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Suffolk Woman's Wellness

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Suffolk Woman's Wellness

NHS Midwife Woman's Health Practitioner. Massage, Scar Therapy, Core Pelvic Floor Recovery, Exercise My drive has always been to care. Nina x
(303)

Hello and welcome to my page, a place where I aim to keep you informed about what is happening and how I can help you in your health and wellness. I feel that women are exceptional in what they achieve and how they can make a positive difference to everyone around them, when they are feeling empowered and in control of their lives. I feel that the groundwork of happiness is health, and that is why I am committed to supporting women physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually through the feminine life’s cycles. My philosophy for caring for women during pre-conception, pregnancy, postnatally and through the menopause is that:
I care about the mental and emotional health of women. I hold the space for the women I support. I show kindness and compassion to women in my health community. I transform live using simple solutions that create powerful change. I create nurturing environments in which women feel safe to share and express themselves freely. I love to learn and grow from each other through constructive peer support. I embrace a supportive and collaborative community. I offer a wide range of massage therapies, fitness courses, classes, and workshops. Check out the website to find out more. www.swwcuk.com I hope to meet you soon.

16/02/2026

This weekend I stepped back into student mode 🤍

I’m away training with the British Medical Acupuncture Society to deepen my skills and learn additional techniques to support people living with pain.

Neck pain.
Back pain.
Shoulder tension.
Knee discomfort.

These are things I see every single week in clinic, and I’m always looking for ways to support recovery in a way that feels gentle, evidence-based, and effective.

What I love about medical acupuncture is that it’s not only helpful for musculoskeletal pain, it can also support deep relaxation, calm the nervous system, and create space for the body to settle and reset.

There’s something really special about continuing to learn, even after decades in practice. It keeps my work fresh, thoughtful, and rooted in the best possible care for the women and families I support.

I’ll be back next week with a few new tools in my hands and a head full of inspiration.

If you’re currently navigating neck, back, shoulder or knee pain, or simply feeling like your nervous system needs some kindness, this next layer of training is for you.

ShoulderPain KneePain HolisticTherapy WomenSupportingWomen LifelongLearning NervousSystemSupport

14/02/2026

Day one of my next training done. Here I am learning the lower back points to support back health. Can’t wait for day two!

14/02/2026

For the Women Warriors

This Valentine’s,
I celebrate you.

Not for roses held in your hands,
but for the worlds you hold on your shoulders.

For the meals made,
the tears wiped,
the boundaries spoken,
the courage swallowed and spoken again.

For the way you rise when tired,
love when hurting,
show up when unseen.

You are tenderness wrapped in fire.
You are devotion with a backbone.
You are soft, and you are mighty.

May you feel adored,
not only for what you give,
but for who you are.

I see you.
Love Nina x

SacredFeminine
WomenInMidlife
MaternalStrength
HealingWomen
TherapeuticSupport
StrongMothers
WomenWhoNurture
EmpoweredMidlife
WomensWellbeing
FemininePower
CommunityOfWomen
ValentinesForHer
ISeeYou
LoveForWomen
HeartLedWomen
WomenSupportingWomen

13/02/2026

💫 What the headlines got wrong about HRT

Many women still say to me,
“I can’t take HRT, it causes breast cancer.”

And I always gently ask,
“Where did you first hear that?”

For most, it traces back to the dramatic headlines in the early 2000s following the Women’s Health Initiative study. The media reported a sharp increase in breast cancer risk. Overnight, HRT became something dangerous, even irresponsible.

But here’s what was missed.

The study mainly involved women who were older, average age 63, many years past menopause. That’s not when most women start HRT today. Timing matters.

The type of HRT used in that study also matters. Many women were given oral oestrogen plus a synthetic progestogen. We now know different types and routes carry different risk profiles.

And most importantly, the risk was reported as relative risk, not absolute risk.

When you look at the absolute numbers, the increase was small.

For women in their 50s taking combined HRT for 5 years, the increased risk translates to a few extra cases per 1,000 women. Not zero. But not the dramatic surge many imagined.

Oestrogen-only HRT, used after hysterectomy, carries little to no increased breast cancer risk and may even show a slightly lower risk in some data.

Since then, we’ve had over 20 years of further research, re-analysis and updated guidance. Modern recommendations are clear: for most healthy women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits of HRT often outweigh the risks.

And the benefits are not trivial.

Better sleep.
Clearer thinking.
Improved mood.
Healthier bones.
Improved sexual comfort and desire.
Protection against fractures.
Relief from relentless hot flushes and night sweats.

HRT is not mandatory.
It is not risk-free.
But it is also not the villain the headlines once painted.

Women deserve context, nuance and individual assessment, not fear-based medicine.

If you’ve been avoiding the conversation because of something you read 20 years ago, it might be time for a new one.

With love,
Nina x

12/02/2026

💫 Thinking about a hysterectomy… let’s talk ovaries

This is a conversation I have so often with women, and it really matters.

When a hysterectomy is discussed, the focus is usually on the uterus. But very quickly the question comes up, sometimes almost casually,
“While we’re there, shall we take the ovaries too?”

And I always want to pause that moment.

Because ovaries are not redundant once periods stop. Even after menopause, although oestrogen drops significantly, the ovaries can continue to produce small amounts of hormones for years. These hormones quietly support bones, heart, brain, joints, libido and mood.

So removing ovaries doesn’t just “tidy things up”, it can create a sudden hormonal cliff, known as surgical menopause.

This conversation is especially important if you haven’t yet reached menopause, as the hormonal impact is greater. But it can still matter afterwards too.

For some women, keeping ovaries feels right and protects ongoing hormone production. For others, removing one may be necessary due to pain or cysts. And for some, removing both ovaries is absolutely the right choice, particularly with a strong family history or genetic risk.

Ovarian cancer is often described as “silent” because early stages usually have no clear symptoms. When symptoms appear, they can be vague, bloating, pelvic discomfort, urinary changes, fatigue, and easily dismissed. This is why risk-reducing surgery is sometimes discussed.

But here’s the balance I want women to hear.
Cancer risk is real. And so is the long-term impact of losing ovarian hormones.

This isn’t about fear. It’s about informed consent.
You are allowed to slow the conversation down.
You are allowed to ask questions.
And you are allowed to choose what feels right for your body and future.

As always, I share this because women deserve clear, compassionate information, not rushed decisions.

With love,
Nina x

10/02/2026

The Quiet Power of Not Reacting

I was on a dog walk, one I take most days. Not just for exercise, but for regulation.
Fresh air, movement, space to breathe. This walk is how I prepare my mind and body before working closely with women, holding space, listening deeply, offering care, steadiness, and presence. It’s a ritual of grounding.

And in that quiet space, I was met by a woman who spoke to me harshly. Unexpectedly. Publicly.

My body responded before my mind could catch up. Tears came. My chest tightened. My nervous system went into shock.

We’re often taught that strength means responding quickly, confidently, having the right words ready. That if we don’t react, we’ve somehow failed.

But there is another kind of strength.
A quieter one.
A wiser one.

Not reacting in the moment is not weakness.
It is regulation.
It is your nervous system choosing safety over escalation.

When someone approaches with aggression, the body doesn’t hear explanations or logic, it hears threat. Freezing, crying, going quiet, walking away, these are not flaws. They are intelligent, protective responses.

I would like you to know if you are reading this and you respond like I did:

You do not owe anyone instant clarity when you are being disrespected.
You do not have to harden yourself to prove your strength.
You do not have to stay present in a space that suddenly feels unsafe.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is leave the moment, tend to your body, and return to yourself later.

That walk still did its job. It reminded me why regulation matters. Why softness is not fragility. Why choosing not to react can be an act of deep self-respect.

Strength isn’t always loud. Sometimes it looks like gentleness that refuses to be pulled into harm. Sometimes it looks like walking away and protecting the part of you that needs to stay open.

If you’ve ever cried instead of argued, paused instead of reacted, or chosen peace over proving a point, please hear this:

You didn’t fail.
You regulated.
And that is a powerful thing. Love, Nina xx

09/02/2026

I love the image created by chat GTP ❤️

06/02/2026

✨ IRON, FERRITIN & WHY YOU MIGHT STILL FEEL EXHAUSTED ✨

Ever been told your bloods are “normal”…
but you feel wiped out, foggy, breathless, flat, or just not yourself?

Let’s talk about iron and ferritin 💫

🩸 Iron helps carry oxygen, make energy, support muscles, hormones, mood, and immunity.

🏦 Ferritin is your iron storage.
Think of it as your iron savings account.

You can have normal haemoglobin and still have low ferritin, and that can feel awful.

🌸 Common signs of low ferritin
• Deep tiredness that sleep doesn’t fix
• Hair shedding
• Brain fog or anxiety
• Cold hands and feet
• Breathlessness on exertion
• Poor recovery from exercise
• Low resilience to stress

🌸 Why ferritin is often low in women
• Heavy or long periods
• Pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding
• Perimenopause and menopause
• Stress and under-eating
• Gut absorption issues

🧪 About “normal” levels
Many labs say ferritin is fine at very low numbers, but for many women:
• Below 30 → symptoms common
• 30–50 → still depleted for many
• 70–100 → often where women feel their best

🥗 Food sources of iron
Heme iron (best absorbed):
• Red meat, lamb, beef
• Liver or pâté (small amounts)

Plant-based iron:
• Lentils, beans, chickpeas
• Spinach, kale
• Pumpkin seeds, sesame, tahini
• Quinoa, oats, dried fruit

✨ Tip: pair iron with vitamin C to boost absorption
(lemon, berries, kiwi, peppers)

☕ Space iron away from tea, coffee, and calcium if you can.

🧠 And don’t forget B12
B12 helps your body use iron properly.
Low or low-normal B12 can mean iron isn’t doing its job.

💛 Rebuilding ferritin takes time.
Low iron stores aren’t a personal failing, they’re often the cost of bleeding, birthing, caring, stressing, and giving.

If this resonates, you’re not alone, and you’re not imagining it 🤍

✨

04/02/2026

✨ Why Do Knees Crack & Pop During Women’s Transition Points? ✨

If your knees are clicking, popping, or cracking more than they used to, you’re not broken, and you’re not alone.

Across puberty, pregnancy, postnatal recovery, perimenopause, menopause, and later life, women’s bodies move through huge hormonal and structural shifts. Our joints often speak up during these times.

Why it happens 👇

🌱 Puberty
Rapid growth + changing hormones affect connective tissue.
✨ Usually painless and temporary

🤍 Pregnancy
Relaxin softens ligaments for birth, but it affects all joints.
✨ More mobility, less stability
✨ Popping when standing, squatting, stairs

🌸 Postnatal / Matrescence
Hormones shift fast, muscles are rebuilding, alignment changes.
✨ Noisier joints, especially when tired or dehydrated

🔥 Perimenopause & Menopause
Lower oestrogen affects joint lubrication, collagen, and muscle tone.
✨ More stiffness, creaking, popping
✨ Often worse in the morning or cold

🌺 Later Life
Joint noise alone doesn’t mean damage.
✨ Noise ≠ arthritis
✨ Pain, swelling, locking matter more

💛 Reassurance
Most knee popping is from gas bubbles in joint fluid, tendons gliding over bone, or normal joint movement. It’s only a concern if it’s painful or unstable.

How to support your knees
• Gentle strength work
• Daily mobility (hips & ankles matter)
• Hydration + protein
• Kind, consistent movement

Your body isn’t failing you, it’s communicating.
Joint noise is often a request for support, not a warning of damage.

Address

Fen View Washbrook
Ipswich
IP83EU

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 8:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 9:30pm
Wednesday	7pm - 8:30pm
Thursday	9am - 9:45pm
Friday	9am - 9pm
Saturday	9am - 2pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447985220333

Website

https://ninaparnham.com/

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