The UK's First Maternity Adviser. What It Means for Black Mothers. By Sandra Igwe MBE, Founder and CEO of The Motherhood Group 20 May 2026 When news broke on 19 May 2026 that Michelle Welsh MP had been appointed as the UK government's first ever Maternity Adviser, I felt something I do not always allow […]
What Black Maternal Health Awareness Week Demands of All of Us By Sandra Igwe MBE, Founder & Chief Executive, The Motherhood Group I did not set out to become a maternal health advocate. I became one because I had no choice. Like so many Black women, I experienced a maternity system that was not designed […]
For years, Black mothers have spoken about not being heard, not being believed, and not being supported in the moments that matter most. This month in Parliament, something powerful happened. Decision makers, policymakers, healthcare leaders, and mothers with lived experience finally came together around one table to listen — and act. The Black Maternal Mental Health […]
Pregnancy alters the way the body handles infections and it can be harder for your body to fight off diseases, so you’re more likely to get a virus like flu or COVID-19, and more likely to develop serious health problems when you do get ill. We know that whooping cough, RSV, flu and COVID-19 can […]
I am a black mother, a mother by choice but a black mother by judgement. I’m a mother when I read my son a bedtime story and we laugh at the expressions of the characters in the book. I’m a mother when I’m doing the school run and ensuring he has all his essentials for […]
One of the biggest misconceptions about being a Stay-At-Home-Mum (SAHM) is that you have all the time in the world to attend Zumba classes, baby rhyme-time recitals and have afternoon naps. How far from the truth! In my opinion, SAHMs are the most hardworking, most sacrificial and most resourceful women around and their impact, often […]
Half Empty, Half Full I feel like half a woman, because the whole of me does not work. Eat wholefoods they say, exercise 3 times a week, do 30 minutes a day, vitamin, supplements, And Youtube videos on ‘How to get pregnant quick’ tricks. Visits to the GP, Gynaecologist and fertility clinics, All to get […]
For a long time, mental health has been described or spoken on as a negative thing. The moment you speak to a close friend or colleague at work about ‘struggling with your mental health’ it can sometimes be perceived as something is wrong and you need to seek help, but on most occasions the solution […]
Every time I open my Instagram app, read a magazine or walk into a beauty store, my eyes never miss seeing the word self-care. It has suddenly morphed into a life of its own, and the marketing world has run with it, pretty much whitewashing the concept. The term self-care traces its roots all the […]
For the first 20 months of being a mum, I struggled with my mental health. I loved my daughter but I didn’t love myself. I didn’t speak up and ask for help because unfortunately, I’ve had negative experiences with medical professionals and didn’t feel seen or heard. In August 2019 I knew things had to […]
