Mum Love meets Laura Kyrke-Smith MP

On 10 September 2026, we had the pleasure of meeting Laura Kyrke-Smith MP to introduce Mum Love and share more about the work behind our emotional support packs.

At the heart of Mum Love is a simple but important idea: becoming a mother changes how women see themselves. That shift can have a real impact on wellbeing, confidence and mental health, yet it is still not widely recognised or talked about enough.

During our meeting, we shared the research, insight and lived experience that shaped Mum Love, along with the steps we have already taken to raise awareness of maternal identity change. We also spoke honestly about the challenges of moving this work forward through the system. While we have had encouraging conversations with government, NHS contacts and other partners, progress can still feel painfully slow and frustrating.

Laura understood that frustration immediately. She agreed that real change will only happen if action is taken at every level — from communities and local services right through to Parliament and national policy.

She also made an important point about language. Terms such as matrescence may be meaningful to some, but they do not resonate with everyone. We need language that is accessible, relatable and able to reach mothers from all backgrounds.

Laura was genuinely supportive of Mum Love and described our emotional support packs as a practical way of making this issue real for people. She also invited the Mum Love team to attend an event at Parliament, and suggested the possibility of a round table in December to bring together MPs, ministers, charities, health professionals and campaigners.

That invitation felt like a significant step forward. It reflects the kind of collaboration we need if we are to create lasting change: work that combines national advocacy with action in communities, universities, libraries, NHS trusts and local services.

Laura has long been a strong voice for maternal mental health, and her support means a great deal to us. She recognises both the scale of the challenge and the urgency of addressing it. Most importantly, she understands that mothers need more than awareness — they need practical support, and they need the system to listen.

At Mum Love, we will continue building that momentum from the bottom up and the top down, so that more mothers feel seen, supported and understood.

Why this matters

Mum Love exists to help mothers through pregnancy, birth and the transition into motherhood. By combining lived experience, emotional support and policy engagement, we hope to help create a future where maternal identity change is recognised, talked about and supported properly.

We are grateful to Laura Kyrke-Smith MP for her time, her encouragement and her commitment to continuing the conversation.