http://www.postpartummatters.co.uk/

Postpartum Matters CIC, The Women's Health Hub, 79 Park Road, Hartlepool (2026)

23/07/2026

❤️❤️❤️
I am always so grateful when past clients take the time to leave me a review on Google 🙏🏻🙏🏻 I’ve got twenty-three 5⭐️ reviews now and it’s really lovely reading through them all and remembering the brief but important time I got to share with each family 🥹🥰🙏🏻

If you’re interested to know more about my doula work and how I can support you in pregnancy, birth & postpartum, why not drop me a DM or book a free chat via the link in my bio 😊

I currently have birth support available for due dates around mid September and mid November. No October or December availability now ❤️

Sending love,
Zoe xx

🌻

20/07/2026

Something I have been asked quite a lot from folks curious about the beautiful pregnancy retreat I am planning with , & is ~

“When’s the best point in pregnancy to come along?”

The truth is, there isn’t a perfect week.

If you’re in your early second trimester, it can be a beautiful reset after those first few months of simply surviving. It’s a chance to reconnect with your body, begin gentle movement that supports your pregnancy, and give yourself plenty of time to think about birth and postpartum without feeling rushed.

If you’re further along, the day often becomes something else entirely. A chance to slow down. To tune into your body and your baby. To bring any last-minute questions, worries or niggles into a space where there’s time to explore them.

Wherever you are in your pregnancy, this day is about more than preparing for birth.

It’s about being cared for, connecting with other local expectant parents, and leaving feeling calmer, more informed and more connected to yourself.

And we’d love to welcome you if it feels like something you need. 🤍

Sending love,
Zoe xx

🌻

07/07/2026

I don’t seem to have much energy for Instagram at the moment 🌻 it’s far too sunny and my family life stuff is kicking me up the bum so all the energy I do have is for my doula clients ❤️

The last month has been full of ~
🌻Beautiful, empowering birth
🌻Supportive postpartum sessions
🌻Lots of massage, rebozo work and closing ceremonies
🌻Antenatal sessions going over last minute worries and getting excited for the births I am currently on call for

I still need to finish my level 3 sports massage course and get my new website sorted 🤞🏻 for august on those 😅

What is everyone else up to? I feel like I’ve been living in a cave 😅

Sending love,
Zoe xx

01/07/2026

Every time another maternity review is published, the headlines follow.

And they matter.

They matter because families who have been harmed deserve to have their experiences heard. They deserve answers. They deserve accountability. And they deserve a maternity system that learns from what happened.

But if we’re honest, we’ve seen enough of these reports to know that publishing recommendations doesn’t automatically change what happens for the next woman walking through the hospital doors.

Real change takes time.

In the meantime, you’re still preparing for your birth.

And one theme continues to appear, time and again.

Women say they didn’t feel listened to.

Not listened to when they said something didn’t feel right.

Not listened to when they asked questions.

Not listened to when they wanted more time.

Not listened to when they made a different choice.

That’s one of the reasons I do the work I do.

Not because I can guarantee your birth will go to plan.

Not because I can promise the system will always get it right.

But because I can help you prepare.

I’ll take the time to get to know you.

We’ll think through your options before labour begins.

We’ll prepare for the conversations that matter to you.

And when birth becomes busy, I’ll help bring everyone back to what you’ve said is important.

Because you deserve more than hoping the right person is on shift that day.

You deserve to feel known.

You deserve to feel heard.

🤍 I’m currently booking a small number of families with due dates between September and November.

If you’d like to explore whether doula support could be right for you, book a free consultation through the link in my bio or send me a DM. I’d love to chat.

Sending love,
Zoe xx

🌻

17/06/2026

You could spend hours reading the headlines about maternity care right now.

The rising caesarean rates.
The increasing inductions.
The growing number of interventions.

Some of those conversations are important. Some of them are difficult.

But those reports tell us about systems and statistics. They don’t tell us what your birth will be.

Your birth is shaped by how safe you feel, who is around you, and whether you feel listened to, respected and supported.

This photo was taken during a beautiful home birth I had the honour of supporting a couple of weeks ago.

A birth pool in the living room. The family dog keeping watch with me. Lots of laughter. Plenty of snacks. Conversations that had absolutely nothing to do with birth. Moments of quiet and moments of excitement.

Because birth isn’t always heavy.

Often, support is about helping you get out of your head and back into your body. Creating a protective space where labour can unfold and where you feel safe enough to surrender to the process.

This is why continuity of care matters so much.

Whether that’s a trusted midwife, a known birth team, or your doula walking alongside you throughout pregnancy and birth — people who know you, understand what makes you feel safe, and can support and advocate for you if plans change.

The statistics matter.

But so does the fact that your story is still unwritten.

And the people you choose to surround yourself with can make all the difference. ❤️

A special mention to the wonderful new home birth team at Durham and Darlington, who were fantastic at this birth. Kind, calm, supportive and such a positive presence throughout. ❤️

I currently have availability for birth support with due dates from mid-September to the end of November. If you’re exploring your options and wondering what continuous support could look like for you, you’ll find a link in my bio to book a free chat.

Sending love,

Zoe xx

📸 Shared with permission.
And thanks to .midwife 🙏🏻❤️

🌻

09/06/2026

New name, new brand coming soon ❤️❤️

After four years of setting up and running the CIC, opening the back in 2023, building my doula business and my birth support alongside it, I have decided to step down as a director. I have handed the business over to the amazing Maureen, who I know will do an excellent job of making the role her own and continuing all the wonderful work we’ve been doing in Hartlepool and the surrounding areas.

I’m really proud of all we have achieved together over the last four years. There were so many points where I wanted to give up, where it would have been easier to walk away. I’m proud I didn’t do that, I am so grateful to everyone who has offered help and support and I am happy to be leaving the CIC in a solid place, having secured more funding for going forward.

I’m also super excited to go ahead and build my own thing, for myself. My own doula & massage business where I can work at my own pace and be closer to home ❤️

Thank you so much .illustration for working on the branding for me 😍 I can’t wait to see it all come together.
I’d love to know what you all think 🥰

Sending love,
Zoe xx

🌻

31/05/2026

Half term whilst being on call for a birth is always a bit of a juggle 😆

I’m checking in on your niggles, holding space for you in the waiting, and supporting you through those final days and weeks before meeting your baby 🥰

At the same time, I’m also trying to:

✨ Plan fun days out that are close to home
✨ Make sure my birth bag is packed and childcare is arranged so I can leave at a moment’s notice
✨ Balance my energy so I can fully enjoy time with my own children, whilst still being ready to support you whenever you need me

The on-call period is one part of birth work that often goes unseen, but it can be surprisingly demanding.

When you hire me for birth support, being there when you need me is my priority ❤️ No matter what day, time, or hour labour begins, I want to be ready when you feel it’s time for me to join you.

That means keeping plans flexible, cancelling or rearranging things at the last minute when a birth happens, and living with one eye on the phone for those final weeks.

It’s a commitment that reaches into every part of life — and one that I’m always honoured to make.

If you’re curious about what doula support could look like for you, I’d love to chat ❤️

Pop over to the link in my bio to book a free cuppa and a chat, or send me a DM 😊

I hope you’ve all had a lovely sunny week ☀️.
Sending love,
Zoe xx

🌻

26/05/2026

Our Pregnancy Wellness Retreat is coming soon ✨

A whole day created for you to slow down, be cared for, and to reconnect with yourself before birth.

This weeks weather has been perfect for getting my rebozos on the line drying in the sun 🌿

Soon they’ll be wrapped around pregnant bodies, holding hips, softening shoulders, creating space to rest.

This retreat isn’t about “treating yourself” for a day.

It’s about being cared for before birth asks everything of you.

Space to slow down.
Space to breathe deeply.
Space to connect with your baby, your body, and others walking this same threshold beside you.

Massage.
Rest.
Good food.
Gentle movement.
Deep support.
A chance to feel held before motherhood changes you in all the ways it can.

If your nervous system is asking for softness…
come join us ✨

Suitable from the second trimester, you can book via the link in my bio ❤️ you can also message me directly with any questions you have 🙏🏻

Sending love & dreams of a frozen hot water bottle 😂,
Zoe xx

🌻

18/05/2026

Bodywork & massage in pregnancy is not a luxury ✨

It’s not ‘just’ a spa day.
Not ‘just’ a relaxing hour to yourself.

It’s space for your body to open.

Space for your baby to explore new ways to move through your body.

It’s relief from the pressure, tension, and soreness you might be carrying.

Space and relief that can make it easier to sleep,
easier to walk,
easier to simply be in your body.

Here I’m offering a blend of care for a mam approaching her baby’s birth day ❤️

We began with some rebozo work to help loosen and soften the body, preparing it for deeper massage.

Then into a supported side-lying position, with deeper hands-on massage support alongside gentle biomechanics-inspired movement.

All of this to support soreness in the ribs, tightness in the lower back and hips, ready for birth ✨

If this kind of support feels like something you need, send me a DM ❤️
You can also book a cuppa and a chat about doula support via the link in my bio,

Sending love,
Zoe xx

🌻

07/04/2026

🌻Pregnancy Wellness Retreat🌻

Back in January, I walked into ‘s stunning tipi and just thought… yeah. This is exactly how I want people to feel in pregnancy.

Soft.
Held.
Like you can actually exhale for a minute.

I’m coming together with the wonderful & to create a day that isn’t about doing pregnancy “right”…but about having space to slow down, connect, and be supported.

There’ll be a mix of gentle practices & workshops - think yoga, rebozo massage, infant feeding support, mindful meditation - space to rest, and time to just be - with a group of really lovely women holding it all with you.

It’s going to feel really special. ✨

If you’ve been craving something like this, you’re so welcome to join us 🤍

Tickets are live via the link in my bio (there aren’t loads of spaces to keep it super special) or comment ‘retreat’ below and I’ll message you the link 🙏🏻

Sending love,
Zoe xx

Postpartum Matters CIC

23/07/2026

20/07/2026

07/07/2026

01/07/2026

17/06/2026

09/06/2026

31/05/2026

26/05/2026

18/05/2026

07/04/2026

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