New Support for New Mums

Midwife and holistic therapist Barbara Strawbridge from Caring Hands Midwife is expanding her services with two new postnatal offerings designed to support recovery and healing after birth.

As a midwife and holistic therapist, my work has always been centred around supporting women through pregnancy and preparing them for birth. But increasingly, I have found myself thinking about what happens afterwards.

The postnatal period is one of the most important and yet often overlooked stages of a woman’s journey. Once baby arrives, so much of the focus naturally shifts to the newborn, but mothers need care too. Recovery after birth can bring physical discomfort, changes in confidence and questions that are too often brushed aside as “just part of it”.

That is why I am so excited to be expanding my services with two new postnatal offerings designed to support women more fully after birth.

Lymphatic Drainage Massage

The first is Lymphatic Drainage Massage. This is a gentle treatment that can be hugely beneficial in the postnatal period, helping to reduce swelling, encourage circulation and support the body’s natural healing process.

Many women experience fluid retention, heaviness or discomfort after birth, especially in those early weeks when the body is adjusting and recovering. Lymphatic drainage offers a gentle, nurturing way to support that recovery. It is not about pressure to “bounce back” or change how your body looks. It is about helping women feel more comfortable, supported and at ease in their own body as they heal.

Mummy MOT

The second area I am expanding is postnatal assessment or Mummy MOT. I have recently completed pelvic floor assessment training in Liverpool, and over the coming months I will be continuing with further specialist training in London to support a fuller postnatal recovery assessment for women after birth.

This is something I feel very passionate about, because so many women are struggling with symptoms they have been told to ignore. Pelvic floor weakness, abdominal separation, back pain, pelvic discomfort, scar sensitivity and loss of confidence in movement are all common, but common does not mean they should be dismissed.

My goal is to offer women a more complete postnatal check-in, looking at how the body is healing and recovering after pregnancy and birth, and helping to identify where extra support may be needed. Every woman’s recovery is different, whether she has had a vaginal birth, a caesarean birth or a more complex experience. The support offered afterwards should reflect that.

These two new services feel like a natural next step for Caring Hands Midwife. They build on the work I already do, but they also recognise something incredibly important: birth is not the finish line.

The weeks and months after having a baby matter. This is the time when women need reassurance, practical support and care that is focused on them as well as their baby.

As I continue to expand my training, my aim remains the same as always: to offer safe, compassionate and evidence-informed support that brings together my midwifery experience and holistic therapies in a way that genuinely helps women feel better.

Postnatal recovery deserves more attention, more understanding and more support. I am proud to be growing my services in a way that helps new mums feel seen, cared for and confident in their recovery.

Contact Details

Caring Hands Midwife
281 Drumcroon Road
Coleraine
BT51 3QT

Tel: 07790914420
Website: www.caringhandsmidwife.co.uk