Our Events

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September Motherhood Moment – ‘The Mother Load’

Saturday 30th September 2023, 10am – 12:30pm, St Andrews, Earlsfield

Expert Speakers

Marisa Burgess

Dr Stephanie Ooi

Clio Wood

Marisa Burgess, Transformational Life Coach

Marisa works with mothers to help reconnect with themselves, their values and their confidence after children. Her support focuses on deepening self awareness, cultivating an empowered mindset, establishing boundaries and offering tools and guidance for navigating the busy nature of modern motherhood and the many transitions we experience as mothers.

Dr Stephanie Ooi, GP

Formerly an NHS doctor, Stephanie now works in private practice with specific interests in paediatrics, fertility, women’s health, and allergies. She’s co-host of ‘The medic mum podcast’ and is well known to many as @the_gp_mum, leveraging her influence for good on social media as a social media GP.

Clio Wood, maternal health and sex positivity advocate, journalist and author

Clio created &Breathe, an award-winning wellbeing retreat company, after she experienced the traumatic birth of her first daughter and subsequent postnatal depression, PTSD and pelvic floor issues. She champions issues related to postnatal, menopause and sexual wellbeing through her writing, speaking and ultimately her first book, Get Your Mojo Back, Sex, Pleasure and Intimacy After Birth (Watkins, 2023)

Topics Covered

Identity & overwhelm in motherhood

The mental load & balancing the juggle

Maternal mental health and the 6-week check

Sex & intimacy after having a baby

Returning to paid work

Event Summary

Over 50 women joined together for The Village’s 2^nd Motherhood Moment and the energy & buzz was electric!

We talked all things ‘The Motherload’ with our 3 brilliant practitioners, Marisa, Stephanie & Clio – covering topics ranging from the identity shifts so many experience in motherhood, changed priorities, transitions back to paid work, the mental load and how to make things more ‘balanced’ between partners, maternal mental health & support options, what’s common but NOT normal in motherhood and when & where to seek support, to sex after having a baby and the physical, mental & emotional barriers to intimacy in motherhood. We covered SO MUCH and with such live discussion and contributions from the audience we only wish we’d had more time!

Alongside our panel discussion and audience Q&A we were treated to a spot of shopping with pop-up stall hosted by Our Little Wardrobe selling beautiful pre-loved kids’ clothes helping us to kit out our small people sustainably and cost-effectively. With coffee, cake and conversation too – we came away feeling more connected to a community & inspired by the wealth of information & experience shared amongst us.

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Feedback
hear what people are saying about our event:

“Well done on a fab event yesterday – it was so interesting & useful and I wish I’d had that at the beginning of my motherhood journey!!”

“Really enjoyed it, can’t wait for the next one!”

“It was a wonderful event and very unlike any other mum related forum I’ve experienced. I loved how candid and open the panel was and in turn that encouraged the audience to be the same, fostering great discussion”

“Really great event, felt quite emotional reliving some of the collective challenges we all face. It really did remind me how incredible mums are.”

“Loved the friendly atmosphere and vibe you created”

Suggested Resources

If you are concerned about any aspect of your mental or physical health, or experiencing challenges, or keen to learn more – we’ve put together some suggested sources of information & support

Returning To Paid Work

Online Resources:

Mentor Mums
- Matching you with a like-minded mum in a similar profession for free mentorship support you during your return to work after having children

ACAS – Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service
- For information on maternity leave, pay & other rights

Working Families
- The UK’s national charity for working parents & carers

Books:

The mother of all jobs – Christine Armstrong
- How to have children, and a career, and stay sane(ish)

The Blend – Tobi Asare
- How to successfully manage a career & family

Mothers Work! – Jessica Chivers
- How to get a grip on guilt & make a smooth return to work

The Equal Parent – Paul Morgan-Bentley
- How sharing the load helps the whole family thrive

Podcasts:

Comeback Coach – Jessica Chivers
- Life beyond work

The Spring Back Guide – Laetitia Gordon-Fuse
- Go back to work happy after babies

Social media accounts (IG):

Overwhelm & The Mental Load

Online Resources:

Better Help
- therapy advice: www.betterhelp.com

Pandas UK
- Pre- & postnatal depression awareness & support: www.pandasfoundation.org.uk

My Therapist Online
- Finding psychotherapists & counsellors online: www.mytherapistonline.co.uk

Books:

Fair Play – Eve Rodsky
- A game-changing solution for when you have too much to do (and more life to live)
Set boundaries, Find peace – Nedra Glover Tawwab
Raising a happier mother – Anna Mathur