Nest & Nurture - Bump, Birth & Beyond

Nest & Nurture - Bump, Birth & Beyond Supporting expectant parents & new families in Belper, Derbyshire and beyond.

〰️ THE VAGUS NERVE 〰️The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the body and a primary component of the autonomic nervous s...
16/03/2026

〰️ THE VAGUS NERVE 〰️

The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the body and a primary component of the autonomic nervous system. It connects your brain to many of the body’s organs and is associated with the mind-body connection.

The vagus nerve plays a key role in the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system - this is our calm and relaxed state. It is HERE that you want to remain during labour, calm, happy, safe, comfortable and relaxed.

Not only is the parasympathetic state just a nicer place to be, it will also help promote the cocktail of hormones that make birth easier, more efficient and more comfortable - including the all important oxytocin!

If you do start to feel fearful during birth, the sympathetic system can kick in, activating fight or flight and disrupting the birth process. However, by stimulating the vagus nerve you can quickly move back to the parasympathetic and birth can resume!

So what are some tips for vagal stimulation?
👅Drop the tongue down from the roof of your mouth and relax your jaw
Relaxing your jaw is a quick and easy way to move into a parasympathetic state.

🫁 Deep and slow breathing
We all know that deep, steady breaths help to calm us down and vagal stimulation is why! Try ‘in for 4, out for more’ next time you feel stressed and after a few minutes you should feel much calmer.

🎵Singing and humming
The vagus nerve is connected to your vocal chords, so singing or humming can help to activate it.

💃 Movement
After a stress response, movement is a great way to complete the stress activation cycle and return to the parasympathetic state. Go for a walk, shake your body, have a dance - anything that gets you moving is sure to help.

💆‍♀️Massage
Research shows that massage can stimulate the vagus nerve. Light touch massage is especially useful during pregnancy, labour and birth, so get that birth partner/doula to work!

😆Laughing
Laughter, socialising, cuddles... all the good things that boost oxytocin can also help to activate the vagus nerve and bring you firmly back to the parasympathetic.

By practicing the above, you can stay in your calm parasympathetic state, help your body work with labour, rather than against it.

👀 What’s Tara up to this week? ✨Here’s what’s happening this week:🤰 Antenatal & Birth Prep 🤰It’s week 5 of Nurtured Birt...
16/03/2026

👀 What’s Tara up to this week? ✨

Here’s what’s happening this week:
🤰 Antenatal & Birth Prep 🤰
It’s week 5 of Nurtured Birthing, and this week we’re talking about the birthing part of labour.

It’s also week 5 of pregnancy yoga in Ripley. Expect a flowing, gentle class with plenty of releasing, relaxing, and time to drop into your body.

😌Hypnobirthing
It’s week 2 of Hypnobirthing. This supportive, evidence-based hypnobirthing course helps you understand how your body and baby work together in birth, teaches breathing, visualisation and relaxation tools to calm fear and stress, and gives you practical mindset skills to feel confident and in control no matter what your birth looks like. Whether you’re planning a home, hospital or birth centre birth, you and your birth partner will walk away feeling more informed, empowered and genuinely excited for the journey ahead.

👶 Baby Classes
🐤 Nestlings (4/5–10 months): Week 4 and we will be going on a yoga adventure and practising some vestibular development for babies.
🐣 Hatchlings (4 weeks–5 months): Week 4 and we are learning back massage, massaging faces and recapping last week. A calm, grounding space that helps you properly exhale.
Both classes finish with social time and cake ☕🍰 (always a highlight).

🤱 Doula Support
✨ I am fully booked this week for daytime doula support as I am supporting a brand new family as their postnatal doula, but I do have availability for online evening consultations, especially if you’re considering full doula support this year.

I can’t wait to see so many of you this week

✨ Want to join a class or book support? Then get hold of me in my DMs

While Mother's Day is a time to celebrate and acknowledge mothers it isn't always an easy day. Thinking of all of you wh...
15/03/2026

While Mother's Day is a time to celebrate and acknowledge mothers it isn't always an easy day. Thinking of all of you who find this day hard for whatever reason.

15/03/2026

💐Mother's Day💐

To all the Mothers today on Mothering Sunday.

This is a glimpse of our Nest & Nurture community of Mothers who are simply amazing, I am in the privileged position to know all of them. Some of them I was there when they became Mothers for the first, second or last time. Some I got to meet in pregnancy and some I have recently got to know in baby classes or Tea Club.

Every week I see the small everyday moments that they have with their child or children, perhaps the seemingly mundane to everyone else. I see the inner strength when coping with challenges, the gathering of other Mother's when they need holding up and collective celebration when things are golden.

So while society in general doesn't fully appreciate or validate the role of 'Mother', I see the importance of what Mothers do and how without Mothers or Mothering we would be lost.

I also challenge you not to need a tissue watching this.

Love to you all today and everyday and especially to anyone finding this day a challenge for whatever reason. xx

If you’re reading this, you may well have a 15–19 week old and be feeling a little… frazzled. It’s a rough spot for a lo...
13/03/2026

If you’re reading this, you may well have a 15–19 week old and be feeling a little… frazzled. It’s a rough spot for a lot of people, though not every baby hits it the same way, babies are so individual!

It’s bedtime. Dad is holding them, gently rocking in the dim light. He’s doing everything “right.” Soft voice. Slow swaying. Patient arms. But their eyes are searching the room. They dart around… and they find you.

You’re across the room, finishing the last few things before bed. Your eyes meet. They smile. You smile back and carry on.

Then… the moment you glance up again, their little face crumbles and they begin to cry. Dad cuddles them closer, bouncing slightly, whispering. He’s calm, loving, trying everything. But their eyes are still fixed on you.

So you take them. They melt instantly into your chest. The crying stops.

This is a stage that a lot of people reach out for help about sleep and it’s completely normal. At four months, babies are beginning to realise something huge: they are a separate person from their caregiver.

For months, they experienced the world almost as if you were one. The same body that carried them, fed them, soothed them, regulated them. Now they’re slowly discovering that the person who feels like their whole world can actually walk away. And with no concept of time yet, when you disappear, they don’t know if you’ll come back in seconds… or not at all.

This explains a lot:

Feeding may be fussy. Latch on, latch off, look around, cry, latch again… FOMO is real.

Naps may be tricky. Those babies who happily went down may now want contact naps again.

Night waking often returns, frequent, unpredictable, exhausting.

It’s ok. This is normal. They aren’t rejecting dad. They aren’t manipulating. They are simply exploring trust, attachment, and the safety of knowing you will come back when they call.

Some nights, dad will settle them beautifully. Some nights, they will only want you. Both are normal. Both are part of their learning that the world is safe and that the people who love them always return.

It’s a weird, full-on age. Long days, tricky nights. Confidence can waver. But you are still everything your baby needs, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

You’ve got this. You always have. 🤍

"If I could go back, I would tell her to just relax. To stop worrying so much. To accept the here and now. To eat. To re...
11/03/2026

"If I could go back, I would tell her to just relax. To stop worrying so much. To accept the here and now. To eat. To rest. To trust - in your instincts and in others abilities. To know it is okay to cry, to know it is okay to feel frightened and overwhelmed and it's okay to share those feelings and not be ashamed. I would tell her to smell that baby's head, to revel in the beauty of it all. To let guilt go. To enjoy the moments. I would tell her it was ok to take a bath, to watch TV and not think about something else, it's ok to read a book or not watch your baby every moment.

I would tell her to stop comparing, stop wondering what everyone else might do or what everyone else might think. Because that's everyone else and not you. I'd tell her it's ok to ask for help, it's ok to accept help. I'd tell her she isn't a burden. Those who offer their help, mean they want to help. That's the bottom line. I'd tell her it's okay to not get dressed or wash your hair if you haven't the energy and to spend all day in bed feeding your newborn. And eating biscuits and cake and watching TV. I'd tell her it's okay to not be okay, but that one day, this will all pass and it will make you all that you are. It will break you and then heal you and you will become so much stronger for it. I'd tell her to just be. In the moment. I'd tell her a thousand times."

These are the words and thoughts of a very special mum of two who kindly gave me permission to share this post. 💕

Be kind to others, but more importantly be kind to yourself.

🌙 Second night syndrome: what to expect and how to copeIt was around 5am when my phone buzzed with a message from a clie...
10/03/2026

🌙 Second night syndrome: what to expect and how to cope

It was around 5am when my phone buzzed with a message from a client: “he won’t stop crying. we are so tired. what do we do?”

As a birth and postpartum doula, I’ve supported many families through this moment. The second night with a newborn can feel shocking if you’re not expecting it.

🍼 What is second night syndrome?
During the first 24 hours after birth, many babies are surprisingly sleepy and calm as they recover from labour and birth. Parents often enjoy lots of cuddles and long naps.

Then night two arrives… and suddenly babies can become much more alert, fussy, and want to feed constantly.

Second night syndrome describes this shift. Babies are adjusting to life outside the womb and becoming more aware of their surroundings. Naturally, they seek closeness and reassurance.

Some babies may also continue to have unsettled evenings or cluster feeding for several days as they adjust.

Why it happens:
• Increased hunger – newborn stomachs are tiny and empty quickly, so frequent feeding is normal.
• Adjustment to the outside world – babies are adapting to a completely new environment.
• Cluster feeding – many babies want to feed repeatedly to stimulate milk production and stay close to their parent.

🛌 How to cope
✨ Feed frequently
Expect lots of feeding. This helps establish milk supply and meets your baby’s need for comfort.
✨ Skin-to-skin
Holding your baby skin-to-skin can regulate their temperature, breathing, and heart rate while helping them feel calm and secure.
✨ Stay calm and patient
It can feel overwhelming, but this phase is temporary.
✨ Ask for support
Whether it’s a partner, family member, or postpartum doula, having someone help with meals, holding baby, or reassurance can make a huge difference.
✨ Rest when you can
Birth recovery and newborn care are exhausting. Even short moments of rest help.

💛 Second night syndrome is common, intense, and temporary. Your baby isn’t being “difficult” they’re adjusting to the world and seeking the comfort they’ve known for nine months.

Have you experienced the second night with your baby?

💫 Birth Partners & Hypnobirthing 💫I started a brand new hypnobirthing course last night with a group of first time paren...
09/03/2026

💫 Birth Partners & Hypnobirthing 💫

I started a brand new hypnobirthing course last night with a group of first time parents, and it reminded me again just how powerful these sessions can be for birth partners.

One of the things I love most about teaching hypnobirthing is the transformation you often see in them.

Many arrive a little unsure. Sometimes slightly sceptical. Often just coming along to support their partner, not really knowing what hypnobirthing is or how it will help.

And then something shifts.

You start to see the light-bulb moments 💡
They begin to understand birth differently.
They realise the role they can play.

Birth partners aren’t just there to “be present”. They can be the calm voice in the room, the person protecting the birthing space, the one reminding their partner of their strength, their choices, and their power.

They become the advocate.
The steady support.
The biggest cheerleader.
And often the greatest source of oxytocin in the room.

By the end of the course, many birth partners who arrived feeling nervous or uncertain leave feeling confident, capable, and genuinely excited to support the birth.

So this one is for the birth partners.

The ones who start off unsure but show up anyway.
The ones who worry they might “get it wrong”.
The ones who quietly step up and become an incredible source of support.

You make such a difference to the birth experience.

And it’s always such a privilege to watch that transformation happen. 💛

📸 Wild Oak Birth LLC: Film, Photo, & Doula

👀 What’s Tara up to this week? ✨Here’s what’s happening this week:🤰 Antenatal & Birth Prep 🤰It’s week 4 of Nurtured Birt...
09/03/2026

👀 What’s Tara up to this week? ✨

Here’s what’s happening this week:
🤰 Antenatal & Birth Prep 🤰
It’s week 4 of Nurtured Birthing, and this week we’re talking about the cracking on phase of labour.

It’s also week 4 of pregnancy yoga in Ripley. Expect a flowing, gentle class with plenty of releasing, relaxing, and time to drop into your body.

🤱Breastfeeding Workshop
The Nurtured Breastfeeding Workshop is a supportive, 2.5-hour session designed to help expectant parents feel informed and confident about how breastfeeding works, how to get off to a positive start, and how to navigate common challenges with practical tips and local support information.

😌Hypnobirthing
This supportive, evidence-based hypnobirthing course helps you understand how your body and baby work together in birth, teaches breathing, visualisation and relaxation tools to calm fear and stress, and gives you practical mindset skills to feel confident and in control no matter what your birth looks like. Whether you’re planning a home, hospital or birth centre birth, you and your birth partner will walk away feeling more informed, empowered and genuinely excited for the journey ahead.

👶 Baby Classes
🐤 Nestlings (4/5–10 months): Week 3 and we will be going on a yoga adventure and practising some cross lateral development for babies.
🐣 Hatchlings (4 weeks–5 months): Week 3 and we are learning the massage for chest and arms and recapping last week. A calm, grounding space that helps you properly exhale.
Both classes finish with social time and cake ☕🍰 (always a highlight).

🤱 Doula Support
✨ I am fully booked this week for daytime doula support, but I do have availability for online evening consultations, especially if you’re considering full doula support this year.

✨ Want to join a class or book support?
➡️ DM me or head to nestnurture.co.uk
I can’t wait to see so many of you this week

♀️ INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY ♀️I feel very lucky to have so many strong and amazing women in my life from family and fri...
08/03/2026

♀️ INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY ♀️

I feel very lucky to have so many strong and amazing women in my life from family and friends, to other pregnancy and baby classes teachers, doula's/birthworkers across the UK and our own fabulous Nest & Nurture mamas in Derbyshire. All of these amazing women who raise each other up, support one another without judgement, laugh and cry together we need so much.

I have seen women rights (in and out of the work place) and their birth rights change and not always for the better. From the lack of available midwives within hospitals and for home birth, the level of birth and postnatal trauma going up and support during the postnatal period becoming less.

I have listened to women (in and out of classes) who felt the lack of pre and postnatal support and some who are still coming to terms with what they went through during these challenging times with Maternity Services. We knew the impact that this would have on the mental health of women and this is still very evident now. I also listen to women who want to return to work, who face barriers to finding flexibility with managing work and looking after their children.

There is always hope though and I see how many women and birth workers who inform and educate people and support women and birthing families to know their rights and choices. I see you and know that we are all working towards a future where we can bring about change. I see birth workers also stepping up to support families in their birth place of choice too.

Also right now around the world women, children and families are in awful situations whether that is in a war torn country, violence in their own home, poverty, the threat of assault or complete lack of human rights. So while some women are screaming and shouting in the world, then all women will do the same.

I also wanted to finish by saying to my two girls one who is now a teenager. My hope is that when you are older and perhaps decide to become mothers, you we will have reached a time when your rights and choices are heard, respected and honoured. That your limitations are not defined by your s*x, gender or roles.

05/03/2026

📚 World Book Day 📚

In celebration of World Book Day here is a small pile of my favourite birthy books.

Why doulas matter by the beautiful Maddie, who was the person I trained with as a doula, I read this book just before my training.

Labour of Love by Sally-Ann Beresford . Fab book for birth partners and I had the pleasure of spending a blissful weekend with Sally and other birth workers in April last year.

Birth in Focus by Becky Reed (who I actually got to meet during my doula training, so this is a signed copy)

In Your Own Time by Sara Wickham. This book is a must read in my opinion for anyone pregnant right now.

How To Have a Baby by Natalie Meddings, jam packed full of nurturing wisdom.

Childbirth as Rites of Passage by Rachel Reed. Nearly all of my doula clients have read this book. Also love Why Induction Matters too.

Birth & s*x, was a big eye opener for me in between my two pregnancies and for me confirmed exactly why I thought the way I did about birth and the plans I was making during my second pregnancy.

I also really enjoyed the Why Caesarean Matters book as a doula that has supported planned and unplanned Caesarean births. This is an insightful read.

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Belper Community Hall
Belper
DE561BA

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Wednesday 9am - 5pm
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Empowering education and support from pregnancy to parenthood

Hello and welcome to the Nest & Nurture - Bump, Birth & Beyond page.

Hi, my name is Tara Luke and I am passionate about all things pregnancy, birth and babies. I really love supporting parents in pregnancy to know their choices to feel confident, relaxed and empowered about the birth of their baby. Being pregnant and having a baby can be such a special time, but it also brings change and with it a whole range of mixed emotions and feelings. So as a doula and teacher I am focused on creating a safe nurturing space, a listening ear and non-judgemental support.