decisions made during clinical care. This provides a solid foundation on which I have built my practice given the importance of educated and informed decision-making during childbirth and the early postnatal period.
Photos by Jessica Kosmack Photography
Following a move to Zürich in 2015, and the birth of my two children, I left my previous life behind and started searching for where to go next. As a new parent in a foreign world, my interests returned to studying more about pregnancy and birth, and I developed a strong desire to understand how new and expectant parents could be better supported as part of an international community. Having had my own children in Zürich, and knowing how difficult it can be to embark on parenthood as an expat, I developed great empathy for others undertaking this journey and the need to provide support in whatever way I could arose within me. No parent should be alone on this journey and I wanted to be there for anyone who might need someone by their side. From there, Newborn Mums was born!
I undertook the Birth and Beyond Foundation Degree, a collaboration between the University of Worcester (UK) and the NCT, specialising in antenatal education and postnatal facilitation. This wasn't an easy feat, as it involved 54 day-trips to London from Zürich over two years (followed by a swift transition onto Zoom in March last year) as well as finding time to study while caring for two little ones. To me, the sacrifice was worth it as I feel so passionately about ensuring that all parents have access to appropriate support when they need it. Everyone says 'it takes a village to raise a child,' and my goal is to help create that village within and around the Zürich international community.
I am originally from Canada, naturalised British, and now live in Adliswil, Zürich, with my two children.
My qualifications
Expected December 2023 - Holistic Sleep Coaching, Feed, Sleep, Bond (UK)
2022 - Breastfeeding and Perinatal Support, NCT (UK)
2020 - Birth and Beyond (FdA), University of Worcester (UK)
2005 - Reproductive Immunology (PhD), University of Guelph (Canada), in collaboration with the University of Oxford (UK)
2001 - Biomedical Sciences (BSc Hons), University of Guelph (Canada)
Services
Nearly Newborn
Childbirth Education Courses
Childbirth education courses are offered in-person in Zürich and along the Silver Coast, as well as online, in English. Topics range from physiological and medically-assisted birth to postnatal recovery and baby care. Parents-to-be will be empowered and equipped with knowledge to develop confidence in their decision-making while having the opportunity to meet others on a similar journey.
Newborn Mums
Postnatal Group Support
Newborn Mums groups are for new mothers with babies up to about 6 months of age. Courses consist of 6 weekly sessions and take place in-person in Zürich, as well as online. Discussions will focus on many of the issues on a new mother's mind such as sleep, feeding, relationship changes and emotional well-being. Mothers will be encouraged to develop confidence in their decision-making as a parent, while building a supportive network of friends.
Not-so-Newborn
Introduction to Solids Workshops
These workshops aim to support parents as they work through the planning and decision-making in relation to introducing their baby to solid foods. Different methods for weaning will be discussed as well as issues in relation to practicalities and safety. Each workshop is 2h in length and are offered in-person, in Zürich, and online, in English.
Testimonials
Contact Me
If you have any questions or would like anymore information about any of my courses or workshops, or would like to book a place on a course, please get in touch. I would love to hear from you!
I will do my best to reply to all queries within 24h to 48h, but please bear with me if I don't as I'm also a busy mum! ;)
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