Reviews by Annabel Andrews, Isabelle De Grave, Ann Nkun, Zoe Behagg and Naila Kiani
Best for Breastfeeding
Vada Dress
There is so much to love about this dress – not least because it’s the first time I’ve been able to wear this type of T-shirt dress since giving birth. The side access zips are genuinely discreet and, best of all, positioned so that anyone knocking on the door won’t get an eyeful if you forget to do them up on one of those long days at home when the baby is on and off breastfeeding all the time.
My favourite thing is the flattering deep V at the back neckline. It’s the sort of little detail that really elevates a simple T-shirt dress. The length is perfect – not too short for bending over at the park. I’m wearing it with bright tights now but can see myself wearing it with bare legs later on in the year. I don’t normally like it when brands make up their own sizing, but Altered Apparel does everything by bust size only, which makes so much sense for an ever-changing postpartum body. The dress is made in the UK. AA
£35.99
Best for Support
Mindful Mothering Relaxation Sessions and Auto Tracks
I can’t recommend Ruth’s Mindful Mothering sessions and tracks enough. With her soothing voice and resonant words, Ruth coached me through the two beautiful births of my sons. Her mindful reprogramming enabled me to head into birthing and motherhood feeling calm and confident. IDG (mum to Lex, aged 3, and Jake, 5 months)
The mindfulness track turns me into the calm, composed parent I want to be, every time I listen to it. It should be on every mum’s playlist!AN(mum to Francesca, aged 11)
It feels a real treat to attend the Mindful Mothering sessions and do this one thing for myself. However, as a result, other people benefit from me doing it too. I’m a much better mum to my children afterwards and much better at listening to friends and family. Probably because I have felt listened to by Ruth and the other mums in the session. Ruth’s meditations, and listening to the other mums sharing their different challenges, helps me to realise that I can cope with anything. We all have a little pilot light inside us that just needs a boost sometimes. ZB (mum to Roni, aged 6, and Huxley, aged 9)
Mindful Mothering relaxation sessions are available online and Ruth’s audio tracks are for all stages of motherhood, including fourth trimester, breastfeeding, finding stillness, mindfulness and managing anxiety.
£10 per Mindful Mothering session
£8.99 for the audio tracks
Best for Yoga, Wherever You Are
Pregnancy Yoga
I did yoga with Marta over Zoom and really enjoyed it. She listens carefully and is very personable. I thought yoga online would be difficult, but Marta’s style of teaching made it easy and enjoyable. She answered all our questions and made us look forward to the delivery. I enjoyed the breathing techniques and postures she taught us during the sessions. The breathing techniques were amazing during labour to help distract my mind from feeling pain. I highly recommend her yoga session to all pregnant ladies. NK (Naila attended from Dubai)
£13 drop in or £65 for a 6-week block
Saturdays, 10:30am until 12pm on Zoom
birthlight.com/directory/listing/pregnancy-yoga-2
Natural Baby JUNO Best Buy is published in JUNO Magazine Early Spring 2020, issue 71. Find out more here.
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