Kathryn Lawrence - Pregnancy & Postnatal Edinburgh

Hello 2024! Who’s with me? I’m not really a resolution fan but if there’s ever one I can get on board with, its looking after ourselves better 💛 It’s one of the things I’ve found the hardest since having children, and wanting to give my all to them. So here’s to looking after ourselves, being around people who care, supporting and encouraging each other to not be bottom of the list anymore!

If you have wee one(s) already you might be able to relate to this. And for everyone getting ready to welcome a baby 2024 is going to be an extra special year! And probably a bit of a rollercoaster too:) Self care strategies when you have a baby are definitely needed, but just as important is community care; the support network and community you have around you. That support is everything when you have a baby.

If education, being informed, feeling confident and supported are all on your list then you are in the right place. From weekly antenatal classes, birth and parenting workshops to baby massage, and baby & toddler yoga you will find all of the above and more with me. Plus I’ve got to say, the loveliest group of new mums and dads too.

At a time when everyone is being encouraged to make resolutions and reinvent themselves we are going to be focusing on what we need, having the tools to look after ourselves and each other as well as meeting the needs of our wee ones. It doesn’t have to be one or the other!

If you are pregnant, take a look at my weekly Birthing pregnancy class to help you learn, relax and prepare as well as meeting the community you need. We’re here for you 💛 and if you are looking for a supportive place to learn new skills with your baby and meet others then come and join Tinies, Wrigglers or Cruisers for a weekly dose of support, learning and fun!

https://bookwhen.com/kathrynlawrenceperinatal

So much festive fun and happy faces at classes this month! It’s been another incredible year of learning, kindness and community support, and I want to say a huge thank you to everyone that has attended my antenatal and baby classes this year for making them so special!

Some of our older ‘daisy babies’ have turned 10 this year and I’m feeling so grateful to be celebrating a decade of teaching classes and supporting families. Birthing classes and workshops and Tinies, Wrigglers and Cruisers are all open and ready for you to join in January, come and find the village that you need for you and your wee one!

Wishing you all a magical Christmas and holiday period and I can’t wait to do it all again in 2024! Kathryn x

Oh my! This wee beaut was so snoozy after class, and I’ve got to say that it is one of my favourite bits of my job. Bumps becoming babies, coming back to class as babes in arms to laughing, clapping and toddling their way out the door. And all the while the strongest bonds and friendships are being made, groups cemented together by the beautiful messiness of it all. The most incredible kindness, celebrating the highs, lows, milestones and all the moments of that first year. That kind of community care is worth it’s weight in gold and you will find it here in abundance. Lay the foundations at my Birthing antenatal classes and workshops and then carry on the story at Baby, with Tinies, Wrigglers and Cruisers. I will be there to support you every step of the way, oh and did I mention… I’m also available for baby cuddles

I’m taking part in the Wave of Light this evening, remembering all the babies that could not stay and sending so much love to bereaved parents, friends and families this evening 💖💙

E N D O F A N E R A

So it’s goodbye Daisy! Since training with the Daisy Foundation in 2013 (back when it was Lazy Daisy) I have supported thousands of parents and their babies through pregnancy and the early months of parenthood. I’ve been (and of course still am) so proud of our community that has grown over the last decade and how you have, and continue, to support each other.

Many of you may have already heard the news that the Daisy Foundation is ceasing trading as of August this year and may be wondering what that means for your classes in Edinburgh..

The good news is not a lot is changing! I will still be teaching antenatal classes and workshops (Birthing weekly antenatal classes, Active Birth and Newborn Calm and Care Workshops) alongside my regular weekly baby classes, Tinies, Wrigglers and Cruisers. It does mean another new booking system (link in bio!) and email, and that you can tag and find me online as Kathryn Lawrence - Pregnancy & Postnatal Edinburgh - other than that you’ll be glad to know that everything continues as normal.

I am, as ever, always thankful for everyone’s support of my business and would be so grateful if you could continue to like, share and recommend my classes using the tag to help people looking for ‘daisy’ to find me.

After a wee break over the summer to be with family I’m so looking forward to classes restarting next month and can’t wait to see lots of you soon!

So it’s the end of a chapter and I’m sad to say bye to daisy, but I’m so happy to continue providing support to parents and know that the classes you know and love will still be there for you when you need them. With love and thanks, Kathryn

Kin Collective Edinburgh Birth and Baby

Can you help Simpsons Special Care Babies? Info on how to donate below:

*HELP NEEDED* The Simpson Neonatal Unit is again looking for donations of new or good used condition baby wraps from the Scottish baby box. This request is dual purpose - some will be used to teach the neonatal team how to use them safely for all babies, but especially the smaller babies. This will enable the staff to support the parents in using these safely and earlier, resulting in better bonding between the parents and baby.

Others will be sent to the Gaza Strip for one of the neonatal team to take with them on a medical aid project to plan improvements to the NNU in Gaza and complete teaching with the Neonatal Therapists there. We know that in developing health care systems, kangaroo care can significantly reduce death and improves outcomes for premature babies so these slings would be invaluable.

If you have one to donate, please mark it for attention of Fiona McKeown at the therapies reception RHCYP

Your help, as always, is very much appreciated 💜

All Things Baby by John Lewis Edinburgh is happening next week!

I’ll be there, along with some of my colleagues and some fab local organisations for a relaxed and informative evening of talks, demonstrations, Q&As and more from the John Lewis Nursery Team.

If you are pregnant grab your spot now and come and say hi next week! Kathryn x

Book using the link below or booking link in stories:
https://experiences.johnlewis.com/events/all-things-baby-evening-5-596899842497

We’re finishing the term with an Easter class on Tuesday! How sweet is this happy bunny from last year?!

Booking is now open for:
09.45 Cruisers (8m-18m) Boddler* yoga, explore, play & social time
11.00 Wrigglers (4m-8m) Baby yoga, stories, songs & sensory play
12.30 Tinies (4w-4m) Baby massage, bond & 4th trimester class

Plus all you could need for pregnancy too including a weekly Birthing class to learn, stretch, breathe and relax, with Active Birth and Newborn Calm and Care workshops too

For your journey into parenthood and to meet the most wonderful team of parents who will be by your side - we’ve got you covered!

*baby and toddler:)

Link in bio or click to book:
https://thedaisyfoundation.com/kathryn-lawrence/

Sometimes there are big expectations for days or events that don’t always feel that realistic when you have a small baby or young children. Or your Mothers Day might not be the celebration you hoped. Even a long lie on Mother’s Day might feel impossible. But I hope everyone that came to classes this week can get 5 minutes of time with a cup of tea and some chocolate this Sunday, a moment for you. I hope you all enjoy them - very much deserved! You are so important and loved.

Sending so much love to all the Mums this Mother’s Day, especially those missing their Mums and the Mums who hold their babies in their hearts instead of their arms 💖

Ever grateful to witness the support, kindness and community of women supporting each other on their motherhood journey. Through the highs and lows, laughter and tears. Happy International Women’s Day to you all!

♥️ Your new baby is meant to be close to you. You aren’t doing anything wrong

Please contact Simpsons Special Care Babies directly if you have a baby box sling to donate!

💜 EDIT: Wow, absolutely blown away by all the offers of wraps!! We now have more than enough so if you haven’t already heard from us with drop off details please do not hand in or post us any. Well let everyone know if we need more in future. Thank you all so much 💜

The Simpson Neonatal unit is looking for donations of new or used in good condition baby wraps from the Scottish baby box. We will be using them to teach the team on the neonatal unit how to use them safely for all babies on the unit, especially smaller babies. This will enable the staff to support our parents in using these wraps safely and earlier, resulting in better bonding between parents and their baby, giving parents more confidence when using the wrap. We have two members of the team currently trained. For the few families we have supported, using the wrap has made a huge difference to these families and their relationship with their baby. Please contact us directly if you can help, thank you.

And relax! Life is busy and it can be hard to take time in your pregnancy to focus on you and your baby. This weekly antenatal session gives you time to relax, breathe, move, chat and meet others - all alongside learning your antenatal and active birth education. Click the link in bio to see upcoming course dates. Half day birth preparation and newborn calm and care workshops are also available for you and your birth partner, plus a lovely series of postnatal classes including baby massage and yoga to keep you connected once your baby arrives.

Last Active Birth Workshop of the year yesterday and this was my view on the way to work ❄️ 2022 has been a busy and lovely year of antenatal and postnatal classes with so many wonderful parents and babies

If you and your birth partner are looking for a half day birth preparation session together the next availability is February (1:1s also available). Weekly pregnancy classes start back mid January giving you time to chat, move, relax and breathe

Newborn Care will be the last workshop of 2022 so if you would like to find out about caring for your baby, normal newborn behaviours, planning for postpartum and learn about holding, winding, bathing, nappies, safe sleep AND have a practice tying the baby box wrap (yep we’ll cover a lot!) then it’s the course for you - send me a DM to find out more.

I’m getting set for some Christmassy sessions to round off the year, so stay tuned for some gorgeous festive babies!

Kathryn x

What a difference a year makes - Halloween 2021 and 2022! What an absolute pleasure to see this gorgeous smiley mum and baby team grow 💖

It’s been more than a year actually - from antenatal classes in the May, a lovely 18 months of classes, chats, whatsapps and so many milestones along the way. It’s always sad to say bye when it’s time for families to move on, but I’m so grateful to be a wee part of so many lovely journeys.

With love to all bereaved parents and in memory of all the babies who could not stay but who are loved and missed every day

On the final day of Baby Loss Awareness Week we’ll be joining the at 7pm this evening by lighting a candle in support of bereaved parents and to remember all the babies who are missed and loved every day 💖💙

Today marks the end of Baby Loss Awareness Week 2022.
The theme was stepping stones and the paths we find ourselves on after a baby dies. All our paths are different but what remains constant is love - so much love for our little ones 💖
We invite you to join us at 7pm this evening to light a candle in memory of all the precious babies not with us. Let us light up the World with their love ✨🕯
Please do share so we can create as big a wave of light as we can.

We look forward to seeing those who are joining us to light their candle together at Arthur’s Seat this evening.
BabyLoss

💖 incredible!

“When I was pregnant with my daughter her cells migrated into my bloodstream and then circled back into hers. For 41 weeks our cells merged and crossed and after she was born these cells stayed in my body, leaving a permanent imprint in my tissues, bones, brain, and skin, and will stay there for decades. ⁠⠀

And every child I have after will leave a similar imprint on my body. Even if a pregnancy doesn't go to full term or you have an abortion, these cells still migrate into your bloodstream. Research has shown that if a mother's heart is injured, fetal cells will rush to the site of the injury and change into different types of cells that specialize in mending the heart! Studies have also shown cells from a fetus in a mothers brain 18 years after she gave birth!⁠⠀

Mothers have always intuitively felt their child even when they are not there, now there is scientific proof that we carry them for years and years even after we have birthed them. I know my body held and made my daughter, but she too made me. Leaving pieces of herself to forever flow through my body and heal me in ways I am only still trying to understand. Forever grateful for her not only being my teacher but also my healer.”

If you're curious to learn more, google "Fetal-maternal microchimerism"⁠

Written by

This made me think of my own mother so much too. Gem 🤍
Incredible illustration by .ch.r 🤍

There is a very special pregnancy event coming up! Join me for breakfast with , a fabulous pregnancy gathering on Sunday 2nd October to help you get prepared for birth and baby.

All the event details are below, and you can book your place now using this link:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/edinburghbirthbaby/759758

(it’s also in Edinburgh Birth & Baby’s bio)

It will be a wonderful session of learning, chat and relaxation with some fabulous goody bags too. Can’t wait to see you there! Kathryn x

REPOST
This promises to be better than ever before and we have a great line up of speakers including Midwife Gemma Nealon of , lawyer Emma Reid of along with practical tips for postpartum and how to use the sling in the baby box from perinatal practitioner Kathryn Lawrence and choking tips from Jo

There are too many speakers to mention here but we will feature one each day for the next week or 2 to give you some flavour of what to expect.

If you havn't already done so make sure you are part of the Edinburgh Birth and Baby Community as well for all the top tips and chat

For more info or to book your place click on the link
https://buytickets.at/edinburghbirthbaby/759758

When should I start antenatal classes?

I wanted to share more about a question I get asked regularly. I know that if it’s something you are feeling nervous about that it can feel easier to put it off. Or maybe you’ve been told you don’t need to as birth doesn’t go to plan?

Well the good news is that starting earlier and being informed can help you feel more prepared and confident.

Rather than learning all your antenatal education in the last trimester I generally recommend starting a weekly pregnancy class from around 20 weeks as there are so many great benefits:

• having a time of the week to focus on you, your pregnancy and baby helps support your pregnancy wellbeing

• practising breathing and birthing techniques helps build muscle memory and enables those techniques to be used more instinctively during labour and birth

• meeting others who are also pregnant provides a supportive space to chat and ask question in person

• you can still supplement your weekly practice with birth and baby care workshops in the third trimester with your birth partner to help you prepare together

• having access to a community throughout your pregnancy (in person, online and by WhatsApp) can be invaluable with 1:1 support available too

• with many parents continuing on to daisy baby massage and baby yoga together once the babies are born, weekly classes provide continuity through pregnancy and postpartum

If you have any specific questions about antenatal courses, classes and workshops please do ask and I hope to welcome you to a class soon!

Kathryn

The next available dates for antenatal are:

Daisy Birthing weekly class
Mondays 19.00 - 20.30
22nd August
26th September
14th November

Daisy Active Birth Workshop
Saturday 09.30 - 13.00
26th September
14th November
with Newborn Calm and Care workshop add-on also available

www.thedaisyfoundation.com/kathryn-lawrence

A beautiful thank you and the loveliest plant and plant pot - perfect for !

As promised, a little more about what my classes are all about - and why.

I will always ask you how you are, and I really want to know. Becoming a parent can feel overwhelming and lonely sometimes too so it’s good to have somewhere to chat. There is space to talk at every class plus support via whatsapp and our online communities too.

I really support - our community laughs, cries and celebrates together. It took me a while to get there, I couldn’t really say how I was feeling to start with. I found becoming a mum really challenging. I didn’t realise I would find it both the best and hardest job at the same time and I was really surprised that I struggled. I found it hard to say out loud though and my standard response was “I’m fine”.

Peer support made a huge difference to me which is why I set up which provides free support for new and expectant parents through our Perinatal Wellbeing Project. Accessible support is really important to me. I love volunteering for and at I provide fully and partially funded places - DM me if you’d like to find out more or apply.

Bringing expectant and new parents together, seeing friendships form and all the support everyone gives each other is pretty much my favourite thing and it’s extra special to see parents returning with subsequent pregnancies and getting to meet younger siblings too.

For everyone that comes to a class or workshop my aims are for you to leave feeling informed, confident and supported, knowing what your options and choices are. It’s definitely not a case of “join classes just to make friends” - but it does very much happen along the way.

So that’s a little about what to expect. A caring and compassionate community of new parents, education and support. If you’d like to learn more you can find all my class info via the link in my bio / book now button, and I hope to welcome you to classes soon. Kathryn x

📷:

Hi everyone 👋 it’s been a while! I want to say hello, welcome to new followers and also share a little about me and my classes 💕

I’ve been a bit quiet here recently as I’ve got a few plates spinning and I’m not a huge lover of the socials (sorry fb and ig 🙊) which doesn’t help.

So… I’m Kathryn, mum of two, perinatal educator, antenatal and baby class teacher , facilitator of and founder of

I started teaching in 2014 and see 80+ mums, parents and babies a week with a mixture of ante and postnatal sessions so although this page is quiet life is busy! I make it my mission to learn everyone’s names, and over the last 8.5 years I’ve met so many amazing local families and seen them grow 💖

You can join me for weekly pregnancy classes, half day birth preparation workshops, baby care sessions, fourth trimester support and I teach baby massage and baby yoga classes too.

All this happens at community interest company Kin Collective, the social enterprise I founded last year (🥳happy birthday Kin!) at our Family Wellbeing Hub in Leith.

When I’m not there you’ll generally find me in Leith or Portobello, often with my wee ones and when we do make it further afield we’re usually camping 🏕

I’ll post more soon about the work I’m doing and why. Thanks for following and hopefully I’ll see you at Kin Collective soon. Kathryn x

FREE TICKET GIVEAWAY!

On the 22nd-24th April The Daisy Foundation will be at the Baby and Toddler Show in Glasgow and we have a number of free tickets to give away worth £32 each.

The Baby & Toddler Show has been curated especially for new and expectant parents to shop for all the essentials under one roof. Save money with incredible show deals on over 150 brands, meet the brand experts and ask them your important questions in person, take home complementary goodies, get hands on demonstrations and much more.

Simply follow the link to book your pair of complimentary tickets today with code DAISY22, but be quick there's only 100 pairs up for grabs and they won't last long: https://bit.ly/3JtHRnT. USE code DAISY22 to get your giveaway tickets. You can also use the 40% discount code if all the freebies have gone: EXGL70

The hardest and best job in the world! Happy Mother’s Day to you all - with extra love to anyone that finds today hard