Dr Maria Mullan

18/03/2024

If you are feeling anxious about birth, this is the course for you!

The ultimate birth preparation course for you and your birth partner facilitated by a clinical psychologist and KGHypnobirthing teacher ☺️

Now booking for 3rd April (link in bio or message for further details)

Have you booked? Limited places available!

29/01/2024

How gorgeous are these two 🥰

Hannah and Cristiana met when they completed a birth preparation course with me back in 2023. It was so lovely to hear they had kept in touch and now their beautiful babies have become friends!

The birth preparation courses I run are combined antenatal education and Hypnobirthing courses, and they are designed to prepare you for birthing YOUR WAY. I just love running them as group sessions because it brings people together at similar stages of pregnancy, and like Hannah and Cristiana, you might make some wonderful friendships along the way!

Booking open for March and June courses now! Link in bio.

(Images posted with permission)

22/01/2024

Have you REALLY prepared for your birth?

Childbirth is a huge event in our lives but do we really prepare for it? We wouldn’t just turn up to run a marathon without months, if not years of training, we wouldn’t attend an interview without learning about the organisation and preparing for a panel of questions, and we wouldn’t just turn up to our wedding without any preparation and hope for the best!

Why should the birth of your baby be any different!?

For my first pregnancy, I had everything I needed - the clothes, the pram, the beautifully decorated nursery, the hospital bag packed. I didn’t even stop to consider how I would take care of myself psychologically or prepare my body for labour - I just assumed birth was a passive event. Just something that happens. I turn up at the hospital, the professionals will tell me what to do and I will just get through it because I have to.

My perspective quickly changed as I started to engage in my own birth preparation, thanks to a lovely friend who asked me that very same question - “have you REALLY prepared?”

I would now argue birth is one of THE most important events in our lives, when the human body is doing something incredibly POWERFUL - both physically and psychologically. There ARE ways to take care of yourself, regain confidence and control and have a positive experience of birth. Become an active partner in your care, after all you are the expert in you, your body and your baby.

Like running a marathon or preparing for an interview, practice is key to the end goal and birth is no different.

If you are pregnant or a birth partner in St Helens, I invite you to join me for ‘The Ultimate Birth Prep’ course starting next week

6 sessions dedicated to you and your birth.

Prioritise yourself and your care now, and your future self will thank you ☺️

08/01/2024

Back at this evening catching up on some admin. Feels lovely to be back working after a little while off, but a well needed rest! Had to get the brew in shot ☕️ really does look after us all with our personalised mugs 🥰

I’ll be replying to messages this evening so if you have any questions about any of the services offered please do get in touch.

04/01/2024

Some of us may strive for perfection because we think that’s what society expects of us. We go to baby groups and we are afraid to say we are struggling in case someone judges us. After all, everyone else seems to be nailing it, right!? Maybe you’re thinking, ‘How can I possibly say I’m finding this so difficult’ or ‘I must be the only one struggling, what am I doing wrong?’ Or, maybe we strive for perfection because our early experiences of parenting from our primary caregivers wasn’t so great and we want to parent our own children in a completely different way. Maybe for you, it’s something else.

I had an eye opening chat with someone this week and she shared something that made me realise I wasn’t alone in my parenting struggles and that berating myself for being anything less than perfect, was unhelpful in a magnitude of ways. Something that has really stuck for me, was this idea that you only need to get it right 30% of the time to make a significant difference to your little ones and their experience of care. It is ok and very normal to have struggles and days where parenting feels overwhelming. When you can’t give any where near 100%, particularly when many of us are working parents, functioning on minimal sleep, managing the demands of adult life and navigating our own struggles. We are only human and our stress buckets can get pretty full.

Which leads me to this idea of GOOD ENOUGH…

I suggest we strive for GOOD ENOUGH parenting, not perfectionism. I worry that this idea of perfection only sets unrealistic expectations for us as parents and makes us feel worse when we inevitably don’t meet this unrelenting standard. We are wearing many hats and spinning multiple plates as parents and our time and energy has to be managed accordingly, to ensure we can give enough to the things that matter.

I invite you to consider what ‘good enough’ looks like for you today and to be compassionate towards yourself with however you choose to answer this question.

I hope this notion of good enough parenting resonates with anyone who needs to hear this today. Be kind to yourself, you are doing your best and that’s good enough.

30/12/2023

New year, new branding! ✨

I’ve been a little quiet on here in recent months... 2023 was wonderful in so many ways but a little break to prioritise my own needs was well needed. Feeling refreshed, I will be returning to in January 2024 and I can’t wait to get back to what I love ☺️

S E R V I C E S 👇

All services will be offered on a Monday late afternoon/ evening, including 1:1 therapy and group Hypnobirthing courses.

Keep an eye on the feed for Hypnobirthing course dates 📅

1:1 therapy appointments are limited so please get in touch to discuss your needs if you feel this space would be helpful for you. I work with adults with a range of presenting difficulties and I offer everyone a free 15 minute call to check this is the right service for you.

Thank you to everyone who has booked with me and supported me and my small business in 2023 ☺️

16/09/2023

Parents and birthing people! Free taster session this Monday!

Book now at drmariamullan.co.uk/book

Places are limited so secure your spot today ☺️

16/09/2023

Parents and birthing people! Let’s talk about something incredible - the benefits of relaxation during parenthood and childbirth.

🌬️ Reduce Stress: Parenthood and pregnancy are incredible adventures, but they can also be challenging. Taking moments to relax helps you release stress and embrace the calm within. Your mental and emotional well-being matter! 🧘‍♀️

🤰 Empower Your Birth Experience: For birthing people, relaxation techniques like deep breathing and mindfulness can make a world of difference during labour. Embrace the power of your body and trust in your ability to bring new life into this world.

💤 Improve Sleep: Parents, I know those sleepless nights all too well! Relaxation helps improve sleep quality, ensuring you're well-rested to tackle the day's adventures with your little ones, feeling refreshed and ready.

❤️ Connect with Your Baby: During pregnancy, relaxation techniques can strengthen your bond with your unborn child. Take time to pause, breathe, and feel the love and connection that grows stronger each day. For parents, relaxation might be something as simple as a gentle massage or cuddle with your children and this time together can create precious moments of connection.

🌈 Enhance Emotional Well-being: Parenthood can be an emotional rollercoaster. Relaxation practices promote emotional balance, helping you navigate the ups and downs with compassion and resilience.

✨ Self-Care Matters: Remember, taking care of yourself isn't selfish; it's essential. By prioritising relaxation, you're ensuring that you can give your best to your little ones and cherish these precious moments.

So, whether it's a hot cup of tea, a soak in the bath, a guided practice, or simply taking a few deep breaths, let relaxation be your superpower on this incredible journey.

Share your favorite relaxation tips in the comments! Let's support each other on this journey 💞

11/09/2023

FREE TASTER SESSION

Join me this evening (Monday 11th September) for 45 minutes of guided relaxation. For all parents and birthing people.

Take time out of your busy week and protect some time for self-care. Rest and rejuvenate for the week ahead 🧘‍♀️

Two options:
1) Join in person at Pitter Patter Clinic (spaces are limited)
2) Join the live session online you will receive a link in advance of the session)

Both options available to book now https:// drmariamullan.co.uk/book or head to the link in my bio

Hypnobirthing course in St Helens, Online hypnobirthing, Postnatal support in St Helens

09/09/2023

The essential birth prep course! Starts tomorrow at Pitter Patter Clinic, St Helens.

Unsure? Swipe to hear how beneficial this course has been for others. It really is all done in the prep!

Last chance to book! £50 deposit secures your place. Click the link in my bio or head to my website drmariamullan.co.uk/ book to grab your spot.

If your in the later stages of pregnancy, the course starting tomorrow is perfect for you! We cover the content over two sessions instead of four, so you’ll have everything you need for moving into your birth space empowered and skilled!

Please do get in touch with any questions you have ☺️

04/09/2023

Thank you to everyone who joined me for my first relaxation session at Pitter Patter Clinic this evening ☺️

Tonight’s session had elements of mindfulness and a lovely guided relaxation taking the ladies on a calming stroll down the beach - the perfect end to a Monday filled with sunshine☀️

Sessions are running weekly so if you didn’t get a chance to come along this evening, I’d love for you to join next week. After a busy day, this is the perfect opportunity to relax into your evening and re-energise for the week ahead 🧘‍♀️

Open to all parents and birthing people

There is no commitment, sessions are PAYG so you can dip in and out as needed.

Booking link in bio 👆🏼

If you know someone who would benefit from this session, please share and tag them below 🫶🏻

01/09/2023

Guided relaxation starts Monday! For parents with children of any age, and expectant parents. 45 minute session, starting at 6.15pm Pitter Patter Clinic

Book now at drmariamullan.co.uk/book ☺️

15/08/2023

Lovely evening last night holding a reflective space for the Pitter Patter Clinic ladies , Laura (Talking Toolbox) and Faye from

It’s a great space to take time out of our busy working weeks to think about the impact of our work on us as individuals and to really consider how we can protect time for own self-care and wellbeing.

Feeling very lucky to have crossed paths with all of these amazing people 🥰

11/08/2023

New intensive hypnobirthing course added to the online booking system! Complete the course over 2x 6-hour teaching sessions instead of the usual four. In-person at Pitter Patter Clinic. (Please note the session times include breaks for refreshments) As always, if you have any questions do not hesitate to get in touch 😊

10/08/2023

Hypnobirthing course starting this Sunday at Pitter Patter Clinic!

4 sessions | 9.30am - 12.30pm
🔹13th August
🔹20th August
🔹27th August
🔹3rd September

Prepare for the birth of your baby with this 4 week Hypnobirthing and birth education course. Everything you need to feel CONFIDENT and EMPOWERED as you welcome your little one into the world.

✨Learn about your birth choices and start making INFORMED decisions about your care and the care of your baby
✨ Get to know your RIGHTS as a birthing person and feel CONFIDENT in communicating your wishes
✨ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FEARS around birth (yes, it’s very normal to have them!) and learn some invaluable skills to calm your mind and body to keep that oxytocin flowing ❤️
✨CONNECT with other birthing people in your area and start building your village in pregnancy
✨BIRTH PARTNERS - I’ve got you! This course is for you too. Know what to expect as your partner goes into labour, understand WHY it’s happening and learn how your presence alone can support the effective working of the uterus! 🤯the way our autonomic nervous system works really is incredible! Attending the course is a great opportunity to find out what else might support a positive pregnancy and birth experience for both you and your partner.

You can book direct using the link in my bio. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions!

If you know someone who could benefit from this course, please share and tag them in the comments 👇

08/08/2023

✨Positive Birth Story✨

Thank you to Cristiana and Ben for sharing their beautiful birth story.

A lovely example of how Hypnobirthing can support a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean)

Cristiana was under consultant led care with a history of high blood pressure in pregnancy. She learnt how to navigate the system and work alongside her care providers to influence her birth experience. Not only did this help her achieve her desired VBAC but her experience has had a positive impact on her postnatal recovery, her breastfeeding journey and her partner’s experience.

It’s a lovely read and I hope this helps anyone who is in a similar situation. If you know someone who would benefit from reading this story please share or tag them below 👇

It was a pleasure supporting you on this journey! and welcome to the world baby Martha! 💕

06/08/2023

Postnatal guided relaxation
Monday evening sessions, 6.15pm - 7.00pm
Join in person at Pitter Patter Clinic or join the live session online from the comfort of your own home.

Booking now https://drmariamullan.co.uk/book