Maricarmenfitness

This morning on with I gave our full backing as the new National Maternity Advisor. A huge thank you to and .thompson for pushing tirelessly for this.

Michelle is the right person. She has the lived experience, the credibility, and the conviction. At , we’re behind her.

But Michelle cannot fix this alone.

The government cut maternity safety funding from £95 million to just £2 million last year, a 98% cut. Meanwhile, £1.3 billion was paid out in negligence claims. (https://rcm.org.uk/media-releases/2025/04/shocking-budget-cuts-will-compromise-the-delivery-of-safe-maternity-care-in-every-way-says-rcm/)

So my message to government is simple: if you appoint someone to lead change, fund them to deliver it.
has our support. Now she needs yours.

The BBC reported this week on self-described baby “experts” giving advice online with no qualifications and no evidence base. Advice that could put babies at risk. It’s dangerous. And it needs proper regulation.

But the harder question is why mothers end up there in the first place. Not because they’re naive. Because they’re exhausted, frightened, and out of places to turn. Because the baby won’t sleep, the reflux is real, and the next appointment is weeks away, if there is one at all.

This is not a criticism of midwives or the NHS. They are holding maternity care together with their bare hands. It is a criticism of a system so stretched that mothers are being pushed into the arms of strangers online for advice that should come from someone trained, regulated, and accountable.

When there’s no trusted voice between appointments, someone else will fill the silence every time.
That’s the gap Matresa is being built for.

We need tighter regulation of who can give advice to pregnant and postpartum women. And we need to stop pretending the demand for it is the mother’s failing. It’s the system’s.

The postnatal check is such an important appointment for mothers yet the majority of the appointment is focused on the babies health. This is important too but around about this time postnatally mothers are at one of the hardest points in their recovery; two months of sleep deprivation, many still in pain and for many at a point right before emotional weight really starts to land.

So a simple “how are you feeling is not good enough” we all know the shocking statistics with 1 in 5 mothers experiencing perinatal mental health issues and su***de being the leading cause of death for mothers So there is even more of a reason to make sure mothers are assessed properly at this check.

What was your experience? ⬇️ 💛

A year ago today I should have signed an investment deal but overnight the rug got taken underneath me so quickly. I remember coming home to my mum and Brett and literally bursting into tears, I didn’t know what to do and had no idea how I would make this work. I felt sick with anxiety and so lost. I remember sitting with one of my business mentors and even he swore a few times and placed his head in his hands.

I dusted myself off again and leaned into it, I remember saying to myself “trust the process” there is a reason for this, no matter how painful it was. A few months passed we thought we would have overcome the blocker for the investment but another curve ball was thrown at our way. For context this was now July- yes it took 6 months to get to this point.

I found out this news on holiday in Alcudia last year on our last night. My husband said “gosh someone really is having a pop at you” honestly it felt like someone/something was just trying to stop me getting this deal.

Again, dusted myself off and went again. This was the final chance, I couldn’t put me or my family through it. Financially things were getting a bit tight. But I just knew deep down inside me this was going to happen, the meeting opportunities came and the people wanting to sit round my table upleveled millions of times. I knew I was onto something.

As I write this (full disclosure sat in my bath trying to get warmth from taking A to football training) reflecting on the last year. If I had listened to that voice inside of my head or the doubters along the way (there was plenty, and there still are) I would have stopped. But I know with every cell in my body I was put on this earth to make huge impact.

It’s happening, and I will share more over the coming weeks. Why am I sharing this, because if you have a burning desire in your gut to do something then just do it. Trust yourself and follow your intuition, I PROMISE it will be ok. Plus it’s the year of the horse and not just a horse the FIRE 🔥 horse

Love

Mari-Carmen x

There is so much information out there for mums but some things are just not talked about. Still motherhood is set out to be a glamorous and joyful time, but we know this isn’t the case for many mums.

What do you wish you was told before you gave birth? 👇

✨ Monday Evening HIIT – but not as scary as it sounds ✨

HIIT can sound intimidating… but our Monday night class is welcoming, supportive, and suitable for all abilities 💛

Every exercise comes with adaptations, so whether you’re just getting back into movement or you love a challenge, you’ll feel comfortable, capable, and encouraged from start to finish.

💥 Why HIIT?
✔️ Improves fitness & strength
✔️ Boosts metabolism
✔️ Time-efficient (big results in less time)
✔️ Great for energy, confidence & stress relief

And the best bit?
👯‍♀️ Women-only class
❌ No intimidating gym environment
❌ No hefty gym membership
💷 PAYG – no long-term commitment

📍 St Chads Centre, Bishops Tachbrook
🕢 Mondays 7.30pm (term time only)

🎉 First class = FREE trial 🎉
Come along, try it out, and see how good moving your body can feel in the right space with the right people.

👉 DM to book your free trial spot – spaces are limited 💪✨

Another January.
Another quiet promise to “put myself first”…
And somehow, life gets louder instead.

The kids need you.
The house needs you.
Work needs you.
And before you know it, you’re back at the bottom of the list.

If you’re a mum who wants to feel healthier, stronger, more like herself again —
but honestly doesn’t know where to start…
this is for you.

Not a reset.
Not a glow-up.
Not perfection.

Just 8 weeks of realistic support, built around real motherhood.
Short sessions.
No guilt.
No pressure.
Just a place to begin — and not feel alone doing it.

You’re not failing.
You’re just carrying a lot.

If this January feels heavy, come and do this with me.
I’ll help you take the first step.

💛 Join my 8-week challenge — message me the word HEALTH and we will schedule a call, no hard sell just an honest supportive conversation. I only have space for 5 mums this challenge 🙏🏻