Volunteer Midwife – Antenatal Education & Maternal Estrangement

10 Nov

Written by Adina Belloli

Supporting expectant mothers navigating pregnancy, birth and early motherhood alongside maternal estrangement or a complicated relationship with their own mother.

Why this role matters

Pregnancy and becoming a mother can bring up complex emotions, particularly for women who are estranged from their mothers or have experienced difficult, painful, or emotionally complicated maternal relationships.

At The Motherless Mother (TMM), we recognise that not having the mother you need, whether through estrangement, emotional absence or a challenging relationship, can make the journey into motherhood feel especially vulnerable and isolating.

We are looking for a compassionate, qualified Midwife with personal lived experience of maternal estrangement or a complicated relationship with their own mother to help us develop and deliver specialist online antenatal education.

Working alongside our TMM Midwife, Steph, you'll help create a safe, understanding and supportive space where expectant mothers can prepare for birth and early motherhood while acknowledging the emotional challenges their own maternal relationships may bring.

Your contribution will help women feel seen, understood and better equipped to navigate this important transition, knowing they are not alone.

What you'll do

Collaborate with Steph, our volunteer Midwife, to develop and deliver specialist antenatal education for women experiencing maternal estrangement or complicated maternal relationships.
Help shape an antenatal session, lasting approximately one hour, with the possibility of expanding to two or three sessions depending on your availability.
Build on a midwifery-led session outline provided by Steph, weaving in the emotional and practical experiences associated with maternal estrangement.
Draw thoughtfully on your lived experience, alongside your professional midwifery knowledge, to help make the content relatable, sensitive and supportive.
Explore how difficult maternal relationships can affect pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, including feelings around identity, support, expectations and becoming a mother.
Help women recognise and understand complex emotions, including grief, sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety and the sense of loss that may arise during this transition.
Introduce practical coping tools, supportive strategies and relevant resources to help expectant mothers navigate these feelings and prepare for the postnatal period.
Create a compassionate and inclusive learning environment, where participants feel respected and supported without pressure to share personal experiences.
Work collaboratively with the TMM team to ensure the sessions reflect our values and the needs of the women we support.

What you'll bring

A professional background as a qualified Midwife, with an understanding of antenatal education, pregnancy, birth and postnatal care.
Personal lived experience of maternal estrangement or a complicated relationship with your own mother, and a willingness to draw on that experience in a thoughtful and boundaried way.
Empathy and sensitivity towards women navigating grief, loss, difficult family relationships and complex emotions.
A warm, compassionate and non-judgemental approach to supporting expectant mothers.
Confidence communicating sensitive topics clearly and accessibly, particularly in an online group setting.
An interest in creating practical, emotionally supportive resources that recognise the experiences of motherless mothers.
A collaborative and reliable approach, with a willingness to share ideas and work alongside other TMM volunteers.
An understanding of the importance of emotional safety, personal boundaries and recognising when additional support may be helpful.

You don't need previous experience of creating specialist antenatal courses. Whether you're an experienced educator or a Midwife interested in bringing your personal and professional experiences together in a meaningful way, we'd love to hear from you.

We recognise that everyone's experience of maternal estrangement is different, and there is no expectation to share more of your personal story than feels comfortable.

Time commitment

Flexible and project-based.

The initial commitment involves helping to prepare and deliver one online antenatal session lasting approximately one hour.

Depending on your availability and the needs of the course, there may be an opportunity to develop and deliver two or three sessions in total.

Some preparation and collaboration time with Steph will be needed ahead of the session, with flexibility around when this takes place.

The role is entirely voluntary and designed to fit around your existing professional and personal commitments.

What you'll get out of it

Make a meaningful difference to expectant mothers who may otherwise feel unseen or unsupported in traditional antenatal settings.
Use your lived experience for positive change, helping other women navigate challenges you may personally understand.
Contribute to a specialist antenatal programme that brings together midwifery knowledge and the emotional realities of maternal estrangement.
Develop experience in inclusive, emotionally sensitive antenatal education, including online course development and facilitation.
Connect with a compassionate community of volunteers who believe every mother deserves to feel supported.
Help shape TMM's growing resources, creating support that acknowledges the unique experiences of motherless mothers.

Most importantly, you'll be part of something that reminds women they deserve care, understanding and connection as they become mothers, regardless of the relationship they have with their own.

Adina Belloli https://www.adinabelloli.com

Volunteer Midwife – Antenatal Education & Maternal Estrangement

Supporting expectant mothers navigating pregnancy, birth and early motherhood alongside maternal estrangement or a complicated relationship with their own mother.

Why this role matters

Pregnancy and becoming a mother can bring up complex emotions, particularly for women who are estranged from their mothers or have experienced difficult, painful, or emotionally complicated maternal relationships.

At The Motherless Mother (TMM), we recognise that not having the mother you need, whether through estrangement, emotional absence or a challenging relationship, can make the journey into motherhood feel especially vulnerable and isolating.

We are looking for a compassionate, qualified Midwife with personal lived experience of maternal estrangement or a complicated relationship with their own mother to help us develop and deliver specialist online antenatal education.

Working alongside our TMM Midwife, Steph, you'll help create a safe, understanding and supportive space where expectant mothers can prepare for birth and early motherhood while acknowledging the emotional challenges their own maternal relationships may bring.

Your contribution will help women feel seen, understood and better equipped to navigate this important transition, knowing they are not alone.

What you'll do

Collaborate with Steph, our volunteer Midwife, to develop and deliver specialist antenatal education for women experiencing maternal estrangement or complicated maternal relationships.

Help shape an antenatal session, lasting approximately one hour, with the possibility of expanding to two or three sessions depending on your availability.

Build on a midwifery-led session outline provided by Steph, weaving in the emotional and practical experiences associated with maternal estrangement.

Draw thoughtfully on your lived experience, alongside your professional midwifery knowledge, to help make the content relatable, sensitive and supportive.

Explore how difficult maternal relationships can affect pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, including feelings around identity, support, expectations and becoming a mother.

Help women recognise and understand complex emotions, including grief, sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety and the sense of loss that may arise during this transition.

Introduce practical coping tools, supportive strategies and relevant resources to help expectant mothers navigate these feelings and prepare for the postnatal period.

Create a compassionate and inclusive learning environment, where participants feel respected and supported without pressure to share personal experiences.

Work collaboratively with the TMM team to ensure the sessions reflect our values and the needs of the women we support.

What you'll bring

A professional background as a qualified Midwife, with an understanding of antenatal education, pregnancy, birth and postnatal care.

Personal lived experience of maternal estrangement or a complicated relationship with your own mother, and a willingness to draw on that experience in a thoughtful and boundaried way.

Empathy and sensitivity towards women navigating grief, loss, difficult family relationships and complex emotions.

A warm, compassionate and non-judgemental approach to supporting expectant mothers.

Confidence communicating sensitive topics clearly and accessibly, particularly in an online group setting.

An interest in creating practical, emotionally supportive resources that recognise the experiences of motherless mothers.

A collaborative and reliable approach, with a willingness to share ideas and work alongside other TMM volunteers.

An understanding of the importance of emotional safety, personal boundaries and recognising when additional support may be helpful.

You don't need previous experience of creating specialist antenatal courses. Whether you're an experienced educator or a Midwife interested in bringing your personal and professional experiences together in a meaningful way, we'd love to hear from you.

We recognise that everyone's experience of maternal estrangement is different, and there is no expectation to share more of your personal story than feels comfortable.

Time commitment

Flexible and project-based.

The initial commitment involves helping to prepare and deliver one online antenatal session lasting approximately one hour.

Depending on your availability and the needs of the course, there may be an opportunity to develop and deliver two or three sessions in total.

Some preparation and collaboration time with Steph will be needed ahead of the session, with flexibility around when this takes place.

The role is entirely voluntary and designed to fit around your existing professional and personal commitments.

What you'll get out of it

Make a meaningful difference to expectant mothers who may otherwise feel unseen or unsupported in traditional antenatal settings.

Use your lived experience for positive change, helping other women navigate challenges you may personally understand.

Contribute to a specialist antenatal programme that brings together midwifery knowledge and the emotional realities of maternal estrangement.

Develop experience in inclusive, emotionally sensitive antenatal education, including online course development and facilitation.

Connect with a compassionate community of volunteers who believe every mother deserves to feel supported.

Help shape TMM's growing resources, creating support that acknowledges the unique experiences of motherless mothers.

Most importantly, you'll be part of something that reminds women they deserve care, understanding and connection as they become mothers, regardless of the relationship they have with their own.

Pro Bono Social Media Agency Partner

We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive space where all women navigating motherhood without a mother are welcome—regardless of race, identity, background or circumstance.