Founder’s Story – Motherhood Diaries Parenting Magazine – Preconception Planning | Pregnancy Journal

2010: The Beginning

Chapter 1

It was an ordinary lunch break at a legal consultancy in Mayfair, but I was feeling anything but ordinary. I’d just found out I was unexpectedly pregnant with my first child, and I was terrified.

No one around me was pregnant. I had no idea what to expect, what was normal, or what I should be doing. So I did what many people do in moments of uncertainty, I turned to Google.

Big mistake.

That lunch break, I started what would become Motherhood Diaries ,a simple, honest, week-by-week account of my first pregnancy. My only readers were my mum and my best friend (who wasn’t even pregnant, bless her). She became my unofficial proofreader, and with her encouragement, I published a weekly update documenting everything: the nausea, the bloating, the fears, the excitement, all of it.

When I couldn’t find it, I created it myself.

Week 4 to Week 41: A Personal Journey

Chapter 2

That lunch break, I started what would become Motherhood Diaries, a simple, honest, week-by-week account of my first pregnancy. My only readers were my mum and my best friend (who wasn’t even pregnant, bless her). She became my unofficial proofreader, and with her encouragement, I published a weekly update documenting everything: the nausea, the bloating, the fears, the excitement, all of it.

The Birth That Changed Everything

Chapter 3

At Week 41, I finally had my baby. But the birth was traumatic, deeply, unexpectedly traumatic in ways I never imagined.

I confided in my new circle of mummy friends from my NCT antenatal class, and they urged me to share my story. “Other women need to hear this,” they said. “You could help someone.”

So I wrote it down. I shared my birth story anonymously, posting it for my small group of NCT friends. They shared it with their friends. Those friends shared it with their networks.

Before I knew it, my inbox was flooded with messages from mothers around the world wanting to share their own birth stories on Motherhood Diaries. Suddenly, I wasn’t alone, and neither were they.

Growing Pains

Chapter 4

Shortly after my second son was born, I expanded the site to include recipes and product reviews, the things that were helping me navigate early motherhood.

Then, in late 2012, disaster struck. Motherhood Diaries was hacked. Most of my content was wiped. I was devastated.

For months, I salvaged what little content remained, grieving the loss of all those words, all those stories. Eventually, I made a difficult decision: close the site completely for a full refurbishment.

2013: Reborn as a Global Magazine

Chapter 5

In May 2013, Motherhood Diaries relaunched, bigger, stronger, and with a new mission.

Those eight months offline hadn’t been wasted. I’d been meeting parents, networking, sharing stories, and learning. My love for the pregnancy and parenting world had deepened into something more: a passion for helping families feel supported, informed, and less alone.

The new Motherhood Diaries launched with a press release as a Global Magazine for Parents, featuring articles and personal stories from 70+ contributors around the world. It was no longer just my voice, it was a chorus of real parents sharing real experiences.

My Journey Continues

Chapter 6

Since that first pregnancy in 2010, my own journey has been full of unexpected turns.

After two boys, I struggled with fertility in my late thirties. Through research, holistic approaches, and sheer determination, I eventually conceived again, three times. I welcomed three beautiful daughters, but I also experienced the devastating loss of one baby at 16 weeks due to PPROM (preterm premature rupture of membranes).

These experiences — the joy and the heartbreak — fuel everything I do with Motherhood Diaries. I know what it’s like to struggle. To grieve. To keep trying. To celebrate. To feel overwhelmed. To feel blessed.

Why This Matters

Chapter 7

What started as a lonely lunch break diary has become something far beyond what I ever imagined: a safe space for thousands of families to share their truth.

Because here’s what I’ve learned: Parenthood rarely goes according to plan. Births are traumatic. Babies don’t sleep. Toddlers have meltdowns. Teenagers push boundaries. Bodies change. Relationships shift. And through it all, we need each other.

Motherhood Diaries exists because I needed it once, and I know you might need it too.

Beyond Motherhood Diaries

Chapter 8

My passion for supporting families has led to other projects:

365 Days of No Screens — Helping families find balance in our digital world with one screen-free activity for every day of the year.
Five for a Fiver — Making family meals easier with 5-ingredient recipes for GBP5 or less.
Hand2Hold App — Connecting prenatal and postnatal women in the UK to physical and mental health services in their area. We’re aiming to change the world with this one.

I also regularly contribute to radio and television, discussing topics that matter to parents.

Today and Tomorrow

Chapter 9

Motherhood Diaries is now an open platform for parents worldwide to share their stories, support one another, and find connection in this wild journey of raising humans.

We’ve published hundreds of articles, shared countless birth stories, and connected thousands of families. But we’re just getting started.

My home is your home. Whether you’re trying to conceive, growing a baby, navigating birth, or raising children — you belong here.

Our Founder’s Story