Linzy Thirlaway- Founder of Bump Baby and Beyond

I am a registered midwife with over 25 years experience of caring for women and babies in both the NHS and private sector.  I am also a Certified Infant Massage and Baby Yoga Instructor, music and movement teacher and most importantly a mum!

I qualified as a midwife in 1999, and whilst working within the NHS developed a passion for antenatal  education.  I taught NHS antenatal classes for many years and was the lead Parent Education midwife at a NHS trust.  During this time I also completed infant massage and baby yoga training ( along with pregnancy massage, aromatherapy, and reflexology… I love to learn!)

In 2011, I gave birth to my first little bundle of joy Robyn. Like all mums to be, I spent months preparing for the arrival of my first baby. I was ready to become a parent… or so I thought. I found having a baby to be a magical time, but it was also exhausting, emotional, stressful and completely overwhelming… without doubt the hardest job I have ever done. My experience as a new mum made me even more passionate about supporting other parents through pregnancy and the early days of parenthood, and as a result I developed the Bump Baby and Beyond antenatal course.

I designed the antenatal classes to offer the perfect balance between meeting the expectations and hopes of parents approaching birth with the reality of common experiences, to enable them to be informed and to feel confident during such a special time in their lives.  My years of providing care for women during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period ensure that I have both the knowledge and experience to support and prepare parents for the arrival of their baby.

The baby groups and classes offer parents a chance to meet friends who are experiencing exactly the same problems and emotions as them, at exactly the same time. Parents can speak openly and honestly in a supportive environment, whilst having great fun with their babies, whether its massaging, moving or singing! Cake, coffee and cuddles are always at hand!

I wholeheartedly believe that both the pregnancy and baby classes are the best that you will find.  They provide a safe haven for parents and babies to come to and feel comfortable, relaxed and supported.  They are informative, honest and great fun, and can provide a time in the week that you can spend with other parents, making great friends who are going through very similar experiences and emotions.

Elaine, mum of  Joseph:

I’ve never met such understanding, supportive and genuinely lovely person- Linzy is amazing, and her classes are guaranteed to put a smile on your face that lasts the whole day