In The Square Spring 2023 Magazine Article

On Becoming a Mother

By Laura Della Guardia, Article published In The Square Spring 2023 edition

The hardest thing for me about becoming pregnant was the overload of information out there. Not only did I have to navigate the NHS, but I had no idea what other services I needed. Hypnobirthing to learn breathing techniques for during labour? Acupuncture to speed things along? As I was pregnant during lockdowns, I found a NCT antenatal group online, which also helped me to make friends with other mothers with similar due dates. These days The London Antenatal Club on England’s Lane (londonantenatalclub.com) offers antenatal courses with small groups and I have heard that is a nurturing and up to date place.

In March 2021 I gave birth. In those first weeks of being a mother I constantly felt overwhelmed and anxious. Of course all new mums feel these emotions but it felt too much for me. At some point I reached out to Facebook group Hampstead Mums and several members recommended the personable and pragmatic Jessica Warne a long time NW3 resident and the local go-to for supporting women on their journey through motherhood. She gave me tools to manage my emotions or as she would say - to better surf the waves. Waves there will always be from the moment you become a mother, but the thing is to know how to ride them.

For the full In The Square Spring 2023 edition, click here.