Postpartum Matters CIC

Postpartum Matters CIC Postpartum Matters is a not-for-profit, supporting women and birthing people through the transition t

Next week is the last week of the summer holidays, which means one week till my house is no longer chaos 😆❤️ and I’d lov...
23/08/2026

Next week is the last week of the summer holidays, which means one week till my house is no longer chaos 😆❤️ and I’d love to welcome you back for massage & bodywork 🙏🏻🥰

My new website is not quite live but I thought I’d drop my pricing & rough availability here for anyone who can’t wait to get started 😊

I can support with pregnancy & postpartum specific massage as well as massage for general well-being (you don’t have to be pregnant!) ❤️

You’ll be welcomed into my home massage space, for some time just for you. To relax, to chat through things if you need to, to leave feeling refreshed and new 🌻

Just drop me a DM to book 🙏🏻
And please do share with anyone who might be interested 😊

Sending love,
Zoe xx

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06/08/2026

When I first started working as a doula, I found being on call really hard.

I was on edge for almost the whole time, constantly wondering if this was going to be the moment my phone rang.

A few more years (and a lot more births) later, I’m much better at it. ❤️

But there is still one bit that gets me…

That day… or half day… or however long it is… when you’ve told me you’re contracting, I know things are probably going to pick up soon, but you don’t quite need me yet. 😅

I don’t want to do too much because I want to be well rested and have plenty of energy to give you when the time comes.

But I also can’t completely switch off. 😂

So you’ll usually find me with a cuppa, my laptop open, trying to get some work done… while definitely not checking my phone every five minutes to see if you’ve messaged. 👀

It’s a funny little in-between. One foot in everyday life, one foot ready to head out of the door at a moment’s notice.

If you’re pregnant, have you thought much about how you’ll hold yourself steady in those early hours or days of labour? I’d love to know what you imagine that time looking like 🙏🏻🥰

And if you’ve been there, done that, what helped you stay calm and in the zone ahead of active labour?

Sending love,

Zoe xx

P.S. If you’re heading into your second or third trimester and you’d love a day to slow down before birth, there are still a few spaces left on my Pregnancy Wellness Retreat in September. Check out the 🔗 in my bio 🤍

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31/07/2026

Planning our Pregnancy Wellness Retreat this week has had me reflecting on where this all began.

Some of the first events I ever hosted were postpartum retreats in a beautiful tipi in my friend Claire’s allotment garden in Northumberland. (.conscious 🙏🏻❤️)

What stays with me isn’t the schedule or the details. It’s how people left feeling. Rested. Nourished. Seen. Cared for.

That’s the feeling we’re creating again with this beautiful wellness day curated by myself, & ❤️ set at the magical tipi with Jasmine gifting pregnancy yoga too ✨

If you’re pregnant and would love a day of gentle movement, massage, delicious food and time to simply be looked after, we’d love to welcome you.

Book your place via the link in my bio. 🤍

Sending love,
Zoe x

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There are so many things that can shape your experience of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.Not all of them are wit...
30/07/2026

There are so many things that can shape your experience of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.

Not all of them are within your control.

But being cared for, feeling listened to and knowing you don’t have to navigate it all alone can make a world of difference.

That’s the kind of support I believe every family deserves, and it’s the heart of everything I do.

Whether I’m supporting you through pregnancy as your doula, providing massage and bodywork, supporting you and your birth partner to prepare for birth, or sitting beside you with a cup of tea afterwards, my hope is always the same: that you leave feeling a little lighter, a little more confident, and a little more held.

If you’re new here, welcome. 🤍

I’m Zoe, a birth doula, massage therapist and antenatal educator based in County Durham.

If you’d like to find out more about working together, I’d love to meet you 🧡

You can book a free initial meet-up via the link in my bio or feel free to drop me a message 🙏🏻

Sending love,
Zoe xx

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❤️❤️❤️I am always so grateful when past clients take the time to leave me a review on Google 🙏🏻🙏🏻 I’ve got twenty-three ...
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

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

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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...
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

Every time another maternity review is published, the headlines follow.And they matter.They matter because families who ...
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

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You could spend hours reading the headlines about maternity care right now.The rising caesarean rates.The increasing ind...
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 🙏🏻❤️

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New name, new brand coming soon ❤️❤️After four years of setting up and running the CIC, opening the back in 2023, build...
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

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The Women's Health Hub, 79 Park Road
Hartlepool
TS247PW

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