What to Expect from the Maternity Support Hub Sessions
At the London School of Childcare Studies, we know that working as a maternity nurse can be both rewarding and isolating. To help provide connection, guidance, and ongoing professional development, the Maternity Support Hub offers a welcoming space for current students, recent graduates, and experienced practitioners to come together, share experiences, and learn from one another. In this conversation, Julie Hegginbottom, who leads the hub sessions, speaks with Iris about how the hub works, what participants can expect, and why creating a sense of community in this profession makes such a difference.
Purpose of the Support Hub
Julie: The Maternity Support hub has various roles. In the sessions, we have people at different stages — experienced maternity nurses, those who have only been working for a short period, and others who are completely new to the role.
One thing I know from being a maternity nurse is that it can be quite an isolating job. It can be emotionally stressful and challenging, and there’s also the practical side — the long hours and having to work through things on your own.
The Maternity Support Hub sessions allow us to come together with people who have different experience levels, knowledge, and skill sets, so we can support one another.
For example, someone might be supporting a family with something quite new — perhaps they haven’t worked with twins before. If someone with that experience joins, they can share their knowledge and lived experience, which is really helpful. We go through real-life things that are happening.
It’s also a little community space where we can talk naturally. It’s not always about the job — it can be as simple as, “How are you doing? Where are you based? What’s your support network like?” It’s not formal in that sense.
Topics and Case Scenarios
Julie: We sometimes go through case scenarios to discuss and reflect on.
For instance, you might be supporting a new mum who’s experiencing postnatal depression and has had some birth trauma. We explore the challenges this presents for the maternity nurse and for the parents, and we discuss how to best support them.
When we talk about postnatal depression, we might also cover support networks and what guidance is available — drawing on our experience of working with different organisations.
Sometimes maternity nurses themselves request topics. A few months ago, we looked at safe sleeping advice to make sure everyone was up to date with the latest guidance. We’ve also discussed routines, breastfeeding, and other relevant areas.
Structure and Attendance
Julie: Attendance varies — sometimes there are quite a few nurses, sometimes only a couple, and occasionally just me.
When that happens, I still provide one-to-one support if needed. If someone doesn’t feel comfortable asking a question in front of everyone, I’ll happily arrange a private session.
Another key part of the hub is supporting students who are working on their assignments.
Many students either haven’t studied before, or it’s been a long time since they last did. Some are balancing study with working as a maternity nurse or caring for their own families.
We use the hub to talk through assignments, and those who have already completed certain parts can share their experiences — what they found challenging, what helped them, and any tips they can offer.
It’s a real mix of people: those just starting, those halfway through, those finishing, as well as both new and experienced nurses. We also have participants joining from outside the UK — one student regularly joins while travelling, which shows how flexible the hub can be.
Creating a Community
Iris: It’s really important to have that sense of community. Also, for alumni who’ve completed the course, one of the best ways to consolidate learning is to talk to others and explain it in your own words.
Julie: Exactly. The clue is in the name — it really is a capsule support session.
For many childcare jobs, you can easily connect with others, but as a maternity nurse — especially at the start — you might be working 24 hours a day, six days a week, sometimes even more. Access to professional community support is difficult in that kind of setting.
So, this hub is about creating that online community and ensuring everyone has a space to connect.
Iris: It’s so important to feel like you have support. I work from home, and it can get lonely without colleagues to talk to.
Julie: Yes, and this is also an opportunity to ask the questions you might feel you should already know the answers to.
Students at any stage — no matter what course they’re on — are always learning something new. Someone will often share something we didn’t know, or we’ll ask them to explain their approach, which gives everyone new perspectives on challenges and how they can be handled.
That continued learning is vital. It keeps your practice growing, especially with new research and information constantly emerging. The hub is a good space to explore that together.
Flexibility and Format
Julie: We also encourage nurses to suggest topics in advance, so I can prepare content that’s relevant.
We have an hour scheduled, but not everyone stays for the full session. We’re flexible — if someone wants to discuss a specific issue, we’ll start with that and move to the case scenario afterward, time permitting.
Some students use the hub for a bit of extra information to support their assignments, which is great.
Iris: That’s really interesting. It sounds like it’s tailored to the learner’s needs, which is so beneficial.
Julie: Yes, and people can join for however long suits them. Some might arrive ten minutes late, or only have twenty minutes to spare.
Sessions are usually at seven o’clock, and I’ll stay on until around twenty past, even if nobody joins straight away. If someone only has a short time, I’ll prioritise what they want to cover.
Iris: That’s reassuring. Many people worry about having to commit to the full hour.
Julie: There’s absolutely no pressure. People can drop in and out depending on their schedule — work, home life, whatever’s going on.
Encouragement to Join
Iris: What would you say to someone who’s thinking of joining but isn’t sure yet?
Julie: I’d say, come and introduce yourself — even if it’s just for five minutes to say hello. That’s completely fine.
The sessions aren’t formal teaching; they’re about conversation. You can talk about what you’re doing, where you’re at, and what kind of support you might need.
If someone isn’t ready to join a session, they can email me first with any questions. And if they join but need to leave early that’s never a problem — nobody minds.
