Pregnancy and baby loss affects many families across the UK, yet it is still rarely spoken about openly. This post shares why Mothers Recharge is running for SANDS, raising awareness and supporting those affected.

Some parts of motherhood are visible. And some are not. At Mothers Recharge, we spend a lot of time talking about the day-to-day. The mental load. The need for rest. The importance of having space to pause. But there are also parts of motherhood that sit much deeper. Experiences that are often held quietly, and not always spoken about. Pregnancy and baby loss is one of them.

For me, this is something I’ve thought about long before becoming a mother. Living with endometriosis, there was always a level of uncertainty around what starting a family might look like. Whether it would be straightforward. Whether it would take time. Whether it would be possible at all. It’s not something you carry loudly, but it sits there in the background. A quiet awareness that things don’t always go to plan.

And the reality is, for many women, they don’t. In the UK, around 1 in 6 pregnancies ends in miscarriage. Every day, around 13 babies die before, during or shortly after birth. These numbers are difficult to sit with, but they reflect something real, something that affects far more families than we often realise. Part of the challenge is how rarely these experiences are spoken about openly.

For some, this will feel close to home. For others, it may be something you haven’t thought about before. Either way, it matters.

This felt like the right moment for us to come together as a growing community and do something that goes beyond our sessions. Some of us will be running as Team Mothers Recharge to support Sands. Not as a challenge or a milestone, but as a way of raising awareness and standing alongside something that deserves more visibility. Anyone who feels connected to this is welcome to join in supporting, whether that’s by running alongside us or contributing to the fundraising.

SANDS supports anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby. They provide support, guidance, and connection at a time when many feel completely alone.

This isn’t something that sits outside of our community. It sits within it. Because motherhood doesn’t follow one path. It doesn’t look the same for everyone. And not every experience is visible or shared openly. There are women navigating uncertainty. Women carrying grief. Women holding questions that don’t always have answers. And often, those experiences go unspoken.

Running, for those who choose to take part, is a way of acknowledging that. By recognising that support should exist for all parts of motherhood, not just the ones we find easier to talk about. This is part of the same reason Mothers Recharge exists, to make sure mothers feel supported, seen, and not alone in whatever they’re carrying. Whether that’s through shared space, conversation, or simply having somewhere to pause, that support shows up in different ways.

This run is for awareness. For support. For creating a small moment of visibility around something that is often kept in the background.

If you’d like to support, you can do so here:
[https://fundraising.sands.org.uk/fundraisers/mothersrecharge]

In support of everyone mother, and every baby remembered.

If you’ve been thinking about coming to Mothers Recharge but you’re not sure what to expect, this guide is for you.

Mothers Recharge is a weekly sauna and cold plunge meet-up in Camberwell for women who need a moment to themselves. Motherhood is incredible and it can also be a lot: the tiredness, the constant giving, the mental load that never really switches off. This is your space to press pause. To breathe, warm up in the sauna, try the cold plunge if you feel up for it (always optional), and be around women who get it.

Why Mothers Recharge exists
Mothers Recharge was created from my own lived experience of motherhood. I needed a break, but so much of what was available felt centred on the baby, not the mother. I wanted a space that cared for the person doing the caring. That’s the heart of Mothers Recharge: maternal wellness, community, and rest that doesn’t have to be earned.

The basics
When: Thursdays, 12:00–1:30pm
Where: Ruskin Park, SE5 8EL (Camberwell)
Length: 90 minutes
Format: Free-flow (no pressure, no strict schedule)
Showers: Available on site (bring toiletries if you’d like to shower after)
Walk-ins: Only if there’s capacity. Pre-booking is recommended.
Refunds: Tickets are refundable if cancelled at least 24 hours before the session.

What “free-flow” actually means
This isn’t a class with a timetable. Free-flow means you choose your own pace: you decide how many sauna rounds you do (including just one), take breaks whenever you want, chat or stay quiet, and step out at any time to rejoin when you’re ready. There’s nothing to keep up with. The session is designed to meet you where you are.

What happens when you arrive
You’ll check in, get settled, and take a moment to land. If you’re new to sauna spaces, you don’t need to know anything in advance. Starting gently is perfect.

Because it’s free-flow, everyone’s session looks a little different. Most women naturally move through something like this:

1. Warm up (sauna): short round or long round. It’s up to you.

2. Cool down (fresh air + rest): step outside, breathe, sit, and let your body settle.

3. Cold plunge (optional): cold water is there if you want it, but it’s never required.

4. Reset + reconnect: between rounds you might chat, rest, or simply enjoy being “off duty” for a while.

Occasional sound baths (extra relaxation)
Some weeks include a sound bath to support deeper relaxation. If a sound bath is part of the session, it typically takes place in the quiet sauna, and you can come and go as you please. You don’t need to “do” anything; just get comfortable and let the sound help you soften and settle.

Baby-friendly options
If you’re coming with a baby, there’s a dry, cosy yurt with toys, cushions, and throws. Please note: there is no childcare provided, so we recommend coming with a mum friend so you can support each other and take turns as needed. For health and safety reasons, babies are not permitted near the sauna or cold plunges. Your child’s safety remains your responsibility at all times. You’ll be asked to read the terms and conditions and sign a waiver before joining. You’re welcome to feed, soothe, step out, and take your time. The aim is to make rest more accessible, not harder.

What to wear
Most women wear a swimsuit. Choose whatever makes you feel comfortable and secure.

What to bring

• Swimsuit

• Two towels (one to sit on, one for after)

• Slippers/sliders;

• water

• toiletries (if you’d like to use the showers)

• Optional but nice: a robe or warm layer for after, and a hair tie.

A few gentle guidelines (so the space stays calm)
No photos or filming. This is a privacy-first space so everyone can fully relax.

Tickets, walk-ins & refunds
Spaces are limited so the session stays comfortable. There are 36 pre-booked tickets each week, plus up to 4 walk-in spaces (only if there’s capacity). Tickets are refundable if cancelled 24+ hours before the session. Each attendee needs their own ticket (tickets can’t be shared).

If you’re nervous about coming alone.
Many first-timers come solo. A few tips: arrive a few minutes early so you can settle, set a small win (even one sauna round is enough), and remember you don’t need to be social to belong. Over time, familiar faces become friendly faces. That’s how community forms.

After the session
You can shower if you’d like, take your time getting ready, and ease back into your day. Some women chat afterwards; some head straight out. Both are completely fine.

Quick FAQs
Do I need sauna experience? No. Beginners are welcome.
Do I have to cold plunge? No. It’s optional.
Can I come just to rest and not talk? Yes. Quiet is welcome here.
What if I need to step out? That’s completely normal. Step out whenever you need.
What if I can’t stay the full 90 minutes? That’s okay. Come for what you can.

A final note for first-timers
If taking 90 minutes for yourself feels hard, that doesn’t mean you’re doing motherhood wrong. It usually means you’ve been carrying a lot. Come as you are. Hit pause. Reset, recharge, reconnect.

See you on Thursday.

Half term always sounds lovely in theory, but in reality, it can feel like a lot. For children, it’s a break. For mothers, it’s often the opposite.

The usual rhythm disappears overnight. There’s no school run, no clear structure to the day, and suddenly everything expands, childcare, work, planning, emotional presence. Whether you’re a working mum trying to balance deadlines around your child, or simply someone who needs a moment to yourself, the school holidays can feel relentless.

It’s a shift that isn’t always acknowledged, but deeply felt.