During our antenatal classes we spend a good amount of time discussing the first days and weeks with a newborn baby. We think about feeding cues, handling a new baby as well as the first bath and using a sling or swaddle. But our classes cover baby care right from the first minute you meet your wee one. It seems to me like most people have heard or read about 'The Golden Hour' but haven't always had a full explanation around what happens in the first minutes of meeting your b

Last week I sat my exam to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). In full honesty, I cannot be sure I passed. It was hard. What I am sure of though is how much I have learnt. Wow. Breastfeeding is amazing. But you know what else it is? Hard. Really, really hard. Not just physically but mentally too. Those of you who have attended our classes may already know my mantra, so altogether now; hard things are not bad things! This is as true for birth

I have been feeling a little reflective today. Maybe it's the changing seasons. Or the thought of my wee one starting school soon. Or maybe the fact that I have finally completed all my work towards becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Whatever it may be, the last year has felt both achingly slow (hello exam prep!) and so fast at the same time. Small milestones have been happening all the time at home; laces now tied, bikes and scooters mastered, na

Exciting News!! Hailey and I are beyond thrilled to announce that our 5-star rated antenatal classes will be starting to run in Dundee from July! We have always been really passionate about finding new venues and growing into new places but we knew that it needed to be a good fit. And we think that Dundee is going to be perfect! So if you are Dundee based (or even from Perth, Tayside, Monifieth, Broughty Ferry….you get the idea!) then here are some reasons why you need to com

It has been a while since we posted a birth story. Birth stories can be such powerful things to read, in particular when you are expecting yourself. Eliza's birth story is beautiful. A good reminder of how strong and powerful we are and a very realistic description of entering into a 'flow state' of labour. Eliza's birth reminds us that whilst we may have our own plans or preferences for birth, our babies may decide not to read those plans! A different route is not always a n

Welcome Jemma from North Berwick Baby Massage! We are delighted to be continuing our discussion on baby massage with Jemma this month. Jemma is an early years practitioner with a background in various early years settings and is a mum herself. She runs baby massage classes in North Berwick, East Linton and Beyond. We are looking forward to hearing about baby massage and how it can be a great tool for parents too! Jemma writes; When people hear “baby massage,” they often think

Last year I wrote a wee post about how Hailey and I can support you to have a calm, confident birth and what having a ' positive birth ' means. When you are pregnant it is hard to imagine life beyond pregnancy! You are so focused on growing your baby and then the birth of your baby, that is can be hard to imagine the first few days and weeks. And they can be scary. Hailey and I were both experienced midwives when we had our first babies, and there were so many things that met

Happy New Year! We hope you are managing to keep warm this month. It has been lovely seeing some of you over the Christmas period. Our first No Sleep Club of 2026 was lovely and it has been great supporting some of you at home with feeding. You are all doing so well! We have had lots of inquiries recently from some of you at the beginning of your parenting journeys and it has been a joy to hear from you. We have had a few of the same questions being asked so I thought I would

Hello! Hailey and I have been running Grow+Gather since 2020. A fact I find hard to believe. Where has the time gone? Life has been so full; working as midwives, running our business and growing our families. It has been such a joy to meet so many of you over the last five years and we can’t wait to welcome more of you into the Grow+Gather family! Since it has been such a while since we said hello, we thought we would tell you a little more about ourselves. Who we are Grow+Ga

As mums, we have experienced different stages of pregnancy, new babyhood, feeding or toddlerness at various Christmas seasons along the way. As midwives, we have cared for so many new parents during the festive season and we get how wonderful Christmas can be when you have a new bump or baby to experience it all with. But it can also be totally overwhelming too. Between expectations from family or the pressure to create 'perfect' memories as well as the physical and emotional

This week we have a guest blog post from the wonderful Alyssa Dunn, Founder of Solas Fitness and Pre&Postnatal Fitness Specialist. Alyssa writes; Becoming a mum changes everything: your routines, your priorities, and of course, your body. And while returning to exercise after having a baby can feel exciting, it can also feel overwhelming. What’s safe? What’s too much? Where do you even begin? The truth is: everyone’s postpartum fitness journey is different. No two pregnancie

During our antenatal classes we spend a great deal of time discussing all types of birth. Sometimes the balance between being positive and being realistic can be tricky. I have written a blog post about positive realism and I think it helps to explore that idea a little more. Our intentions are never to scare people but we have to be completely honest too. Birth prep matters and whilst we really want people to think about their plan A and what this might look like to them, it

If you are expecting a baby or have just become a parent, congratulations! When we were expecting our own babies, we realised how important the right guidance could be. We needed kind, calm and nurturing support. We wanted to be surrounded by women that could build us up and could offer reliable and trustworthy advice and wisdom. After becoming mothers, we wanted to offer this kind of support for new and expecting families not only as practicing midwives, but also in our ante

Pregnancy is an exciting and life-changing journey but it can also bring moments of uncertainty, overwhelm, and isolation. As midwives,...

If you’re a new parent, you’ll know that often sleep feels non-existent. You are exhausted, trying to find your way with your newborn and...

Pregnancy and early parenthood are full of advice. From what you are eating, where you are planning to have your baby or how you might...

Pregnancy is such an amazing time but let’s be honest, it's a little overwhelming too. Between the endless questions ('How will I know...

Pregnancy is a truly magical time in your life, but it can also be a whirlwind of emotions. Between preparing for your little one's...

Over the past ten years as a midwife, I have noticed more and more conversations about having a ‘positive birth’. We talk about this a...

Hello! Hailey and I have been running Grow+Gather since 2020. A fact I find hard to believe. Where has the time gone? Life has been so full; working as midwives, running our business and growing our families. It has been such a joy to meet so many of you over the last five years and we can’t wait to welcome more of you into the Grow+Gather family! Since it has been such a while since we said hello, we thought we would tell you a little more about ourselves. Who we are Grow+Ga