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Leicester Mammas offer a range of support to parents and parents-to-be across Leicester.
Take a look at their range of free events, programmes and resources below.
Antenatal courses
Mammas Antenatal Course is a free, 4-week rolling programme, and runs every month.
The four sessions are on Thursdays on Zoom, from 1.00 – 3.00pm.
Partners are welcome and encouraged to join too. There is also the opportunity to join their Mammas activities, and have access to ongoing support from the team.
Baby Cafes
Leicester Mammas Baby Cafés are available across the city at various locations, Monday-Friday, and offer infant feeding help and information, drinks and snacks and general baby chat and support.
They are open to all mothers with children under two, however you are feeding your baby (older siblings can come too). You can come along for support with infant feeding or to ask any questions around babies and motherhood, or just to socialise with other mothers and babies.
All Baby Cafés are facilitated by trained Breastfeeding Supporters, helped by Volunteer Breastfeeding Peer Supporters.
One to one breastfeeding support is always available.
No need to make an appointment – just come along.
Some Baby Cafés offer focussed sessions on specific topics (e.g. weaning, oral health). Please contact the session facilitator for dates, or see their social media.
Times and Locations:
- Monday 1.00-2.30pm, Thurnby Lodge Children’s Centre, Dudley Avenue LE5 2AG – Robina 07784 967460
- Tuesday 10.30am-12 noon, New Parks Children’s Centre, Pindar Road LE3 9RN – Sam 07772 074272
- Tuesday 1.00-2.30pm Belgrave Children’s Centre, Cossington Street LE4 6JD – Nasreen 07775 277230
- Wednesday 1.00-2.30pm, Highfields Children’s Centre, Barnard Close LE2 0UZ – Aayesha 07501 613637
- Thursday 12.30-2.00pm, Braunstone Children’s Centre, Gallards Hill LE3 1QR – Natasha 07526 314770
- Friday 11.00am-12.30pm, Eyres Monsell Children’s Centre LE2 9PT – Lyndsay 07341 621804
- Friday 1.00-2.30pm, Beaumont Leys Children’s Centre LE4 0RW – Natasha 07526 314770
Baby Project
Mammas Baby Project supports families in crisis situations. They may be women living with or fleeing domestic violence, those in insecure housing and facing financial hardship, and those struggling with their mental health, and social isolation. Support is also available to those with no recourse to public funds.
Leicester Mammas staff provide a safe space to talk, giving emotional support, signposting and information around infant feeding and welfare. They also do outreach work, deliver antenatal education, give breastfeeding support and, where appropriate, provide emergency supplies of essentials and signpost to other organisations.
Clinics are held at Highfields Family Hub, and staff undertake home visits where appropriate.
Referral is required to access this support. Contact 07435 953563 or 07341 452607
Baby & Me
Baby & Me is Leicester Mammas core postnatal programme for local mothers and families.
Baby & Me online runs twice a week via Zoom (excluding Leicester City summer holidays). A programme of topics run each month. Each session focuses on providing evidence-based information about issues new parents find important, and giving mothers a safe space to talk about their experiences of motherhood, and to support each other.
Topics include:
- Starting Solids
- Baby Led Weaning
- Sleep
- Oral Health
- Family Finances
- Feeding Q & A
- Potty Training
- Toddler Tantrums
- Breastfeeding Older Babies
- Common concerns
Baby & Me is an online drop-in session. You can pick and choose which topics you would like to attend, or attend them all. You are also welcome to attend just to meet other mums, or to ask parenting or baby related questions not about the topic of the session.
Contact Natasha for more information and the joining link on 07526 314770
Courses
Leicester Mammas also run a variety of free, bookable courses for parents of children under 3.
Dates and how to book can be found on their website. They include:
Baby courses
- Baby massage
- Baby yoga
- Understanding Your Baby (Solihull Approach Parenting Course)
Read more about baby courses on the Leicester Mammas website.
Toddler courses
- Toddlers Learning Through Play
- Big Cook, Little Cook
Read more about toddler courses on the Leicester Mammas website.
Emotional Health & Wellbeing
Telling Our Tales
Suitable from Pregnancy onwards.
8-session course gives new mothers a chance to share their experiences in a small and supportive group whilst also unleashing their creativity! They use journaling tools (like writing and collage) and discussion to explore both the transformative and the challenging aspects of motherhood.
For more details contact Aayesha on 07501613637 or leicestermammas@gmail.com
Emotional Health & Wellbeing Sessions
Suitable from Pregnancy onwards.
An 11 week rolling programme raising awareness on a range of topics. The sessions are a safe, inclusive and informed platform for pregnant women and mothers to talk about the struggles of motherhood and how to overcome challenges by promoting positive actions.
These sessions are led by highly qualified staff including counsellors, therapists and mental health nurses.
Session Topics: Pregnancy & After Birth, Postnatal Anxiety, Support & Communication, Coping Strategies, Sex & Intimacy after Baby, Perception vs Reality, Mindfulness & Positivity, Boundaries, Staying Well, Fitness.
For more details contact Anisa on 07563 209034 or leicestermammas@gmail.com
Resources
The Leicester Mammas resources page has evidence-based information on a range of topics including antenatal, breastfeeding, weaning, cloth nappies, and how grandparents can support with newborns.
