Midwife offers free antenatal and postnatal groups
A retired midwife has launched free antenatal and postnatal sessions at a community centre in the east of the Isle of Man.
Jan Ulyatt, who says she wants to help prepare women for labour, childbirth and the first six to eight weeks of their baby's life, has started running classes at the Roundhouse in Braddan.
In September, Manx Care stopped offering its in-person parentcraft education programme - which included maternity ward tours - and instead moved resources online.
Ms Ulyatt said she hoped her sessions would "fill a gap" and added: "I do feel very strongly that women shouldn't have to pay for advice on labour and birth."
'Allay fears'
The face-to-face courses were "more hands on" than online sessions, she added, and allowed expectant mothers to ask questions.
The classes cover pre-labour, early labour, what women can do to stay at home for as long as possible, what happens at the maternity unit, birth plans and the first two months of life with a baby.
"I think if you are prepared well for birth, then you will probably have a better experience - especially if you can allay any of the fears you might have," Ms Ulyatt explained.
"I am a retired midwife, and I miss that part of my work, so I think it is a good way to give my knowledge to women about labour and birth."
Ms Ulyatt said she wanted "everybody to be able to come to my courses if they want to" without worrying about money.
Since the courses' launch in early December, Ms Ulyatt said she had been "inundated" with bookings, with 50 participating in her current sessions.
"I wonder if it is very busy because it has not been offered for a while," she said.
Sessions can be booked via the Roundhouse website.
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