ABSTRACT
This chapter considers how two unique grassroots projects grew out of women's own experiences of being unable to gain vital information and support which they needed from the maternity services in Scotland and Ireland during their pregnancies and after birth. It shows how women learned from each other, developed greater knowledge about the context of birth, increased trust in their own bodies, gained confidence in their abilities to be capable mothers and developed a strong, supportive and lasting network during the parenting. Women felt safe and had a sense of contributing to something positive, something that worked. This matters at very profound levels in reducing isolation and creating new spaces for mothers in the wider community. Many women using the Pregnancy and Parents Centre remark on how lucky they are as there is no other Centre like it in Scotland. Since BabyTalk's inception, Skibbereen has increased its activities about town for women and babies.
