13 Nov 2026
A collective of local pregnancy, birth and postnatal professionals are holding a special event raising awareness of the support available to local families and the importance of building a strong community around pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
Pregnancy and early parenthood can be wonderful, but they can also feel overwhelming, particularly when families are navigating this new chapter without the support of an extended family nearby.
Recognising the need for more connected, accessible support for local families, a group of independent pregnancy, birth and postnatal professionals have come together to form Herts Birth & Beyond – a collaborative community dedicated to helping families find their “village”.
The group brings together a range of local specialists, including midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, counsellors, photographers, osteopaths, reflexologists, sleep coaches and antenatal teachers who live and work in and around St Albans.
The idea grew from a shared understanding that every family’s experience of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood is different, and that support needs to go beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.
Having experienced motherhood themselves, many of the professionals recognise just how valuable it can be to find people who look at the bigger picture, take a holistic approach and support the whole family, rather than focusing on just one aspect of their journey.
With NHS services under considerable pressure and many families living away from their extended support networks, finding the right help can feel overwhelming. Herts Birth & Beyond aims to make that process easier by connecting families with trusted local professionals, helping them discover the services available in their community and building relationships that can make a real difference during this significant life transition.
The upcoming Herts Birth & Beyond Pregnancy and Baby Fair in St Albans, offers expectant parents and families with young children the opportunity to meet local specialists, ask questions, explore classes and services, and connect with others at a similar stage of life.
More than simply bringing professionals together, the collaboration is about recognising that no single practitioner can meet every family’s needs. By sharing knowledge, understanding one another’s expertise and working collaboratively, the group hopes to help bridge the gaps between services and ensure families know where to turn for support.
Herts Birth & Beyond is about rebuilding that sense of community around pregnancy and parenthood – helping families feel less alone, more informed and better supported, from pregnancy through birth and into the early years.
Nicky Kantura, a fully qualified, BACP registered counsellor specialising in supporting women through pregnancy, birth and all stages of motherhood. said: “Pregnancy and parenting come with a long list of people you might need, and finding them one by one while exhausted is its own job.
“At the Pregnancy and Baby Fair, parents can meet midwives, doulas, osteopaths, sleep coaches and counsellors in one room, for free, and ask whatever they like, then know who to reach out to later if more support is needed.”
Emily Newell of 6WeekSocial, a postnatal social support and wellness community for new mothers and babies aged 0–12 months, said: “St Albans is a place where families put down roots, but sometimes that can mean being a long way from their own parents and friends when a baby arrives. A lot of what we do is helping families build the village around them that they didn’t realise they’d need.”
Nevina Holland, founder of Peekaboo Studios which specialises in maternity and newborn studio photo shoots, said: “As a specialist newborn photographer for 16 years, I spend a lot of time with very new mums as the babies I shoot are just four to 10 days old. During the session, I get asked questions about newborn issues, from breastfeeding to mental health concerns. It is so valuable to have this bank of experts at my fingertips to refer my clients to. We all help each other in this wonderful community and it has definitely made my businesses stronger.”
The free Pregnancy and Baby Fair is on November 21 from 2-4pm, at Aboyne Lodge School. For more information, visit www.hertsbab.co.uk
