The Mother_Tree

20/04/2025

Happy Easter Lovelies. Hope you have a fabulous weekend however you celebrate or spend it.

Mine started with a hunt to find a treat for the kids followed by a yearly tradition of a street egg hunt and then a walk with friends and family time ❤️

Mum’s if possible try to get a little bit of time for you. Even if it’s just a brew while the kids eat their eggs, enjoying your own egg or taking some deep breath’s in the sunshine 🌞

Lots of love Lisa xx

09/04/2025

We are looking for representation from our whole community 🗣

If you have breastfed your baby and you would like to join our team as a local volunteer, apply now!

02/04/2025

It was fantastic to be a part of the Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership quarterly meeting. Some fantastic discussions were had around how the MNVP can support women and families in the area.

02/04/2025

A great opportunity for additional training and to give something back to an amazing community ❤️

Are you passionate about breastfeeding and want to be a part of the support offered locally in Stoke on Trent?

Would you like to “give back” to other parents and learn a new skill?

We are incredibly excited to be recruiting for our 6th cohort of volunteers to help support our ever-growing service within the local community.

Full details and applications can be found by scanning the QR code below or following the link here: https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/training/helper-2025-56-stoke-on-trent/

Closing date for applications is 15th April 2025

If you have any questions about the course, voluntary role or application process, please email [email protected] or telephone our HR Advisor on 0844 412 0995.

27/03/2025

Can you support this?

Keele University are looking for volunteer Dads with little ones 2years and under to learn about your perinatal experience.

11/03/2025

When Friends & Family Don’t Understand Your Birth Choices… or Why You Don’t Tell Them!

Your birth choices are YOURS. But sometimes, sharing them with family and friends invites opinions, doubts, or fear-based comments that you don’t need.

You might hear:
- “Why would you want a home birth? That’s too risky!”
- “Just take the epidural—you don’t need to prove anything.”
- “Hospitals are the safest place. You don’t know what could happen!”

If you know certain people won’t be supportive, it’s okay not to tell them. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for how you choose to birth your baby.

💛 Protect your energy—choose to share only with those who uplift and respect you.
💛 Avoid unnecessary stress—negative comments can plant doubt when you deserve confidence.
💛 Focus on YOUR journey—birth is deeply personal; you don’t need approval to do what feels right.

Most importantly, find your support network—whether it’s a doula, midwife, birth-positive friends, or an online community. Surround yourself with people who trust and empower you.

Did you keep your birth plans private? How did it feel? or what plans do you have to look after yourself?

09/03/2025

A brilliant explanation from sarawickham.com on how you ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE
You get to decide what happens during your pregnancy. Questions everything and make your own informed decisions.

06/03/2025

When it comes to labour, movement and positioning can make all the difference! Staying Upright, Forward, and Open (UFO) helps your baby move down more easily, making labour more efficient and comfortable.

UFO – What Does It Mean?
🔸 Upright – Standing, kneeling, or squatting can work with gravity to help baby descend.
🔸 Forward – Leaning forward (on a birth ball, partner, or bed) encourages optimal baby positioning.
🔸 Open – Keeping your legs and pelvis open (sitting wide, lunging, or using a birth stool) gives baby more space to move down.

Best Positions for Labour
💛 Standing & Swaying – Uses gravity and helps ease back pain.
💛 Hands & Knees – Great for relieving pressure and encouraging baby into the best position.
💛 Birth Ball Sitting – Encourages hip movement and relaxation.
💛 Squatting – Opens the pelvis, but support is key!
💛 Side-Lying – A great option if resting is needed while keeping the pelvis open.

Changing positions regularly helps labour progress and can make contractions more manageable. Your body knows what to do—trust it!

Did you use any of these positions in your labour? Let me know below! ⬇️

04/03/2025

Choosing the right birth partner can make a world of difference to your labour and birth experience. Whether it’s your partner, a close friend, family member, or a doula, their role is to provide emotional and physical support, advocate for your wishes, and help create a calm, positive birth environment.

How Can a Birth Partner Be the Best Support?
🌸Know Your Birth Preferences – Take time to understand the birthing woman's wishes, birth plan, and any preferences they have. This helps you advocate for them if needed.

🌸Stay Calm and Reassuring – Labour can be intense, and a steady, reassuring presence makes all the difference. Use gentle encouragement, eye contact, and a soothing voice.

🌸Offer Physical Comfort – Massage, counter-pressure, holding their hand, or simply offering a drink can help them feel more at ease.

🌸 Protect the Birth Space – Whether it’s dim lighting, music, or quiet encouragement, ensure the birthing environment is as peaceful and comfortable as possible.

🌸Be Their Voice – If labour becomes overwhelming, a birth partner can communicate with medical staff, ensuring the birthing person’s wishes are heard and respected.

🌸 Look After Yourself Too – Birth can be a long process! Stay hydrated, take short breaks if needed, and remain present and engaged.

A supportive birth partner can help make the journey into parenthood a more empowering and positive experience. 💛

Who is your amazing Birth Partner? Tag them in the comments below ⭐

02/03/2025

Hi all, welcome to my page, The Mother Tree!

My name is Lisa and I support women and their families through pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period ❤

I live in Alsager (ST7) with my husband, two children and cat Woody. My passion is to support you to have the best experience through this amazing journey. I will support your choices and help to guide you when needed with evidence based information.

I work within an hour of ST7 so If you are looking for support then please send me a DM and we can chat either via zoom or face to face if local.

07/02/2025

✨ The Power of Birth Affirmations ✨

Did you know that the words you speak to yourself during labour can shape your birth experience?

Birth affirmations are positive statements that help reframe fear, build confidence, and keep your mind focused on strength, trust, and surrender. When practiced regularly, they can create a deep sense of calm and empowerment—helping you navigate labour with a more positive mindset.

How Birth Affirmations Support You:
🌸Rewire your thoughts from fear to confidence
🌸Help you relax and stay present in the moment
🌸Remind you that your body and baby know what to do
🌸Keep you grounded when labour feels intense

Try using the affirmations on this post or try writing your own affirmations and saying them daily, or stick them around your home and birth space. Your words have power! ❤

Did you use birth affirmations? What was your favourite? Share in the comments! 👇

06/02/2025

Do you want to share your ideas and feeding experience? Then why not register to join in.

We are really excited to be supporting University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust and the Breastfeeding Network Stoke with a redesign of their postnatal infant feeding support.

Come along to our listening session to share your ideas and infant feeding experience.

06/02/2025

✨ The Fear-Tension-Pain Cycle in Birth ✨

Have you ever heard of the Fear-Tension-Pain Cycle? It’s a powerful concept that can shape your birth experience!

When we feel fear during labour, our body responds by tensing up. This tension restricts oxygen and blood flow to the uterus, making contractions feel more painful. In turn, more pain can increase fear, continuing the cycle.

But here’s the good news… There are things you can do to help break the cycle!

Ways to reduce fear & tension in labour:
🌸Deep breathing & relaxation techniques
🌸Hypnobirthing & mindfulness
🌸A calm & supportive birth environment
🌸Trusting your body and birth team

By replacing fear with confidence and relaxation, your body can work at reducing pain and allowing for a smoother, more positive birth experience. You have definitely got this!!

Did you feel the impact of the Fear-Tension-Pain Cycle in your birth? Let’s chat in the comments! 👇

04/02/2025

✨ Your Pregnancy To-Do List: First Steps After Finding Out You're Expecting! ✨

Congratulations! You’re growing a tiny human, and now the journey begins. Here are some must-do steps to help you feel prepared, empowered, and supported:

🌸Start Prenatal Yoga – Gentle movement and breathwork can ease aches, boost energy, and help prepare your body for birth.

🌸Read Positive Birth Stories – Surround yourself with uplifting experiences to build confidence and trust in your body’s ability to birth.

🌸Book Onto a Birth Prep Course – Knowledge is power! Learning about your options and birth physiology can help you feel calm and in control.

🌸Work on Your Birth Plan – Think of it as birth preferences. Understanding your choices means you can advocate for the experience you want.

🌸Hire a Doula – A doula provides emotional, practical, and informational support throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, ensuring you feel heard and empowered every step of the way.

Pregnancy is a journey—take it one step at a time.

Tag a mama-to-be who needs to see this! ❤

14/01/2025

❤️❤️❤️

'There is no way to be a perfect mother, but a million ways to be a good one'

This past week we have been on a family holiday and it has taught me that being a good mum is ok, we don't need to be perfect.

We decided to go on holiday to have an action packed week with lots of bike riding, swimming and activities which we were all really looking forward to. We had booked to stay in a cottage in the perfect location for all our plans.

However, the universe had other plans! There had been a mix up with our booking and we ended up having to move accommodation twice but the house we ended up with was beautiful and right on a river in the middle of a lovely village with the forest all around us. It felt so homely and the children immediately settled and were excited to choose which bedroom they wanted to stay in.

Me and my husband began to relax after the stress of the first few days but we were also conscious that we needed to adjust our plans for the week, so we did just that!
We went for walks in the forest to see the full moon, skimmed stones in the river and rode our bikes by the sea. To me this was even better than the supposedly perfect week we had planned. This changed week turned out better than we could have wanted.

My children had the best time doing the simple things in life and this is what makes me happy. So my suggestion to you would be to notice the small things in life because they are the magic moments ⭐✨🌟

As a new mum it is so easy to believe that we need everything to be perfect for our new addition but when in reality all they want is you ❤ Good is enough!

Share this post to a new mum who you feel needs to hear this 🙏

13/11/2024

Carrying your baby is so beneficial for both them and you. Contact The Babywearing Guru - Carrying Consultant - Stoke on Trent if you have any questions ❤️

DID YOU KNOW: All of my consultations include aftercare, I don't leave you at the door and say goodbye, for you to figure it out on your own. In fact, I encourage you to keep in touch and check in with me afterwards because I WANT you to feel COMFORTABLE and CONFIDENT 💖

I've been blessed with so many lovely consultations lately, including bump to baby packages, newborn sessions and back carrying. (I forgot to take photos at my most recent back carrying session, so I chose a lovely one from last year!)

Get in touch or head to the website if you'd like to book a session and get comfortable, confident and safe babywearing
Charlene x

13/11/2024

Today is World Kindness Day!

Infant feeding is an emotive topic, and it can be so easy to comment on other's lives. But remember, behind every profile and even professional account, there is a real person.

So please be kind to others and yourselves 💜

[ID: Kindness Matters. Sunset background with birds.]

23/10/2024

The last of the Oak Team’s stats…

August 2024 🫶