The Cortisol Curve: Stress Regulation and Adrenal Fatigue in New Mothers
Motherhood is beautiful—but it’s also biologically intense. Behind the midnight feeds and nappy changes, your body is managing something monumental: cortisol regulation. This essential hormone drives your ability to cope, adapt, and recover—yet for many new mothers, the cortisol curve gets disrupted. The result? Burnout, overwhelm, and in some cases, adrenal fatigue.
Neuroplasticity & Motherhood: How Your Brain Rewires Postpartum
Becoming a mother doesn’t just change your lifestyle—it quite literally reshapes your brain. Thanks to a powerful phenomenon called neuroplasticity, the postpartum period is marked by fascinating changes in neural structure and function. But what does this mean for your day-to-day life as a new mum?
Nutrient Partitioning in Pregnancy: Why Your Body Feeds Baby First
Pregnancy is often described as miraculous — and when you look at how the body manages nutrients, it’s not hard to see why.
From the moment of implantation, your body begins a process called nutrient partitioning. It’s a biological strategy that ensures your baby gets the nutrients they need to grow, often even at your own expense.
Prepping Your Gut for Pregnancy: The Microbiome-Fertility Connection
Your gut microbiome — the ecosystem of trillions of bacteria in your digestive tract — affects nutrient absorption, hormone regulation, inflammation, and immune function. Each of these processes contributes to your fertility and your body’s ability to support a healthy pregnancy.
Postpartum Thermoregulation: Why You’re Sweating, Shivering, or Freezing
You’ve just had a baby, your body’s been through a monumental event, and suddenly you’re waking up drenched in sweat — or shivering under three blankets. These unexpected postpartum temperature shifts are more common than you might think.
The Uterus: Your Baby’s First Home and Birth Muscle
Breastfeeding is natural, essential and protected by law—but doing it in public can still feel daunting. Whether you’re a first-time mum or a seasoned parent, feeding your baby outside the comfort of home can stir up anxiety, uncertainty, and occasionally unwanted attention.
Breastfeeding in Public: Confidence, Covers & Knowing Your Rights
Breastfeeding is natural, essential and protected by law—but doing it in public can still feel daunting. Whether you’re a first-time mum or a seasoned parent, feeding your baby outside the comfort of home can stir up anxiety, uncertainty, and occasionally unwanted attention.
When Is the Right Time to Start Weaning?
Weaning can feel like one of those parenting milestones that sneaks up on you. One moment you’re learning how to hold your newborn, the next you’re staring down the baby aisle wondering if it’s time to offer a spoonful of purée or a piece of banana. It’s messy, exciting, and emotional all at once — because this isn’t just about food. It’s about watching your baby take their first step into independence.
Pregnancy Hormones: What’s Flooding Your Body (and Why)
Pregnancy is a time of astonishing transformation. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, your body becomes the setting for one of life’s greatest feats—creating and nurturing new life. But behind every physical change, every emotional wave, and every flutter of new sensation, there’s a powerful hormonal symphony playing just beneath the surface.
Vitamins & Supplements in Pregnancy: What’s Really Necessary?
Pregnancy comes with a whirlwind of advice – and it’s easy to feel unsure about what’s really essential. When it comes to vitamins and supplements, some are strongly recommended because they directly support your baby’s healthy development and your own wellbeing.
Delayed Cord Clamping: Benefits, 'Wait Until White', and NHS Guidance
Delayed cord clamping (DCC) is an evidence-based birth practice where the umbilical cord is not clamped immediately after delivery. Instead, healthcare professionals wait for at least one minute—or until the cord turns white and stops pulsating—before clamping. Supported by NHS and NICE guidance, DCC is increasingly standard in UK maternity care for its benefits to both term and preterm infants.
Understanding the Physiology of Labour: What to Expect
Pregnancy is a time of change—and with change can come anxiety, excitement, and uncertainty. Whether you're attending antenatal education in Tunbridge Wells or preparing from home with online antenatal classes, incorporating mindful breathing into your daily routine can offer a powerful anchor through it all.
The Benefits of Mindful Breathing in Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a time of change—and with change can come anxiety, excitement, and uncertainty. Whether you're attending antenatal education in Tunbridge Wells or preparing from home with online antenatal classes, incorporating mindful breathing into your daily routine can offer a powerful anchor through it all.
Why Iron Matters in the Third Trimester
As your baby grows rapidly in the final months, your blood volume expands by as much as 50%. This physiological shift helps deliver oxygen and nutrients through the placenta. But it also means your body needs significantly more iron — to produce enough haemoglobin to support both you and your baby.
Your First Antenatal Appointment: What to Expect
The first antenatal appointment—often called the booking appointment—typically happens between 8 and 10 weeks pregnant. It’s your official entry into maternity care and helps build the foundation for a healthy pregnancy.
Nesting Instinct: What Science Says About Pre-Birth Prep
The nesting instinct is a powerful drive that kicks in during pregnancy—usually in the final trimester—urging expectant parents to get their home “baby-ready.” It can feel like an urgent mission: clean every corner, stock every shelf, wash every onesie. It’s part instinct, part anxiety, and often a little bit magica
How Birth Partners Influence Hormones During Labour
The journey of childbirth is not only a physical process but also a deeply emotional and hormonal experience. While medical professionals play a crucial role, the presence of a supportive birth partner can significantly impact the hormonal balance during labour, influencing the overall birthing experience.
Understanding Caesarean Birth: Caeserean Awareness Month
April marks Caesarean Awareness Month — a time to recognise, inform, and empower parents who birth their babies abdominally. At The Bubba & Me Club, we’re committed to inclusive education that supports every kind of birth journey, including Caesarean births, which account for roughly 1 in 4 births in the UK.
Whether planned or performed in an emergency, Caesarean birth is birth — and it deserves to be met with respect, knowledge, and care.
How to Cope with Pregnancy Fatigue: Tips for Boosting Energy
Pregnancy fatigue is one of the most common symptoms expectant mothers experience, particularly in the first and third trimesters. Growing a baby is hard work, and the hormonal changes, increased blood production, and emotional shifts can leave you feeling utterly exhausted. While pregnancy fatigue is completely normal, there are ways to manage it and maintain your energy levels throughout the day.
Let’s Talk About the Cervix: It’s Role During Fertility & Pregnancy
The cervix is a small but essential part of the female reproductive system. Sitting at the lower end of the uterus, it connects to the vagina and plays a vital role in both fertility and pregnancy. Despite its importance, it often goes unnoticed—until you’re trying to conceive or expecting a baby.