Today’s post is written by the lovely Misty Tunks from Makey Mamas in which she shares her essential guide to activities especially for pregnant mamas in Bristol. Enjoy!
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How do you find out about something when you don’t even know it exists? I’d never been pregnant before so how was I to know that aqua-natal yoga or pregnancy personal training existed?
Every aspect of pregnancy was a whole new world of learning for me, as Sian from Snow Yoga says:
“Pregnancy can be the most magical and spectacular time of a woman´s life but it can also be very challenging”.
Now I’m on the other side. I have a 20 month old running around and run my own creative classes for pregnant women and it’s my turn to tell pregnant women about the range of pregnancy workshops, courses and services on offer locally.
Working with pregnant women is a privileged position to be in. Women are going through one of the most special times of their life and by attending your sessions they are inviting you to be part of that.
Mitch from Birthology puts it beautifully:
“I feel blessed indeed that there are babies whom I have been with from 12 weeks gestation until they are 12 months old – I know they recognise my voice!”.
Nicki from Little Om yoga calls it “Mothering the mother”, which I thinks sums up very well how the antenatal community can support mums to be.
Your Essential Guide To Activities For Pregnant Mamas In Bristol
Bump to Baby Photography with Alison Taylor
A Bump to Baby photography package with Alison Taylor Photography is the perfect way to remember life before and after your baby arrives. It’s such a wonderful record of this special time which goes by so quickly.
The Bump to Baby package includes two photo sessions. The first being your maternity photos when you are around 8 months pregnant. This is a natural outdoor session and can be at a location of your choice (Bristol, Bath or Cheltenham area).
The second photo session is to capture your newborn baby in their first few weeks of life. These photos are done in the comfort of your own home.
Bump to Baby Package:
- 60 minute maternity photo session
- 60-90 minute newborn photo session
- Private online gallery to view all the images from both sessions and share with family & friends
- Twenty digital pictures from your maternity gallery and twenty from your newborn gallery
(high resolution for printing and low resolution for emails/social media)
Photo Book:
You can also add a beautiful PHOTO BOOK to your package combining pictures before and after – a wonderful way to document, display and remember!
For more details about Bump to Baby Photography please visit https://www.alisontaylorphotography.co.uk/pregnancy-photographer/
Aquatic Harmony
Antenatal and postnatal aqua yoga sessions in lovely warm pools.
Hayleigh’s classes offer a relaxed environment for women to prepare for birth, and enjoy each stage of pregnancy with their growing baby.
Central Bristol, Aztec West, Henbury, Horfield
Bristol Positive Birth Movement
A space for pregnant couples to come together and share stories, thoughts, questions and insights about pregnancy and birth.
Lead by birthworkers and birth enthusiasts, the group aims to be a helpful part of pregnancy; a warm and welcoming place to hear stories and ideas, to consider what women want from their childbirth experience, and to challenge any negative expectations.
Central Bristol
www.positivebirthmovement.org/
Birthology
Antenatal classes, yoga for pregnancy, positive birth preparations.
NCT practitioner, Mitch, offers a space to improve physical and emotional well-being and to prepare for a positive pregnancy and birth – whatever the birth plans. Includes breathing for birth, birth stories or discussion with stretches and breathing being the main focus of the class
Bishopston
Makey Mamas
Creative workshops for pregnant women and mums including:
How to Photograph your Pregnant Bump, How to Cast your Pregnant Bump, Crochet Bootie Making, Natural Skincare Product Making.
Misty runs the only pregnancy classes that support women’s wellbeing through therapeutic activities by nurturing the creative instinct that many women experience when having babies.
Bishopston
Bumps n Babies
HypnoBirthing – birth preparation courses and drop in pregnancy support
Katheryn and her colleagues are all midwives and mums who used HypnoBirthing for their own births. They are passionate about making birth a better experience and providing more support for families at this special time.
Kingswood, Bishopston, Bedminister and Clifton
Suryachandra Therapies
Ayurvedic pregnancy massage, pregnancy yoga classes, birth preparation for couples and women’s circles.
Marinella welcomes women into a circle to share, breathe, stretch, laugh and cry, relax and just be…connecting with their unborn babies. Ancient mantras and sound practices are also used to soothe and relax women.
Easton, Central Bristol
Fit to Drop
Specialising in Pre-Natal and Post-Natal fitness including Pilates and personal training.
Sarah wrote the pregnancy programme when she expecting herself so is proof that they work. Sarah also offers relaxation time during sessions to help you walk on air!
Long Ashton
Love Birth
Hypnobirthing and Active Birth preparation classes
Mum of two, Anne’s courses are based on years of teaching and listening to families and what they need including: breathing and hypnosis techniques, active birth positions, each stage of labour, where to birth, exploring options if assistance in birth is advised, the fourth trimester, breastfeeding.
Southville
Ly Malnick
Doula, Pregnancy Yoga and Birth Preparation Classes for groups, couples or 121
Ly’s classes contain a mixture of elements including yoga, movement for an active birth, breathing techniques, connecting with baby and also discussing different aspects of labour, birth and beyond.
Horfield
Snow Yoga
Pregnancy Yoga, birth preparation for groups, couples or 121
Sian’s classes are small and intimate and very friendly (I can vouch for this!) offering a soothing and relaxed environment in which to have some ‘mama and baby time’.
Easton
Vicki Hill Personal Training
1:1 pregnancy personal training sessions
Vicki offers advice on exercising during pregnancy and had a wealth of knowledge and skills to train women at all stages of pregnancy
Throughout Bristol
Little Om Yoga
Homeopathy for Birthing, Pregnancy yoga for groups and 121. Active birth couples workshops and deep relaxation sessions
Nicki’s sessions have a truly holistic approach for pregnant women, their baby’s journey in the womb, preparation for birth, as well as recovery afterwards.
St George
Relaxed Birth and Parenting
Group or private pregnancy yoga and birth preparation classes
Dominique’s classes promote complete emotional and physical health in pregnancy, birth and early parenting. They also support the principles of individuality – acknowledging that every woman has her own individual way to birth her baby.
Clifton
www.relaxedbirthandparenting.com
dominiquesakoilsky.com
Birth Well
Private and group couples hypnobirthing classes including birth education, deep relaxation and self-hypnosis
Eva’s classes offer expecting parents thoroughly empowering birth preparation that centres around the powerful impact that our thoughts and feelings around birth have not only on the way we experience birth but also on the overall outcome of birth.
Westbury on Trym
www.hypnobirthinginbristol.co.uk
Yoga Plus Bristol
Active Birth and Pregnancy Yoga class and partner workshops
Vivien has an informal approach to her teaching with active birth preparation threaded throughout all sessions. There is also a sense of continuity with the follow on set up of the classes from pregnancy to post natal
Southville, Bishopston
As if all of these workshops aren’t enough the Baby Hub has recently opened at Bristol Health Hub in Cotham with lots of classes and sessions for ante-natal mums.
Hannah talks about Aquatic Harmony:
“I have been desperate to get into the water as soon as I found out I was pregnant and so at 12 weeks I started my sessions with Hayleigh. I am now 33 weeks pregnant and can honestly say that Aqua Natal has been one of my favorite parts of pregnancy! The sessions really help with relaxation, especially when you are still struggling with the daily grind of work etc.”
Elaine talks about Snow Yoga:
“This class was a fabulous oasis of calm in the few busy months leading up to the birth of my first baby and I always came away from it feeling very relaxed and peaceful. Sian is an amazing teacher, so calm and thoughtful, and I learned so many great tips and practices for labour.”
Laura talks about Makey Mamas:
“Absolutely fab session making natural products! Learnt so much! Misty is a fab, friendly, patient and very knowledgable teacher! Would definitely recommend this class to any pregnant lady or mum.”
*Disclosure: This post contains a few sponsored links
Bristol Mum 