New village to support mums and bubs

Mothers and their young families needing support during the highs and lows of early motherhood can now find their village at The Village Collective.

The Village Collective is home to mother’s groups, workshops, masterclasses, baby drop-in clinics, playgroups and more, in a fresh inviting space at The Galleria at Ettalong Beach.

 It is home to a collective of pregnancy, postpartum health and wellness practitioners and allied health services who offer services alongside courses, workshops and masterclasses.

Friends and founders Kathryn Stoneman and Harriet Blannin-Ferguson saw the need to create a space on the south end of the coast which encompassed all the support mothers need through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and parenthood under one roof.

Stoneman runs doula service Mamma Nurture and Blannin-Ferguson is a registered midwife with Breast Help.

They said the early years of motherhood were often stressful and confusing and they aimed to share valuable information and support for mums and families.

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch commended the pair for establishing wraparound supports for young mothers.

“We are so fortunate to have such fabulously creative new people moving into our community and pursuing great opportunities to build and grow the great space where we live,” Tesch said.

“I had the privilege of dropping in on a Mums and Bubs yoga session and it felt like heaven. 

“You hear all too often that motherhood can be a lonely experience at times, and it is fantastic to see two pioneering local mothers passionately dedicated to supporting mothers and families, providing a hub where lasting connections with others at similar stages of life are built.”

Practitioners include acuneedling, doula services, lactation consultant, holistic sleep consultant, perinatal mental health services, family and individual counselling, women’s health physiotherapist, osteopath, remedial and pregnancy massage, MumSafe personal training, sacral somatics therapy and a naturopath.