General tips
Your GP surgery, health visitor and/or baby clinic usually has lots of information about things to do, classes etc so it is usually worth checking with them as new classes often start every few months. Recently, there have been many budget cuts that things sometimes change quite quickly.
St Mary’s Hospital Postnatal Care
The Hospital of St John’s & St Elizabeth’s – If you need help, reassurance or similar, there is also the London Paediatric Unit at The Hospital of St John’s & St Elizabeth’s. They are open till 8 pm on Mondays-Fridays where you can speak to one of their paediatric nurses. If nobody answers, just leave a message and they will call you back. Here you can have immunisations done privately too. They can be contacted on 020 7078 3831 or info@hje.org.uk
I know many people see Dr Noimark and I also know several parents who are very happy with Dr Sekri. They are both paediatricians. Dr Noimark is also an child allergy specialist. Please note this is Dr Lee Noimark and not Dr Dean Noimark.
- Breast Feeding/Lactation Consultant
Sarah Das is an IBCLC lactation consultant, reflexologist and midwife and comes highly recommended through many mums in the group whom I know well.
Ruth Tamir has been the local NCT practitioner & IBCLC lactation consultant in the area for 24 years. As a lactation consultant she offers private visits in women’s homes in NW8.
National Breastfeeding Helpline
Lines open from 9:30am–9:30pm every day
T: 0300 100 0212
NCT Breastfeeding Helpline
Lines open from 8am–Midnight every day
T: 0300 330 0771
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers Helpline
Lines open from 9:30am–10:30pm
T: 0844 412 2949
The Breastfeeding Network Helpline
Offers to one-to-one local support
T: 0300 100 0212
La Leche League 24 hour Helpline
Offers local group meetings
T: 0845 120 2918
Tamba Helpline
Lines open from 10am–1pm and 7pm–10pm every day all year round—help and advice for parents of twins, triplets and more.
T: 0800 138 0509
Bliss Helpline
National charity dedicated to working for special care babies and their families.
T: 0500 618 140
Please note that things change so it is always best to call them up before setting off.
- Postnatal Care Including Breastfeeding Drop-in Centre
Church Street Children’s Centre run by Imperial Maternity Services from St Mary’s Hospital
Portman Early Childhood Centre
12–18 Salisbury Street
London NW8 8DE
- Baby Massage Classes
Kate Shepherd of the Parent Education Centre at St Mary’s Hospital runs baby massage classes as part of International Association of Infant Massage. You can call her on 020 3312 1402.
Milestones Baby Massage runs massage classes from six weeks and older.
Tandy Gray runs baby massage group classes. She is an IAIMS trained midwife. Located centrally in Marylebone, reasonable price £40 single fee, for a course of 4/5 meeting weekly, at 10.30 which last 1 ½ hrs, normally on a Monday 10.30am. Venue- Rossmore Rd NW1 6NJ, Off Lisson Gove (or can come to venue you provide). Please book by contacting Tandy by text 07905 309550 or via email T.Deane.Gray@gmail.com
- Paediatric First Aid
Please click HERE.
- Cranial Osteopathy
Many of my friends have used cranial osteopathy to help with various conditions such as colic, reflux to name but a few. They have been very happy and tell me they have seen a great improvement in their babies. The osteopaths mentioned below have all helped several NW8-mums.
Carla Pozner – one of our mums
- Maternity Nurse
Adriana Barbosa was our maternity nurse with our youngest. She is wonderful and was super helpful. She has worked for many of our friends and neighbours. She is very much pro-breastfeeding and will help you that. She is also an amazing cook! 07446 036 082 or drix40@hotmail.co.uk.
Please email me on NW8mums@gmail.com if you would like more recommendations.
- Sleep
Linda Russell (photo above) aka The Sleep Lady, runs regular sleep clinics and has not just a wealth of knowledge, but also years of experience.
Eliana Beeson is the founder of Little Angel Sleep Consulting and she has also helped local parents.
Emilie Caro Sleep has helped many NW8-mums over the years. Emilie is now based in New York City, but is still available through Skype. Below are some tips from the lovely Emilie after one our sessions together at 3 House Club.
- Acupuncture
I have the most amazing acupuncturist whom I saw before, during and after the pregnancy with my son. Dr Ping Li only does home visits. She is my go-to person for anything health related. I have been a patient of hers since 2013. Ping can be contacted on 020 8269 2862 or on her mobile (she currently can’t access her voice mail, so please don’t leave any on her mobile phone) 07783 385 727. Ping helped my body recover after labour.
One of our mums, Ingrid Huang, is also an acupuncturist. She sees patients in her house or at Violet Hill Studios.
- Shiatsu Massage
Doris Block has been a fully qualified Shiatsu Practitioner for over 16 years and has worked with people of all ages, gender and backgrounds, starting from pregnant women, babies to older people. Shiatsu is fantastic in relieving tension, stress, promoting well-being, helps aid sleep and relaxation. It is similar to acupuncture – without the needles – so perfect for anyone who doesn’t like needles.
I has had shiatsu many times – it is amazing! She even did a Shiatsu training course. I have also had sessions with Doris in Violet Hill Studios in St John’s Wood and she is a very special lady with magic hands.
- Reflexology
Abi England is a local mother and reflexologist. Abi only does home-visits in St John’s Wood/Maida Vale. She specialises in pregnancy and labour induction reflexology, but also sees clients for all manner of things from stress, insomnia, back pain, IBS, arthritis and more. I can vouch for Abi’s treatments being just amazing!
- Sling Library
Coming soon…
- Post-natal Baby Yoga
So many of my friends tell me about Alice Morgan’s fantastic yoga sessions, The Baby Yoga Company, in Paddington Rec, and they say it is the best baby and parent yoga they have ever done.
- Yoga
Netta Imber – Netta is one of our NW8-mums
Paula Lopez de Mollein – Paula is one of our NW8-mums
3 House Club also offers pregnancy yoga.
Westnine Yoga – Dani runs postnatal yoga classes.
- Postnatal Massage
Petra of Solace Mobile Massage is amazing. She does ante-natal, postnatal massage and other types of massages. She is also getting quite well known for her C-section scar massage which I am told by many of the mums has helped not just with discomfort, but also with the scarring looking much better. You can enjoy Petra’s massages in the comfort of your own home.
- Chiropractor
Dr Allison Hyman – Family Chiropractic Centre
Location: 18 Wimpole Street, Marylebone, London W1G 8GD
Tel: 07764 847 369
E-mail: allidoclondon@gmail.com
Dr Allison is passionate about improving the health and well-being of families. She has vast experience, specific expertise and interest in holistic health and is extremely involved in pregnancy, birth and postpartum chiropractic care.
She is certified in the Webster Technique, a technique used during pregnancy, which helps create balance in the pelvis, reduce tension in ligaments and soft tissue and restore the neuro-biomechanics of the pelvis to facilitate optimal positioning of the baby.
Chiropractic is a natural, hands-on approach to maximising health, restoring spinal alignment, and improving posture and the function of the nervous system. Chiropractic restores the communication pathways between the brain and body, allowing the body to heal from the inside out.
Registered: General Chiropractic Council since 2001
Memberships: United Chiropractic Association and International Chiropractic Paediatric Association.
- General Post-Natal Classes
Bel & Mums offer postnatal support in various ways including check-ups, breastfeeding support and general help to care for your newborn.
NCT Early Days Postnatal Course often puts on classes in Huggle, Swiss Cottage. This is a six week course covering everything from sleep, parenting styles, play& development to choosing childcare. All you need to know for the first year. Facilitated by Claire Maguire Nct Innovative Practitioner of the Year 2013 BSc(Hons) Food Science.
NCT Introducing Solids Workshops often holds weaning classes at 3 House Club in St. John’s Wood. A 2 hour workshop suitable for babies aged between 3 and 6 months. Covers what to do with milk feeds, allergies, purees, baby led, what to avoid and equipment.
- Nutritional Therapist
Dr Harriet Holme
Dr Harriet Holme is a local nutritionist whose work is evidence based. She is very knowledgable and being a mum of two young children, she also understands the challenges that parents go through. She can help with all aspects of nutrition including weaning help for babies.
Her company is called Healthy Eating Dr.
The lovely nutritional therapist Laura Mitzman specialises in ante-natal and post-natal nutrition. As a mother of two, Laura can really help you with anything including how to increase the amount of breast milk and much more.
- Indoor & Outdoor Training
For a more exhaustive list of exercises, please click HERE.
Personal Training
Sarah Liebelt is fab and works with everyone including pregnant women and those who are in a postnatal phase. You can learn more about Sarah by clicking HERE.
Barbara Viragh can be reached on info@thestrongfitmethod.com or 07889 613 433. She loves working with postnatal women.
Vivian Da Fonseca who a highly qualified personal trainer with a wealth of experience across prenatal and postnatal functional training, weight-loss, performance training and rehabilitation. As one of Brazil’s best known fitness instructors, her work has taken her to Canada, the USA and the UK. She is the recipient of Tatler magazine’s prize for “Best Bottom Class”.
One of our mums, Emma Sharav, is another great PT and she has her studio here in St John’s Wood. I have also had sessions with her and can recommend her. Click HERE to check out her website.
Alvaro (Al) Castano is a great PT who lives locally and with whom I regularly train. He has a lovely personality, makes me work hard but in a positive way and I leave my sessions with him feeling happy and energised.
Pilates
My amazing teacher Gemma Shaw comes to your house and she can be contacted on gemshaw1@gmail.com
Restoratvie Movement, previously known as Pilates with Paulette has a great reputation amongst local mums for helping them recover after pregnancy but did you know Paulette is also a Franklin Method® Pelvic Power Instructor. This is a movement technique that helps people of all ages, abilities and genders develop mind-body techniques to not only improve movement but also change the way they feel in their body, forever.
The pelvis is the bridge between our torso and legs. When correctly aligned, our pelvic floor muscles function optimally and movement improves. The six-week course will also help improve posture, balance, coordination and flexibility.
Find out more at facebook.com/pilateswithpaulette/events
The Hub in Regent’s Park offers a variety of mummy and baby friendly activities such as Parent and Pram.
It is easy to get fit and meet other mums with Buggy Fit.
Buggyfit classes with Sharon in Paddington Recreation Ground.
Buggy Fit Classes take place in Paddington Recreation Ground in Maida Vale on Tuesdays at 10 am and on Thursdays at 10.30 am and the meeting point is by the Bandstand. Sessions last an hour and are £15/session. To contact Sharon of Buggy Fit, please email her on: re-energise.london@outlook.com.
For more information on general exercise classes, please go to Exercise Classes for Mums.
NW8MUMS 