Pregnancy and becoming a parent is a rite of passage, meaning that it is a life threshold once crossed you are forever changed. And in the busy-ness of preparing for the practicalities of having a new baby in the house we can forget how to prepare for mental wellbeing and health. This hour-long webinar was recorded as part of The Nest autumn webinar series and is available here for you to view for free.
Wellbeing in Pregnancy webinar with Talkworks
In the webinar you’ll hear Becky and Rebecca reference the booklet that was sent to all webinar participants after the call. You can access this document below, feel free to print out and fill in to help you and your pregnancy:
The Nest Southwest CIC runs a weekly pregnancy and beyond wellbeing group called Nesters. They meet every Tuesday from 7.30pm, alternating between meeting online on Zoom and in person in Exeter at The Beacon Community Centre. Nesters is supported by a facilitator and by our PPSN volunteers (perianal peer support network) who are local mums who have been trained to offer support to new mums. If you are pregnant we welcome you to come along and find out more. Booking is via our events page HERE
Here at The Nest Southwest we are getting pretty excited about our monthly planner! What do you think?
As well as our regular weekly pregnancy groups and yoga classes we are also hosting some exciting yoga workshops – one specifically for menstruation, and one specifically for menopause. So wherever you are on the spectrum of life – if you are a menstruator we’ve got something for you.
We are also launching our winter program of pregnancy, birth and parenting live webinar sessions. So, if you or someone you know is pregnant, come along and learn more as well as meeting other local people preparing for a positive birth experience in the interactive Q&A sessions.
Menstruation events
Sunday evenings 8-9pm on zoom is our weekly Yin Yoga to unwindsession hosted by Chloe. A beautiful way to end a week and set intentions for the new one about to begin. Suitable for everyone, whether you are menstruating or not but we thought we’d put it up the top of this long list of yummy offerings!
Later in November Chloe is offering a menstruation specific yoga workshop. Whether you are trying to conceive or are interested in living more in harmony with your menstrual cycle, this yoga workshop is for you. We will explore each of the four stages of our cycle and discover how we may wish to adapt our yoga practice to suit each of the stages – enabling us to work with the fluctuations and changes our body goes through each month, rather than fighting against them. Discover why the exact same yoga practice can seem impossible some weeks, but easy others and learn more about yourself, your body and your unique cycle in this two-hour workshop. There will be time for questions and conversation, as well as guided meditation, breathwork, yang yoga, yin yoga and deep relaxation. It will be a time to tune in and embrace the wonders of the female cycle. Everyone is welcome. If you are not currently menstruating, you are able to use the same tools around the moon cycle. Beginners to yoga are also very welcome.
Menopause events
Yin Yoga to unwind on Sunday evening is also very nourishing is you are peri-menopausal or menopausal.
Exeter Menopause Café. Our monthly group on the first Friday is fully booked for November and bookings are now open for December. Due to it’s popularity, and by request we have decided to offer a Menopause Café in the evening on Friday 12th November! This is a launch event as we try out what it’s like to gather together in the evening with a glass of something or warm drink of choice in the beautiful surroundings of The Glorious Art House Café on Fore Street, Exeter. This is an open meeting for people of all genders to come and chat about all things perimenopause and menopause related. It is aimed at breaking down the taboo around menopause, increasing awareness of the impact of the menopause on those experiencing it, their family, friends and their colleagues, and reflecting on the ‘third stage of life’.
Essential ground rules: *Non-judgemental – people might have different views to you and that’s ok. *Respect – ourselves, each other and the space. *Open hearted – trust that everyone is doing the best they can. *You don’t have to share personal stories but you might need to be prepared to listen. *Confidential – what’s shared in the café stays in the café (except your own stories that you’re free to do what you like with of course!).
This month we are also launching a special yoga workshop specifically for the menopause transition. Join Virginia for this 2 hour ONLINE session which will include time for information sharing and discussion as well as gentle (accessible for all) Yoga movement and breath work and deep relaxation. Virginia is a former nurse and now a Yoga and Ayurveda therapist who is fully post menopausal and loving it!
Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond
Our wonderful welcoming weeklyNesters Pregnancy & Beyond groupis a place for pregnant mums and birthing people to come together and chat about all things pregnancy, birth and early parenting. It’s hosted by Jodie and runs weekly, alternating between in-person at The Beacon Centre in Exeter, and on Zoom. Once you’ve had your baby we welcome you to continue to come to the group during your ‘fourth trimester’ which is up until around the 3 month mark postnatally. All ethnicities welcome. We are LBT+ friendly. and welcome non-binary parents along with pregnant mums. We chat, drink tea and eat cake! We also have various craft activities or short talks about subjects relevant to the group.
The group is supported by the Pregnancy Peer Supporter Network, a group of volunteers who have lived experience of birthing in the pandemic` and are trained to support birthing people. They are not medically trained, and cannot give advice nor tell you what to do but offer a listening ear and can help you explore your options to find the best choice for you.
Every Wednesday evening join us for a relaxing yoga session designed around you and your baby. This is hosted by Nancy, who is a physiotherapist and a yoga teacher with a specialist interest in women’s health. As a mother herself, Nancy has first had experience at understanding the changes a women goes through on their pregnancy journey. She will guide you through techniques on grounding and connecting with baby, breathing and visualisation, gentle movement, and deep relaxation. No yoga experience or specialist equipment is necessary , just bring yourself and bump (or baby) a blanket and plenty of pillows.
And of course, Yin Yoga to unwind on Sunday evening is also very nourishing is you are pregnant or with a baby.
This Autumn The Nest is launching it’s series of pregnancy, birth and early parenting webinars to provide access to quality information about the transition to parenthood. And we are kicking it off with a wellbeing Pregnancy Webinar will be facilitated by practitioners from Talkworks who are experienced in working with perinatal mental health and wellbeing.
We know that pregnancy and the transition into parenthood can be challenging. This webinar will give you strategies to help to promote and managing wellbeing in pregnancy and beyond, including; bonding with your bump, the importance of self-care, identifying and managing negative thoughts and worry, managing relationships, improving communication and thinking ahead to parenthood. We will also give an overview of how Talkworks may be able to support you further to promote wellbeing in pregnancy and beyond.
We welcome anyone who is pregnant, has recently given birth or supporting someone else who is.
From left to Right, Nancy, Jodie and Hazel The Nest Southwest co-directors.
Thanks to everyone who has been a part of building our little Nest community over the past two years, it has been an honour and a pleasure to work with you and share some of your stories. We look forward to meeting more people and being part of this exciting project as it grows to support women, girls and menstruators across Devon during the transitions of menstruation, pregnancy, birth and menopause.
Our vision is to live in a world where women and girls feel empowered and fulfilled at each stage of their life. We want to be part of creating a cohesive society where these rites of passage are honoured as gateways of personal development as well as biological milestones.
Our mission is to provide emotional & educational support, improving well-being & self-esteem to enable peer mentoring and increased wellbeing. We support women and girls through menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth, to post-menopause.
We believe in intersectional feminism by promoting gender justice and racial justice. We are anti-racist and pro-trans rights. We believe in equality for all women and girls everywhere.
We offer compassionate peer support, and providing a safe, nurturing environment to explore emotional & physical literacy as we traverse these gateways. There is no right or wrong way to go through these gateways, they are as individual as we are. But we don’t have to do it alone.
Read more about us, our mission and our events on the website: thenestsw.org
Monday 18th October 2021 is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the menopause. Here at The Nest Southwest CIC we are committed to providing social, emotional and informational support about this major life transition, and we do this through our groups, yoga sessions and carefully curating a list of recommended resources.
We are an independent, grass roots, not-for profit organisation based in Devon. We are led by and for women, and non-binary menstruators. We are not sponsored but we do receive grant funding that is in alignment with our ethics and code of conduct to enable us to deliver some of our services at reduced rate or for free.
Why is it important to talk about the menopause?
If you started menstruating, you will one day pass through the menopause. This fact is something many of us simply put off thinking about until the moment comes, and while for some the menopause transition is a smooth passage for others it can be horrifically debilitating and create an overwhelming sense of loneliness. But you are not alone and talking to others in a safe and supportive space can help normalise the wide range of menopause symptoms and explore any treatment options.
Yet the world is rapidly changing and this year the topic of menopause seems to be popping up everywhere, from local radio stations to national news coverage to employer tribunals. However there is still not much support and women can feel isolated.
Introducing The Exeter Menopause Café
Following the World’s first menopause café, held in Perth, Scotland in 2017, a number of menopause cafes have been organised throughout the UK, including in some workplaces. The Nest Southwest was inspired by the simple yet profound idea to bring people together over a hot drink to talk about all things peri and menopause related, so this month we launched our very own Exeter menopause café. We gather at The Glorious Art House Café on Fore Street in Exeter. All genders are welcome to come and share stories and listen to each other.
AND in honour of World Menopause Day today we are holding an online pop-up café on zoom. Book your spot HERE
Why is this open to all genders?
Menopause does not happen in a vacuum, it can affect the whole of society because the people it affects live and work within that society. Partners often struggle to understand what is happening and have no idea what is normal and what is not. Also, people who were assigned female at birth and menstruate but don’t identify as women will also go through the menopause. This is why we open our menopause café up to people of all genders, to create an open non-judgemental, confidential space to share experiences and talk to each other about this transformative experience.
Hopes and dreams going forward…
The Exeter menopause café is just the beginning in our work around the menopause. We also offer weekly yoga classes and monthly menopause workshops online and are exploring options in 2022 to create menopause educational sessions, grief tending opportunities and weekend retreats. Our dream is to create a thriving, empowered community that supports each other, building on peer support and access to quality information.
How can people get involved?
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Exeter Menopause Cafe
This is an open meeting for people of all genders to come and chat about all things perimenopause and menopause related. It is aimed at breaking down the taboo around menopause, increasing awareness of the impact of the menopause on those experiencing it, their family, friends and their colleagues, and reflecting on the ‘third stage of life’.
Online – Zoom
In Person at The Glorious Art House Café, Fore St, Exeter.
Join Virginia for this 2 hour ONLINE session which will include time for information sharing and discussion as well as gentle (accessible for all) Yoga movement and breath work and deep relaxation. Virginia is a former nurse and now a Yoga and Ayurveda therapist who is fully post menopausal and loving it!
A beautiful way to end a week and set intentions for the new one about to begin. Yin yoga is a very slow, still practice where we hold just a handful of poses for a few minutes each. It’s a great practice for calming both body and mind, letting go of stress and shifting into our rest and digest mode. Suitable for all women, whatever life stage.
Our mission is to share more about the perimenopause and menopause; to normalise this stage in a woman’s life by providing holistic access to quality information. Check out our resource section for a list of useful websites and a reading list.
In June we launched our countywide survey for women, girls and all menstruators in Devon – aiming to gather information about menstruation, pregnancy, birth and menopause experiences and how they can affect key areas of life. The survey was designed to focus on the impact of these life transitions and the access to support and advice – or lack thereof.
We received more responses than expected, (242 in total!) with so many valuable and important experiences being shared with us. It was inspiring to read the comments left by respondents and discover recurring themes throughout each section – it reminded us that although each individual’s journey through the major life transitions is unique, there are so many shared experiences which unite menstruators together.
The stigma, and lack of conversation & education around these topics contributes towards a lack of the support systems that can bring women, girls, and menstruators together, and as a result the stories and experiences of menstruators are not shared as much as they could be. Which is why so many of the survey respondents said that the one thing they wished they had known from their first bleed is that they aren’t alone.
The survey revealed gaps in information and support, especially when it came to preparation and information about the menopause and postnatal care for mothers – which, now that it has been identified, The Nest hopes to provide extra support to cover those neglected areas. We already provide a variety of groups and services for women in Devon, see our events page for more details.
And you can download the whole report HERE or keep scrolling and read below…
We want to train a team of ‘Transitioneers’ to provide menstrual health workshops for pre-teens in schools in Exeter.
WHAT’S THE PROBLEM AND WHY IS IT A PROBLEM?
Only one in five girls feels comfortable talking to their teacher about periods.and 49% have missed an entire day of school due to their periods. It’s 2021 and young people are still ashamed of their periods, they are still missing school and period poverty is still a reality for many young people here in the UK.
Menstrual health may feel like only a small part of young people’s well being but it can affect all aspects of their life. Their relationships, accessing education, our society has created a culture of silence, ignorance and shame impacting on mental health and wellbeing. Rates of self-harm and attempted suicide are alarmingly high (suicide rates of girls increased by 83% in the last 8 years).
WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?
Our inclusive education for young people of all genders wants to change this culture. Delivered by a team of approachable well informed volunteers who are able to open up the conversation build body and emotional literacy and break period taboos.
What if YOU could help empower the next generation to not be afraid of their periods, to talk about them openly, to improve their confidence, social connections and wellbeing. Helping pre-teens navigate the transition to adulthood in a positive and informed way.
In Sep 2020 UK law changed and PSHE education became statutory in secondary education, however teachers are under more stress than ever due to the covid pandemic. Adding PSHE to their already stretched workload means it can be an uncomfortable burden for both teachers and students. We want to help.
Our pilot programme aims to train 24 transitioneers focusing on the topics of: -Sustainable periods -How periods affect different people -the importance of menstrual wellbeing
Once trained up they will be supported to go into school and deliver interactive, open, unpressured workshops where all students have the opportunity to ask questions and find out more about how menstrual wellbeing can and will affect their whole lives.
WHY NOW?
Over the last few years, period poverty here in the UK has become more understood, there has been a collective raising of awareness about this topic and as a result free sanitary products are now available in all schools, however access to products is only half the solution. Taboos still exist, schools are now obligated to provide education about periods too but how do they tackle this?
MEET THE NEST TRANSITIONEER TEAM
Hazel, is one of the directors of The Nest Southwest. She is a celebrant and women’s circle facilitator regularly holding spaces for transformation. She is passionate about supporting the major life transitions from menstruation to birth to menopause as she sees these phases as having many similar qualities that can hugely benefit from the presence of social, emotional and informational support.
Chloe, has spent the last 6 years working on menstrual health programmes around the world and promoting the use of reusable sustainable period products such as menstrual cups and washable pads. In 2017, Plan International UK, commissioned her to conduct the first national research into young people and period poverty. She’s learnt the most important thing for changing societal attitudes about periods is creating the space to be inquisitive. She’s excited to work alongside the Nest to go back to her roots, sharing her knowledge and experience with the Transitioneers.
Abigail, The Nest’s social media intern. From her previous work with young people, she has witnessed the shame and uncertainty that surrounds menstruation. She is excited to be part of this project which wishes to change the narrative and empower young people.
WHAT ELSE HAS THE NEST DONE SO FAR?
The Nest already runs an established volunteer program for perinatal peer supporters, training mums who have given birth in the pandemic to support other pregnant people. In the last 12 months we have delivered over 50 sessions including a monthly menstruation awareness group. This cycle awareness focused group has supported women all over Devon, helped them find a like minded community and share menstrual wellbeing ideas.
WANT TO HELP SPREAD PERIOD POWER?
Please support us to break taboos in Exeter schools by donating to our crowdfunding campaign or donate us your time and become part of the Transitioneer volunteer team here at The Nest Southwest.
Ready to find out more about becoming an Empowerment Menstrual Educator in Exeter… CLICK HERE or fill in the form below
This week sees the exciting launch of The Nest Southwest’s Perinatal Peer Support Network (PPSN). This small but mighty group of women have lived experience of birthing in a pandemic and are being trained to support local pregnant women and birthing people. They offer a friendly, listening ear from someone who has been there, they can help you to explore your options to find the best choice for you. No medical advice, and no-one telling you what to do as you are the expert on your own life. The perinatal support network helps you understand your options and maybe what helped us might help you too. Not counsellors and not psychologists, we’re all local mums supporting local mums and birthing people. The Nest works alongside the local NHS maternity & clinical care services to offer informal, peer support over a cup of tea. 🙂
The idea for the PPSN came out of our work last year supporting pregnant women via our weekly Zoom Pregnancy Wellbeing groups. and those groups started as in March 2020 as a covid response during the first lockdown. To date we have run 51 session over the last 12 months, and the response has been amazing! Women have joined this little group, and kept coming back every week for many moths of their pregnancy, then returned with their newborn to share their birth experience and also continue the friendships with other women still pregnant. After that many women also stayed in touch with The Nest community via the linked WhatsApp chat groups. The nurturing Nest held the space. Friendships have grown. Babies have been born. Problems have been shared. Solutions have been explored. Stories have been heard.
In December 2020 The Nest ran a survey open to all women who had come along to one of our groups. We asked what they liked, what we could do differently and what they’d like to see from us next. We also ran some in-depth case studies, with surprising results.
The women we spoke to wanted to ‘give back’ to the Nest and volunteer to help other pregnant women struggling during the covid-19 pandemic as they recognised just how much the group had supported them during a difficult time. and so the Perinatal Peer Support Network was born.
The project is all about connecting women who have lived experience of giving birth in the pandemic and those who are preparing to do so. Using online spaces as well as physical ones, we aim to reach across communities and unite birthing people in their common held goal – for a safe, positive, empowered birth experience. We will work to build confidence through education, reduce stress through social connection, increase mental well-being through self-esteem, develop parenting competence and create strong, long-lasting friendships and peer support.
The Zoom group is an hour long and begins with a quick round of introductions and sharing of any issues that week. Sometimes people feel uncertain how about much they’ll have to share and the answer is only as much as you’re comfortable with. Topics can be discussed without personal details being shared if that’s more comfortable for you, but many women find the safe space and confidentially inside The Nest gives them some space to talk things through.
When we meet in person the session is an hour and a half long to give time for plenty of tea drinking! The format is the same as the zoom group: talking about current issues and exploring options but there’s also space for some simple craft activities.
Things that we’ve talked about recently include (but not limited to): iron deficiency, birth plans, placental injection, vaginal examinations in labour, positive birth company, exercise after pregnancy, shared parental leave, benefits of COVID and pregnancy.… and more!
Please share the news of the PPSN with any local pregnant people, and if you’re pregnant yourself – sign up and come along. The kettle is on and the door is open <3
Get in touch to find out more or book into a future session:
This project has been made possible by The National Lottery
Here at the Nest Southwest we strive to be inclusive and take seriously the need for positive allies when supporting lesbian, bisexual and trans women’s health. This week is LBT+ women’s health week and this blog post is to provide clarity on our position to create a safe and welcoming community.
Research shows that there are higher rates of mental health issues for LGBT+ people than cis or straight people due to repeated discrimination, and intersectional issues can sadly cause more suffering. While it is unlawful under the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 for anyone to be discriminated against in the provision of any good, facility or service because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, we’ve heard stories of some lesbian / bisexual mums-to-be that struggle with the standard form filling when there is not a box that represents, their situation and find themselves crossing out the box that says dad and adding a second mum. As a small organisation The Nest has the ability to be very responsive to our community needs. We are here to listen to what women want, and find out how we can support them, including signposting and sharing resources. For example, this fantastic resource provides information for lesbians who are interested in becoming parents, and can help service providers better understand the needs of lesbians.
The Nest’s mission is to inform, support & empower women and girls through menstruation, childbirth and menopause. We proudly welcome LBT+ and BAME women to join our Nest community and strive to create a space where they can feel welcome. We have clear policy of inclusivity and welcome positive feedback on how we can improve our services to be more LBT+ and BAME friendly.
We pledge to treat all our service users with the dignity and respect they deserve. We will not tolerate transphobia, biphobia or any kind of systemic discrimination.
Our Pregnancy Well-being Zoom group is open to all people who are pregnant, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identify. Our monthly Red Tent event is for all people who identify as women. Our menstrual Well-being workshops are aimed at people of all genders. And as we add more events we engage with our local community to become inclusive, fun and supportive.
We say NO to transphobia, biphobia, racism, sexism and violence.
We say YES to kindness, peace, equality and love.
If you are a LBT+ and / or BAME woman and would like to get involved in our strategy and policy development please get in touch.
I discovered I always have choices and sometimes it’s only a choice of attitude.
– Judith M. Knowlton
Our First Blog Post
Hello! This is our first blog post here at The Nest. For the past year we have been finding our feet, and mostly using our Facebook page as a place to share news and views. But 2021 has lots of plans and it feels like time to open this forum as a place to expand and share stuff that’s going on, dreams of the future and updates as they happen.
Let me take this opportunity to give a bit of background to who and why we are. We formed this social enterprise, not-for-profit, community interest company back in October 2019. Myself (Hazel) along with Jodie and Nancy came together because we wanted to bring together these different stages of life in a holistic and cohesive way. When we were thinking of a name we listed some of the things we wanted people to feel when they participated with us… these were things like feeling warm, welcomed, respected, finding connection, feeling nature connection… and we talked about how a nest held all those things and could become a sanctuary from the world. a place to rest before flying on your way. And so, ‘The Nest Southwest CIC’ was born.
Unlike a regular business whose main purpose is generally to maximise profits for owners or stakeholders, a social enterprise focus’ on positive social change in the world – a business with a vision. And this vision is built on our personal sets of values. These values are an integral part of everything we do, they are:
Building Connections – to self, to other and to the wider world
Respect
Nurture and compassion
Our vision is of a cohesive society where rites of passage have the power to connect us compassionately to each other and the planet.
Our mission is to inform, support and empower peer support through menstruation, pregnancy & birth and menopause. We do this through holding peer support groups, raising awareness through communication, reducing landfill waste by starting a library of things and promoting reusable sanitary products, running educational classes and building partnerships with local organisations.
We are currently offering a weekly drop-in Pregnancy & Birth Well-being support group on Friday evenings 6.30pm – 7.30pm. We also run a Pregnancy Yoga class on a Monday evening. And a monthly Red Tent. Get in touch to find out more and join in. There’s no waiting list and all local Devon people are welcome.
