Mums ‘me time’ at Mama Sanctuary
ASANCTUARY for mums is opening up to help women have some ‘me time’.
The Mama Sanctuary aims to be a ‘pregnancy and motherhood hub’ offering everything from baby scans to beauty therapy.
The first floor will host regular pregnancy, antenatal classes, baby first aid courses, hypnobirthing courses, maternity photography, sling libraries, mum and baby classes, breastfeeding support and more.
It’s the brainchild of mum-of-six Rachael Kirkwood, who knows only too well how difficult and isolating it can be for new mums.
She’s hoping the new centre, a two-storey building between the new Redrock Development and Stockport’s upcoming Old Town area, will be the ‘epitome of self-care’ and offer mums much-needed services in a non-judgemental environment.
Rachael’s aim is to create a ‘relaxing, luxurious and indulgent space where you can get a break from typical mum life and escape the four walls without the guilt of leaving the children with family or a babysitter’.
The hair and beauty salon will have sociable booths where you can have treatments while chatting to a friend, professional childcare staff and monitors for mums to check on their babies, or for those wanting to keep them close by, there’ll be space for bouncers next to treatment chairs and staff on hand to help soothe unsettled babies.
With four of her children under three years old and suffering a bout of postnatal depression when her twins were born, founder Rachael understands how difficult it can be for mums to take time out for themselves.
Founder Rachael, who is waiting for the council to confirm change of use for the building but hopes to have the venue open by the end of November, said: “This is something I’ve dreamt about for a long time - as a mum, I still want to look nice.
“Being a mum can be very challenging, lonely you often feel like you’ve lost your identity and can struggle to get out of the house with a baby or toddler.
“As [parenting podcaster] Giovanna Fletcher says ‘a happy mum makes a happy baby’, your wellbeing matters. Thinking about going to a salon with a baby has always given me a great deal of anxiety.
“What would I do if they cried, what would I do if my nails were wet and I couldn’t pick her up, what about the toxic smell? You don’t need to worry about any of those things - we’ve got it all covered.
“This will be a place you can go to, where other mums are in the same boat. You can still look nice, and you can bring baby with you.
“Not all new mums want to leave their baby with someone else. Here you will have the option.
“Nobody is going to judge you for still wanting to look nice - who says becoming a mum means you have to stop doing everything you did before.
“I’ve designed the whole building myself. I hope it brings lots of mums together, gives you the chance to meet some new friends, makes your life a little bit easier and gives you the chance to relax.
“I know it sounds too good to be true, but it will be here very soon. There’s a lot of work involved, but it will be worth it.”