Babies on Zoom! Scarborough mum's maternity group blooms online

It blossomed after her post advertising the group was seen more than 10,000 times on LinkedIn.

New mum Kelly Beaumont, whose daughter Ophelia is six months, launched a network for mums during lockdown so they can chat and exchange tips while not being allowed to meet up.

“I felt I needed to put something out there because I hugely struggled myself in the early stages of being a mum. Once I was out of that fog I thought I didn’t want anyone else to feel how I did,” Kelly said.

What started out as a group for four or five Scarborough mums quickly grew to more than 50 after Kelly posted it on LinkedIn.

It has proved so popular that smaller groups have had to be made based on the children’s ages.

“I’ve created this network of mums from all across the UK and we get together every week,” Kelly said. “It’s just an opportunity for mums to speak to other mums who are also losing their mind, also winging it and just to get hints and tips.”

Kelly says that the Zoom meetings have become the highlight of the week. “A lot of mums have said that this is one thing that they have that’s given them a bit of structure and routine and something to look forward to,” she said.

Kelly, who works in learning and development, is studying for her diploma in postnatal depression, and hosts the ‘Learning to Mum’ podcast, covering all topics for new mums, which is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.