The new mother and baby group supporting parental well-being!
Have you ever heard the term ‘missed miscarriage’? Many people haven’t, including Shiarn Land, who learned about it only after experiencing two herself. This journey inspired her to create Luna Babies, a new mother and baby group in Norfolk focused on supporting parents alongside their babies.
Shiarn, a 33-year-old mum to her eight-month-old daughter, Elodie, launched Luna Babies shortly after Elodie’s arrival. With over a decade of experience in holistic beauty treatments, she blends her expertise in massage and Reiki with her personal journey to help parents find balance during the chaotic early days of parenthood.
While the focus is often on the baby, Shiarn believes that it’s after birth when parents truly need support. According to the UK government, postnatal depression affects one in ten new mothers. After Elodie was born, Shiarn faced her own struggles, including postnatal depression, anxiety, and even rage. “I felt guilty for feeling down,” she shares. “I had this gorgeous baby and had been through so much to get her, yet I was overwhelmed by anxiety and anger. Postnatal anxiety and depression is more common in women who have had fertility struggles.” This experience motivated her to help others who might feel the same.
At Luna Babies, the aim is to create a warm community where both parents and babies feel cared for. “I’ve attended many baby groups, but they primarily focused on the babies. At Luna Babies, I ensure parents are looked after too,” Shiarn emphasises. “I want parents to leave feeling nurtured, relaxed, and connected, knowing they’re not alone in this journey.” In addition to baby massage, the group features meditation sessions tailored for parents and plans to offer mini scalp massages—because who couldn’t use a little pampering after a sleepless night?
Reflecting on her experience, Shiarn says, “Missed miscarriage is heartbreaking and often leaves women feeling isolated. It felt like a close family member had died, but with no funeral or closure, while life carried on as normal.”
After sharing her experience online, she was overwhelmed by responses from men and women who felt unable to speak. “It showed how common this is and how much support is needed. My husband and I had three losses in a year, which strained our marriage. Support from loved ones is vital, and for some, counselling helps. If you know someone going through this, just listen.”
Currently, there are no official statistics on missed miscarriages in the UK. Kate Davies, Associate Director of Information and Support at Tommy’s, the pregnancy and baby charity, highlights the urgency of this issue: “No official miscarriage statistics are collected in the UK, making it impossible to know how many families are affected each year. Many aren’t even aware that you can experience a ‘missed miscarriage,’ when your baby dies in your womb without any symptoms.” Tommy’s has launched the Every Loss Counts campaign to advocate for the government to record all miscarriages.
As a mother who has experienced missed miscarriage and postnatal depression, Shiarn knows the importance of support. “I have lots of plans for the class, but right now we focus on baby massage and meditation. At the end of each session, babies play while parents take some time for themselves. I’ve learned that when we are stressed, the baby feels it too—so it’s vital to focus on the parent as well. The class may only last an hour and 15 minutes, but it can really help with postnatal depression.”
Classes at Luna Babies are held every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 AM. The introductory offer is £35 for four sessions, available until the end of the year. Discounts are available for NHS staff. Sessions take place at Blundeston Village Hall and Top Body Gym in Gorleston.
If you or anyone you know is affected by postnatal depression or miscarriage, organisations such as Tommy’s and Mind offer valuable resources. For support, visit their websites or helplines.
For more information on Luna Babies, visit their Instagram and Facebook page at @lunababies.norfolk or
check out the website at www.lunaglowbeauty.co.uk