Volunteers

Roshnii
I moved to Brighton & Hove in 2007 to teach at an alternative primary school. I live here with my best friend and husband, Premasagar. In the early hours of a December morning in 2008, I gave birth at home to my son Surya. His name, meaning the Sun in Sanskrit, fits him very well. He is a bright little ray of light, full of smiles.

I am interested in parenting with connection and awareness; child-led learning; and communicating in a way that is authentic, empathic and empowering.

As well as being a mama, I find inspiration through creative writing, meditation, learning languages, digital photography, art and singing. I am getting a real buzz out of helping to set up BubHub as I have found it so important to have a supportive community around me as I navigate the joys and challenges of being a parent.

Crimbo
My little boo was born at home on the 29th June 2008 just before 6 in the morning. I had been so preoccupied/scared by the birth I hadn’t given the parenting much thought. I thought once my baby came along things would take care of themselves. I expected little Louis to sleep in his cot, to rest in his pram when I went for walks and that I’d probably breastfeed for about a year.

Here I am 16 months on with a gorgeous, thoughtful little man who loves to breastfeed at his leisure, is just getting used to resting in his pushchair but still enjoys being carried and who loves nothing more than to sleep with his mum and dad, waking us up in the morning for a kiss and cuddle.

It took me a long time to come around to his way of thinking, at first I couldn’t understand how I was supposed to function having been woken up all night. Finding this wonderful group of women who were also following their instincts was a fantastic revelation for me. Rather than feeling guilty for not training my baby to like his cot/ formula/ pushchair I discovered a group of supportive friends who were also trying to find a way to balance their babies’ needs with their own.

It was great to admit that it was fine to let my baby to sleep with me, to feed him to sleep and to carry him around because I didn’t like to let him cry, if that’s what I needed to do.

I can’t agree with Stef more, breastfeeding took me several months to get to grips with but now, 18 months on, I don’t want to give it up. It is great for soothing Louis, for snacking, and it certainly helps me to just sit down and to put time aside for me and my baby. Most importantly when I am really struggling with sleepless nights and feeling very challenged, lying down with my baby and feeding him always brings a feeling of connection and peace which calms us both down and puts everything back in perspective.

I really hope that Bubhub can bring to other parents that sense of acceptance and support that has been so important to me since the birth of my baby boy.

Sophie
When many people ask me why I moved to Hove from the Pacific North West Coast of Canada, I always respond that it was for love. I came here to be with my partner in 2005, with the plan of persuading him to return back to Vancouver with me in the not too distant future… little did I know that that love would just keep on growing to include a sense of home, community and now our little one, born at home in mid-September 2008.

As an artist and maker I have found nothing more inspiring than the challenges and practicalities of parenthood to lead me into ever more curious and wonderful realms of production. Homemade toys, clothes and carriers, songs, games… motherhood is definitely my greatest creative project to date!

Stefanie
Stefanie is part of the Brighton & Hove Breastfeeding Peer Support Network, which provides informal mum-to-mum support in particular for women establishing breastfeeding.

Despite having struggled to get to grips with breastfeeding for quite some time she believes that there’s no more convenient and let alone healthy way to feed your baby – at home or on the go – all you need is boobs.

Caren’s bio coming soon…