Becoming a mum is one of life’s biggest changes. It can be wonderful, emotional and challenging all at once. But for many women, the support available after giving birth just isn’t enough. That’s exactly what inspired Hanna Pumfrey and her friend Hannah Thomson to create Life Postpartum – a platform designed to support mums during the first year after birth with expert advice, personalised recovery plans and a caring community.
Founded in 2025, Life Postpartum offers affordable, accessible and research-based care for new mums. From expert-led rehab programmes and nourishing recipes to hormonal insights and emotional support, everything is tailored to help women through the often-overlooked postpartum period.
In this interview, I spoke with co-founder Hanna Pumfrey about her own experience after having her daughter, why she felt so let down by the system, and how Life Postpartum is helping mums feel more supported, informed and understood during such a transformative time.
Can you share a bit about your postpartum journey and what led you to realise there was a need for something like Life Postpartum?
After having my daughter, I experienced postpartum anxiety that made everything feel hard. I missed out on connecting with other mums, family gatherings – even going to the supermarket was a struggle.
Things I never thought twice about previously, like car journeys, heading out to the shops or going for a coffee with friends, became anxiety inducing as leaving the house took hours, breastfeeding in public was overwhelming, and my little girls’ unpredictable schedule was just all really daunting for me.
What shocked me most was how little support there was once the baby had arrived. My six week check took place over the phone and was a quick five minute check in while my daughter was crying with my partner downstairs – I couldn’t even concentrate on the conversation properly.
There were plenty of resources during pregnancy, but once my daughter was born, I felt completely abandoned. That experience made it painfully clear how badly we need dedicated, ongoing care for mothers in the postpartum period—not just in the first six weeks, but throughout the entire first year.
You launched this platform with your friend Hannah Thomson. How did the two of you come together to build this vision?
Hannah and I were both going through our own postpartum journeys and began talking about how underprepared we felt and how isolating it all was. We realised we’d both felt let down by the system and kept asking, ‘Why isn’t there something out there that actually supports mums after birth in a real, expert-led way?’. Those conversations evolved into a shared mission, and that’s how Life Postpartum was born – out of our friendship and our shared drive to build something we wished we had ourselves.
Many mums suffer in silence with postpartum anxiety. What helped you most during that time, and how does Life Postpartum aim to provide that kind of support to others?
Honestly, at the time, there wasn’t much support, which is what made things so hard. There is so much information available online, but it’s often conflicting and hard to know what to trust, which is really unhelpful at a time when you’re already feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable.
But having someone to talk to – like Hannah – and slowly educating myself on what my body and mind were going through helped me feel a little less alone. With Life Postpartum, we’ve removed the guessing and have created a space that offers that kind of connection, knowledge and reassurance – from expert advice to gentle recovery plans and emotional support tools. We want mums to know it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and they don’t have to suffer in silence.
For someone considering signing up, what exactly does a Life Postpartum subscription include, and how is it designed to support new mums across the first year?
Each membership includes a personalised postpartum action plan tailored to your recovery stage – whether you’re six weeks in or six months post-birth – to make it clear and simple to know what you need to focus on in terms of your recovery. You’ll get expert-guided exercise and rehab programs, nourishing recipes, hormone health insights and pelvic floor recovery support. The full package includes live and on-demand sessions, 24/7 access to the members’ area and even a physical care package with nutrient-dense goodies and helpful reading. Everything is designed with input from specialists in physiotherapy, psychology, nutrition and hormonal health, so it truly meets mums where they are.
Accessibility seems to be a key feature, with subscription plans costing as little as 19p per day for your 12-month plan. Why was it important to you to keep the platform affordable?
Because every mum deserves support, regardless of her budget. We knew cost was a barrier for many women, especially when you’ve just had a baby and are navigating maternity leave or adjusting finances.
Keeping it affordable was non-negotiable for us – this kind of support shouldn’t be a luxury. We wanted every mum to feel this platform was within reach.
In the postpartum period, you’re often not sure what support you need, meaning you risk spending a lot of money on consultations with experts that you actually don’t need. Our platform empowers you with knowledge so you feel confident enough to take any health concerns you have to your GP or a specific expert to find more appropriate support.
Life Postpartum enables mums to access more than 500 hours’ worth of time with experts that would normally cost thousands of pounds. Some of our experts, our hormonal consultant, for example, offer all Life Postpartum members a free 15 minute consultation to help them better understand their needs.
What kind of feedback have you received from early users of the platform? Have any moments particularly moved or surprised you?
The feedback has been incredibly moving. We’ve had mums tell us they finally feel seen and understood. One mum messaged us to say she cried reading her personalised recovery plan – just because it was the first time anyone had acknowledged what she was going through, while another said that, while it’s easy to forget about your own wellbeing, Life Postpartum makes it simple to prioritise yourself.
Feedback like this is exactly why we built Life Postpartum. It’s not just about information, it’s about helping women feel held and guided.
As a mum yourself, how do you balance the demands of parenting with running a start-up focused on supporting other mums?
It’s a juggle, no doubt, and I’m constantly reminding myself to give grace where things aren’t perfect. But running a start-up that aligns so closely with my lived experience actually fuels me. I see my daughter and know I’m building something meaningful, not just for her future, but for all the mothers out there trying to do their best. And having Hannah as a co-founder means I have someone who understands that balance first-hand.
There is still a lot of stigma around maternal mental health. What do you think needs to change in how society talks about the postpartum experience?
We need to start being honest and stop romanticising postpartum as just cuddles and baby bliss. It’s intense, raw, beautiful and hard, often all at once. Normalising the full spectrum of emotions and challenges is key. We need to create spaces where mums can say, ‘I’m struggling’ without fear of judgement, and know that they’ll be met with support rather than silence.
What advice would you give to a new mum who might be struggling but doesn’t know where to start looking for support?
First, know that what you’re feeling is valid and you’re not alone. Postpartum recovery isn’t linear and it’s okay to ask for help. Start by reaching out to someone you trust, even if it’s just to say, ‘I’m finding things hard’. Then explore resources that feel safe and supportive, like Life Postpartum. Sometimes the first step is just finding one thing that helps you feel more grounded.
I think it’s also really important for expectant mums to have a plan for birth AND postpartum. Considering what you’ll need to recover after childbirth and planning for it is key – remember, it takes nine months to grow a baby and a similar amount of time to heal, if not longer!
What’s next for Life Postpartum? Are there any upcoming features or goals you are especially excited about?
We’re really excited to expand our community features, including live Q&As with specialists, interactive recovery trackers and new content focused on returning to work, intimacy after birth and navigating sleep. Our goal is to become the go-to companion for every mum navigating her postpartum year, and beyond.
For more information about Life Postpartum and its package options, please visit www.lifepostpartum.com.
