Pictured (left to right), alongside Maternal Journal artwork at Pinderfields Hospital: Diane Saxon (The Art House Arts and Health Programme Manager), Rebecca Thomas (Lead Perinatal Specialist Midwife), June Lee (Mid Yorkshire Maternity Matron) and Dr Jessica Bradley (University of Sheffield Researcher and Evaluator).
The School of Education has partnered with The maternity team at the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust and The Art House, Wakefield on a project to encourage residents to use art, writing and poetry to capture their pregnancy and post-natal journey, through the journaling movement, Maternal Journal.
Laura Godfrey-Isaacs, NHS midwife, artist, and founder of Maternal Journal, describes the process of this creative outlet, saying: “Maternal Journal is a movement to help find a way to process and express the new feelings and challenges we might experience, both physically and emotionally, through pregnancy, birth and new parenthood. Nurturing your creativity can be beneficial for your mental health and overall well-being and everyone can have a go – it’s all about the process.”
Thanks to a donation of art supplies from The Art House, women and birthing people attending Pinderfields Hospital for antenatal and postnatal appointments will be offered the opportunity to create their own pieces of art, using a variety of resources and tools to symbolise their individual journey.
Workshop attendees produced some beautiful pieces of artwork thanks to some funding from the University of Sheffield Faculty of Social Sciences, and framed as part of The Art House's funding. These have been donated to Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust for display within Pinderfields’ maternity department.
Researcher and evaluator Dr Jessica Bradley, of the School of Education said: “Our research demonstrates the powerful role that journaling and community can play in supporting women and babies”.
Find out more at maternaljournal.org or @maternaljrnl across social media.
