Mothers Uncovered

15/10/2025

Great to see profiled on . And it’s not just singing that’s beneficial! At we’ve been providing arts based workshops for mothers to explore and validate their experiences, create connections and lasting memories since 2008.
Many participants say we have ’saved their lives.’ They feel seen, heard, validated.
The NHS needs to invest in the arts. So too do successive governments who repeatedly disregard arts as important tools for better mental health as well as being inspiring.

09/10/2025

Tribute to the one they say “does nothing at home.”
You know her. You’ve seen her.
She doesn’t yell, doesn’t ask for anything, never complains.
And yet, every day, she carries the entire household on her shoulders.

She is the face of invisible work.
The kind that people refuse to call “work” because it brings no salary, no title, no applause.
Only exhaustion… and a silence far too many consider normal.

09/10/2025

Today marks the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week.
Two years ago, I spoke to the inspirational Ali Norell for The Secret Life Of Mothers podcast who sadly lost her baby daughter suddenly at 4 months, which is every parent’s darkest nightmare.
Ali relays a beautiful story of bravery, courage and resilience. Even though unfairly short - Romy’s life changed Ali’s - she believes for the better.

As you can imagine, Ali’s story is honest and difficult to hear at times (with both myself and the producer in tears at certain points) so please do take care of yourself through the course of this listen.

Link https://open.spotify.com/episode/0PLOalL2qZlvncBMmosOUP?si=V0Ps2FMiSJq1QoA0FSA2EA

07/10/2025

How was your child’s birth? Were you offered a choice of where to give birth?
Many women feel that hospital is the best place in case something goes wrong, which is completely understandable, but the hospital environment is not generally a hospitable one. Many participants to our groups report their wishes being ignored and things happening that were not explained at the time or later on in a debrief - which can often be several months after they’ve given birth. And they are still struggling to process it months later, stopping them from living their lives properly.
It’s why we set up our My Birth sessions. There are some coming up in Brighton and Shoreham - sign-up in the bio.

06/10/2025

Fabulous review in the for Jane Upton’s play ‘(the) Woman’ 👏👏👏 at Park Theatre, London.
A reminder that you can listen to Jane discussing her motherhood story and the events that led to her writing it in our Secret Life Of Mothers podcast! (Link in bio and stories)

03/10/2025

It’s been over five years since the . At the maternity roundtable event was at on Tuesday the topic was discussed.

A lot of attention has been given to the pandemic impact on children’s development and how it might have been affected by the disruption to their lives.

Far less attention was paid to the impact on parents and most specifically and .

So many had to….
- give birth alone
- attend appointments alone
- receive distressing news about their baby’s death alone while their partner waited outside
- spend the first days of their baby’s life without their partner there
- do follow-up appointments online and attempt to show health professionals their scars via a screen.

We know the lockdowns were put in place to protect and health professionals did their very best, but they took a toll on and the mental health of their partners who were shut out of the experience of becoming a parent.

The stories of lockdown experiences are important.
These mothers are important.
They need to be remembered.

28/09/2025

With the Labour Party conference beginning, we are delighted that our founder will be attending this roundtable bringing together experts, parliamentarians, campaigners and clinicians to discuss maternal mental health services in the UK.
Maggie says: ‘My focus is on urging investment into peer-led community initiatives and ensuring those involved in caring for mothers are fully aware of the seismic transition women go through in matrescence. We have worked with close to 3000 women since 2008. So many have said sharing their experiences in our welcoming peer-led groups has been instrumental in helping them adjust to motherhood and reduced their need for NHS treatment. A lot say we have saved their life. But we have to fight, tooth and nail, to get funding. Peer-led groups are cheaper than statutory care and build a community of support for mothers going forward, empowering them to be the best mothers they can be. There is not the sense of a problem to be fixed, which is often the case with mothers referred to therapy for postnatal depression. Many mothers report that they don’t feel depressed exactly, but they don’t know why they don’t feel right. With greater understanding into the mental, emotional, societal and physical changes that matrescence brings, we can start to support them better.’

27/09/2025

📢 Calling all mothers who have given birth in Brighton, Hove, Shoreham or surrounding areas in the last 15 months.📢
Would you like to discuss your birth story in a small, supportive group, led by our peer supporters?
These sessions are suitable for those who’ve experienced trauma and for those would just like to process their experience.
We have 3 monthly sessions in Brighton and 3 in Shoreham. They are free, but donations are welcome. Sign up here https://www.happity.co.uk/mothers-uncovered-livestock

25/09/2025

Delighted to share our latest episode of The Secret Life of Mothers. Maggie Gordon-Walker interviews award-winning playwright Jane Upton, who shares the dramatic events surrounding her son’s birth and the journey to writing her play ‘(the) woman’, which is currently running at the Park Theatre in London. As you would expect, Jane is a natural storyteller, so listen up! .

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5qCljw0o93UzJdi5ZevtAU?si=TMMQVtAqRnK_MCbamqJJuQ

The Secret Life of Mothers · Episode

10/09/2025

Thanks to funding from the Beer Harris Memorial Trust, we are able to run some My Birth sessions at Tarner and in Shoreham. There will be more information soon, but wanted to let you know about the Tarner sessions as nearly half the spaces for October are booked already.
A space to share your birth experience with our peer supporters and explore your matrescence. Suitable for those with trauma and those who just want to process the experience.
Book here: https://www.happity.co.uk/schedules/mothers-uncovered-livestock-brighton-tarner-children-s-centre-my-birth-a-space-to-discuss-your-birth-story

09/09/2025

Delighted to be back for our workshops for our creative collective for mothers in Brighton and Hove to find community and rediscover their identity. Booking link in bio or via QR code.
Matrescence often means a woman’s needs get lost when she is spending so much time caring for her baby.
There are two sessions. In the October session, we will look at portrayals of mothers on film, or their absence. We will also explore motherhood through writing, visual art and shared stories in a space where your voice matters.
Peer-led. Babies up to a year can be brought to the session.