Baby Activities




Baby Clinic


On Mondays, 12 - 1.30pm, Health Works invites you to our free ante-natal/post-natal advice clinics. We have homeopaths providing homeopathic information on pregnancy health issues; pain relief during labour; post-natal problems including breastfeeding and depression; newborn babycare including colic, fevers, rashes, teething; general childhood ailments and diseases.


We have a wide variety of complementary therapies that are ideally suited to pregnant women and their babies. Included are acupuncture, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, medical herbalism, nutritional therapy, osteopathy, reflexology, reiki and a wide range of massage therapies. We also carry out safe, natural methods of induction. The Baby clinics are a drop-in service for pregnant women and their partners and for parents with babies.


We also run weekly Baby Massage, Yoga and Pilates classes, and monthly Chatterbabies, Baby Signing workshops. Apart from being a fun time with your baby, these classes are an opportunity for you to meet other parents with similar age babies. Some of the people who joined our classes years ago are still meeting with each other now, and some are on to their second or even third babies.


For weekly ante/ postnatal yoga or pilates classes, see Pilates/Yoga.



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Baby Massage


A 4 week course for parents/carers and their babies. Run by Edwina Bailey a fully qualified, experienced holistic therapist who has a passion for body work and the therapeutic value of massage. Edwina has many years experience as a practising therapist as well as teaching holistic therapies at the local adult education centre. Baby massage is practised throughout the world, it's a wonderful way of spending quality time with your baby, strengthening the bond you have and promoting your baby's development by enhancing their:

  • Immune system
  • Creating sounder longer sleep
  • Helps regulate digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems
  • Helps relieve discomfort from gas and colic
  • ecreases the production of the stress hormones

If you are a new parent it is a great way of meeting other new parents whilst learning a skill which you can use throughout your child's development. Within the course Edwina also introduces you to the joys of aromatherapy and reflexology for your baby.


The 4 week Baby Massage course is on Mondays from 10.30 - 11.30am. This includes an information pack.


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Baby Pilates


Musculoskeletal pain in the pelvic and lower back area is common during pregnancy causing substantial distress and inhibited function.


The main reasons for the pain are either mechanical, due to the alteration in the posture required to carry the increasing mass of the growing baby; hormonal; or because of changes in the pelvic ligaments. The structure is then submitted to more stress throughout labour.


These factors are also the cause of a weak and damaged pelvic floor, post-natally. It is common for women to lose control of these muscles, which can lead to Stress Incontinence (the involuntary loss of urine whilst coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or doing similar activities).


The pelvic floor also contributes greatly to the integrity of the pelvis thus the weak, damaged pelvic floor and musculoskeletal system are closely related. It is important to address the strength and structure of the whole body, as well as the isolated pelvic floor, to prepare the body to deal with the physical demands of motherhood. Left un-addressed, the injuries will lead to further complications and pain.


Post-natal Pilates classes work on regaining the integrity of the deep muscle around the pelvis and abdominals to regain stability and strength. The Pilates principles of breath, concentration and centring also help relieve stress and the build up of tension in the neck and shoulders. Incorporating the baby into the class helps take the safe practises into everyday life, speeding up recovery and returning to pre-pregnancy physique


"After suffering symphysis pubis and pelvic dysfunction with two previous pregnancies, I was desperate to do something to get rid of the pain during pregnancy and after the birth of my baby. I also wanted to strengthen my lower back, pelvis and tone my abdomen. Health Works postnatal Pilates classes were recommended to me by my midwife and within 2 weeks of attending I felt stronger and the pain of SPD had greatly improved."


Health Works classes are relaxed and friendly (with the added benefit of being able to bring babies along if you want/need to) and Catarina gives an enormous amount of one-to-one support ensuring each person has exercises that concentrate on their specific area of weakness and helping to progress their strength each week.


I would highly recommended these classes as I have found that they not only work but are really enjoyable and fun too." Quote from Lyndsey Jackson, from the post natal pilates class with Baby Nye, 2007.


Baby Pilates is on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 - 11am or 11.30 - 12.30pm. Each class is £10 and we keep the numbers small so you get lots of individual attention. Try a drop in class first to see if you like it, then if you want to become a regular, you need to pay for six in advance, letting us know when you might be away, you don't have to pay for those classes.


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Baby Yoga

    The team:

Classes for the wellbeing of the new parent and baby.


The deep relaxation helps mums and dads cope with the stresses of parenting. Classes integrate postnatal stretches, use of yoga breathing techniques and in depth toning of muscles. Get back to your pre-pregnancy shape and fitness. Baby yoga helps you and your baby get to know each other, creating a joyful interaction. Your baby's behaviour will be more settled. The physical activity will help her/him sleep more deeply. Baby yoga will stimulate your baby's nervous and digestive system, alleviating common ailments like colic, crying and poor sleep.


Baby Yoga is on Thursdays 10 - 11am or 11.15 - 12.15pm. Each class is £10 and we keep the numbers small so you get lots of individual attention. Try a drop in class first to see if you like it, then if you want to become a regular, you need to pay for six in advance, letting us know when you might be away, you don't have to pay for those classes.


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Birth Kit

    The team:

Many women have benefited from natural labours using aromatherapy massage oils and/or homeopathic remedies. Homeopathy is a natural system of medicine that has no side effects and is completely safe. They do not harm the baby and can be used at any stage of labour.


The remedies work extremely quickly and effectively in labour. For example a labour attended recently seemed to have been going on for 2 days with the woman on all fours unable to move. She was exhausted, chilly and miserable. After giving Kali Carb, within a few minutes she was up and moving around, warmer, more cheerful and better able to cope. She continued to use remedies throughout the labour and was successfully delivered of a baby boy. A little preparation and study of a homeopathic birthing kit can facilitate a positive labour where the mother and birth partner can feel more in control.


The following 14 remedies are ideal in labour and it would be worth buying a THW (The Health Works) kit so as to be well prepared.


1. ACONITE

Often used for panic attacks, Aconite is needed when the mother is anxious, restless and fearful. She is convinced she and/or the baby will die. It can be used for a quick violent labour, which can have a shocking effect on mother and/or baby. It can also be used in newborns when they are immobilized with shock - the remedy can be held inside the baby's lower lip for a few seconds and then removed.


2. ARNICA

Homeopathy's most famous remedy - used for trauma and bruising. It is always prescribed after birth to promote healing - women recover incredibly quickly with Arnica. It is also useful in cases of haemorrhaging during or after labour.


3. BELLIS PERENNIS

This is known as the "arnica of the soft tissues". It is used for healing trauma and bruising to soft tissue areas like the womb, abdomen and perineum. These are all areas affected by the labour process so this remedy is used after giving birth especially when there has been a caesarian, forceps, episiotomy or tearing.


4. CALENDULA

The number one remedy for healing pus and wounds, eg tears, episiotomies, caesarians. Use in pill form taken internally; tincture form and diluted in water or a cream applied directly to the wound instead of anti-septic. Use calendula or chamomile cream on the baby's bottom as a nappy change cream instead of the usual ones containing heavy metals and suppressive ingredients. THW sell an organic hand-made organic chamomile cream that is excellent for baby's bottoms, sore breasts and skin in general.


5. CARBO VEG

The indications for this remedy are oxygen starvation of either the mother or the baby - they will be cold, limp, blue or pale looking. It is used in foetal distress cases by giving it to the mother, it will then cross the placenta quickly to reduce risk of asphyxia to the baby. It is also good for painful trapped wind after labour, particularly a caesarian.


6. CAULOPHYLLUM

A great remedy for inducing labour if you are overdue. Also sometimes women in labour experience ineffective contractions that stop/start, or the cervix fails to dilate. In this situation Caulophyllum can establish strong productive contractions.


7. CHAMOMILLA

Many people associate this remedy just with teething and colic - however, it is excellent for a bad-tempered, argumentative labouring woman who finds the pains so unbearable she wants to die.


8. HYPERICUM

This is known as the "arnica of the nerves" and is for healing damaged nerves after caesarians, episiotomies and epidurals. It also helps with the pain felt in the nerve rich areas that have experienced trauma during labour.


9. KALI CARB

Used for backache labours where the baby is in posterior presentation and most of the pain is felt in the back and thighs. This can be relieved by firm massage on the lower back. The mother is chilly after each contraction, irritable but needs you to be there for her.


10. KALI PHOS

An excellent remedy for exhaustion for both mother and birth partner. It can be crushed and dissolved in a bottle of mineral water and sipped at intervals.


11. PHYTOLACCA

This is essential for post-labour, for cracked, painful nipples. It has averted many a case of mastitis if taken in time - the early symptoms being fever, blocked milk ducts, swollen red lumps on the breast, occasional flu-like symptoms. Don't stop feeding, ring the N.C.T. breast feeding counsellor and a homeopath.


12. PULSATILLA

Needed when the mother gets weepy and clingy and seems generally helpless and childlike. She can't bear stuffy rooms and wants lots of fresh air and sympathy. This remedy can be used successfully between 33 and 38 weeks to turn a breech baby naturally and painlessly. It is entirely safe. Pulsatilla is also excellent for the baby blues - that period a few days after labour when every little thing produces tears from the highly hormonal/ emotional new mother. If she then goes on to become post-natally depressed, a THW homeopath can give her a course of specialized treatment involving constitutional and hormonal balancing remedies.


13. SECALE

Tends to be routinely used after the labour to help expel the placenta. If the woman decides to have Syntometrine then Secale can be used to antidote the injection immediately afterwards.


14. SEPIA

A great remedy for severe pains that cause a dragging heavy sensation in the pelvis. The woman is irritable, snappish and weepy.


Pulsatilla and Sepia are often used during pregnancy for all sorts of reasons - anxiety, piles, weepiness, morning sickness etc. A qualified THW homeopath would be able to choose the best remedies for your condition.


The following prescription is usually recommended after labour:-


Hypericum 200c morning

Calendula 200c lunch time

Bellis Perennis 200c p.m.

Arnica 200c night


Take the above for a week or so after delivery until more or less recovered.


Lastly, some women can feel traumatised by a birth with lots of medical treatment including painful internals, catheters etc. Staphisagria can help them to get over the anger, resentment and humiliation that can haunt a woman after such an experience. This is best prescribed by a qualified THW homeopath.


During labour the above 14 remedies can be given in single doses. If the correct remedy has been selected you should see an improvement within 5/10 minutes. If the symptoms start to relapse then repeat the remedy as often as needed. If the symptoms change then choose another remedy.


You can buy a ready made kit from The Health Works for £20. Homeopaths at THW can arrange an individual appointment for you and your birth partner to explain how to use the kit in more detail.


They can also provide a special pregnancy programme of homeopathic tissue salts that provide cellular nutrition for you and the baby during pregnancy.


After the birth, both you and the baby can benefit from constitutional homeopathic treatment. Your THW homeopath can give you advice about natural approaches to parenting and childhood ailments in general.



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Chatterbabies - Baby Signing


These sessions are based on the award-winning SIGN WITH YOUR BABY™ programme


Baby signing was developed by Dr Joseph Garcia, a U.S. child development expert. He saw how easily hearing babies of deaf parents learned sign language & noticed that these babies appeared less demanding than non-signing babies precisely because they could express their thoughts & needs more easily. He thought why shouldn't hearing parents of hearing babies enjoy the benefits of signing, too?


With signing you you no longer have to play a guessing game about what your child wants, thinks or feels.Your baby will be able to communicate much more to you than just his basic needs. They can say that they have seen a 'duck' in the pond or that they are glad it's 'bath' time. This is because babies gain control of their hands long before control of vocal chords & lip, tongue & teeth co-ordination for understandable speech.


Baby signing groups say that it helps promote early language development, as spoken words are always used at the same time as the sign is made. Learning to sign can help boost a baby's self-esteem & self-confidence while reducing frustration levels.


You will attend two workshops held on Saturdays, either at 10.30 - 12.30, or 1.30 - 3.30pm. The two workshops are spaced a couple of weeks apart so that you can practice in between. The fee is £40 for 1 parent and baby, £60 for 2 parents and baby, includes information pack and refreshments. For babies aged 5 - 18 months.


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