The National Childbirth Trust

Lauren Clark

Lauren Clark

Lauren Clark

My Story

In April this year I will be running my first ever Marathon - TCS London Marathon, no less and I am aiming to raise £2000.00 for The National Childbirth Trust (NCT). 

In September 2021 Jake and I welcomed our beautiful son into the world and NCT supported us throughout pregnancy, birth and post-natally too, which is why I want to raise vital funds for them. 

Whatever your journey to parenthood - whether you have been trying to conceive for years or it's a complete surprise, it is hard to prepare for the emotional and practical challenges of being pregnant and becoming parents. The support which NCT provided for us was invaluable, from group sessions on labour and birth, breastfeeding support and emotional wellbeing to safe sleep and facilitating social connections with other couples. Our membership provided education, comfort and reassurance for us and I cannot imagine having coped without it. 

More recently, my beloved sister and her husband, Laurie, welcomed their son into the world, a little earlier than expected. Unfortunately, their experience was not as straightforward as it may have been as Katie developed pre-eclampsia at week 30. Thankfully, Katie's symptoms were not severe on the surface but they were significant enough for her to be admitted to hospital right up to the birth of Oliver so that mother and baby could be more closely monitored. 

One moment Katie was attending a routine antenatal appointment and the next she was rushed to hospital, where she would remain until she became a mother. All elements of control and predictability were suddenly stripped away and it was extremely isolating and overwhelming, emotionally for both Katie and Laurie. 

Their NCT mmebership provided a level of support which would have otherwise been absent, enabling them to feel connected and reassured - the emotional support which their group provided was truly invaluable and really carried them through some very gloomy and uncertain days. They had a what's app group with other couples and they really felt that everyone was routing for them. 

Oliver arrived at week 33 and after a short stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, they were discharged home to start their new chapter as a family of 3. 

I feel so proud of Katie and Laurie and have no doubt that NCT has played a hugely influencial role in the fact that they are all doing so amazingly well. 

The National Childbirth Trust

Raising for:

The National Childbirth Trust
43%

Funded

  • Target
    £2,000
  • Raised so far
    £864
  • Number of donors
    22

My Story

In April this year I will be running my first ever Marathon - TCS London Marathon, no less and I am aiming to raise £2000.00 for The National Childbirth Trust (NCT). 

In September 2021 Jake and I welcomed our beautiful son into the world and NCT supported us throughout pregnancy, birth and post-natally too, which is why I want to raise vital funds for them. 

Whatever your journey to parenthood - whether you have been trying to conceive for years or it's a complete surprise, it is hard to prepare for the emotional and practical challenges of being pregnant and becoming parents. The support which NCT provided for us was invaluable, from group sessions on labour and birth, breastfeeding support and emotional wellbeing to safe sleep and facilitating social connections with other couples. Our membership provided education, comfort and reassurance for us and I cannot imagine having coped without it. 

More recently, my beloved sister and her husband, Laurie, welcomed their son into the world, a little earlier than expected. Unfortunately, their experience was not as straightforward as it may have been as Katie developed pre-eclampsia at week 30. Thankfully, Katie's symptoms were not severe on the surface but they were significant enough for her to be admitted to hospital right up to the birth of Oliver so that mother and baby could be more closely monitored. 

One moment Katie was attending a routine antenatal appointment and the next she was rushed to hospital, where she would remain until she became a mother. All elements of control and predictability were suddenly stripped away and it was extremely isolating and overwhelming, emotionally for both Katie and Laurie. 

Their NCT mmebership provided a level of support which would have otherwise been absent, enabling them to feel connected and reassured - the emotional support which their group provided was truly invaluable and really carried them through some very gloomy and uncertain days. They had a what's app group with other couples and they really felt that everyone was routing for them. 

Oliver arrived at week 33 and after a short stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, they were discharged home to start their new chapter as a family of 3. 

I feel so proud of Katie and Laurie and have no doubt that NCT has played a hugely influencial role in the fact that they are all doing so amazingly well.