Mum Determined to Drive Down Postnatal Depression Rates After she Leaves High Pressured Career in Advertising to Launch Modern Antenatal Revolution
Four years ago, following a postnatal heart attack Victoria Warnes left her career in advertising to launch the Modern Antenatal Revolution in her home town of Maidenhead, Berkshire. Today Our Baby Club offers antenatal classes with a difference to expectant parents in multiple regions across the South of England and is fast expanding into other areas of the UK.
Resolutely determined to make a real difference to the wellbeing of today’s new parents she has created an unbiased antenatal education delivered by FEDANT accredited Birth & Parent coaches that encourages parents to make informed choices about their birth and early parenting choices based on a combination of the latest evidence-based research and the real life lived experience of parents. The inclusive and zero judgment classes enable both parents to not only prepare for birth but to advocate for their choices and support them both in heavily prioritizing their positive wellbeing as they begin their transition into parenthood.
Victoria’s mission is not just to help drive down PND rates in both men and women, but to help prevent all parents that might otherwise really struggle emotionally during the perinatal period and for which there is no label. She aims to eradicate parental judgement and change the narrative for generations to come around birth and early days parenting.
‘By having more honest, unbiased conversations around birth and parenting choices we give parents a forum to come as themselves, to shake off years of preconditioning around what birth and early parenting looks like and what their roles and choices look like. We coach them to make informed decisions based on their own instinctive decision making abilities based on what’s right for them as a couple. Parents leave our classes feeling empowered and practically prepared for their birth and parenting journey ahead- whichever path it takes. We tailor our classes and work closely with parents to help them identify and release any fears or anxieties they might be experiencing ahead of becoming a parent, especially around the perceived risk of failure and judgement. They learn how to advocate for their choices during birth, practical skills that allow them to confidently care for their baby and tools that support the wellbeing of both themselves and each other as they transition into their roles as parents. Crucially our classes don’t stop before babies arrive- they continue beyond birth when parents need support the most.’
In order to reach and support more expectant parents across the UK, Our Baby Club now offers a training and business-in-a-box initiative ‘FlexiBusiness,’ that coaches and empowers women from a range of professional backgrounds to train and run their own business supporting expectant parents. The launch came at a time during the pandemic when 46% of women reported that a lack of childcare played a role in their redundancy (See here) and there was a 79% rise in female redundancy rates (UK Women’s Budget Group).
‘The way the course ran meant I could complete the tasks in my own time- which made it all doable around my biggest priority- my two year old daughter. Having something so positive and interesting to focus on really helped me mentally during the pandemic and now being part of the Modern Antenatal Revolution, supporting people on the most incredible yet challenging journey of their lives- entering parenthood- is truly rewarding and a brilliant flexible way of working.’ (Natalie Rushton- Birth & Parent Coach- Cotswolds)
To find out more about training or classes visit www.ourbabyclub.com
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
