the bump bub & beyond storY

Hi there, I’m Julie, the founder of Bump Bub & Beyond and I’m so glad you’re here.

After a 10 year wait and a gruelling IVF journey myself and my husband Neil received the news we had been waiting for that I was pregnant with our miracle girl. I distinctly remember at our 12 week scan the feeling that my whole world had shifted and would never be the same again. Fast forward to Autumn 2022 and we welcomed our girl into the world and there began the ride of a lifetime that is motherhood. All of our family is in the UK and even though I had wonderful support, friends delivering meals for six weeks, a strong 16 year marriage behind me, good mental health, reasonable expectations and a LOT of help, having a newborn and becoming a mother still tested me in every way possible. It was intensive and wonderful and tiring and confusing and difficult and full of joy, truly nothing can prepare you for becoming a mother!

I knew that I would need ongoing support due to having no family around to help and so I sought out a mother’s group to attend. It helped connect me with other mums who had the same questions, struggles, experiences and stories as I did. That hour every week helped me navigate the first few months better than if I had been walking the journey alone.

In talking to and connecting with other mums from all walks of life in my own first year of motherhood, I began to hear story after story of how isolated, confused and overwhelmed they felt at moments in their journey. Even those who had family and friends around them struggled with feelings of self doubt, frustration, loneliness and feeling separated from the life they once knew. These were (and are) capable and confident women who excelled in their fields of work before having a baby and even with all their support of family and friends around to help, they still found those early months and the first year of motherhood the most difficult yet rewarding thing they’d ever done. I began to realise my experience was more common than I thought and that there was an opportunity with my professional background in education, event management, group facilitation and care to craft a space to help other mums in their first year with their baby.

During the many (many) night feeds I thought, planned, dreamed, imagined and designed a place that I would have wanted in my first year as a mum. A place to help you see that you’re not alone, that what you’re going through is very normal, that you’re doing better than you think and that you can trust your mothering instincts. And so Bump Bub & Beyond was born in the middle of the night, rocking backwards and forwards trying to settle my own baby out of a desire to see a place for every mother, whether first time or veteran, to have a safe space to be yourself, make connections, receive confidence & clarity for the ride of a lifetime that is motherhood.

I passionately believe that life is better together, that being seen and having a good conversation can brighten most days and that you are doing better than you think in raising your baby. My hope is that when you come you feel seen, known & valued just as you are. That you find a welcoming space to grow, learn and connect, and that it helps you on your motherhood journey.

I can’t wait to meet you.

Julie Gray

Bump Bub & Beyond Founder