BECOMING a mum is one of, if not the most wonderful moment in many women’s lives.

But leaving the pressures of the rat race for a life at home can leave new mums feeling isolated, scared and alone.

For Rachel Gilbey, 35, of Rawtenstall, having her first child was the inspiration she needed to get out of a high pressure sales career.

Having only moved to Rossendale in 2004, she was still settling into the area when she fell pregnant the next year.

A former colleague recommended the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) as a way of making new friends — while helping to prepare her and husband Matthew for the birth of their daughter Robyn, now four.

Her local branch, Bury and Rossendale, didn’t offer antenatal classes but travelling to Blackburn or Burnley was out of the question due to work commitments.

Rachel said: “I was disappointed but I got involved with the branch, and eventually did a postnatal class when my child was about six or seven weeks old, where we would talk about having our babies and the changes to our lives.”

Rachel did attend NHS antenatal classes but felt they ‘weren't comprehensive enough’ and that she ‘wasn't prepared for birth’ with as many as 40 couples at each session.

The 16-hour NCT course covers the practicalities of childbirth, as well as the early days of parenthood, with more than 70,000 parents signing up for the small groups each year.

“I felt passionately that parents in this area should have the choice to do NCT antenatal classes, to help prepare them practically and emotionally for the life-changing experience of childbirth and parenthood,” Rachel said.

“I had worked in sales since uni, but after having Robyn my outlook on life changed — and I didn't want to be in sales any more.

“I wanted to do a job that was more meaningful, to be making a difference to people’s lives, so I didn’t go back to work.

“When I heard the branch wanted people to train to run antenatal classes, I thought it ticked the boxes of what I was looking for — and I could give something back to the NCT.”

Now, she’s preparing to run her first course as a student in the autumn, with a view to qualifying in the new year with training having been delayed by the arrival of son Jared, now two.

“It’s quite exciting as it has been a long journey and I'm ready to get on with it now,” she said.

“I did a degree in business and finance, so I was used to working, but it’s been getting into the medical side that's different — I’ve had to learn all the anatomy side of things.

“It’s tough juggling studying and being a mum with very young children but I've loved it and find the subject fascinating.

“It’s hard to know for sure if there is a demand; people tell me there is, and that they know people will want the service, so I need to get the message out for people that there is an alternative to NHS — or something to do as well.”

Rachel admits she’s ‘lucky’ Matthew has been able to support the family during her training: “He can pay the bills, but there's not much left and we have to make sacrifices.

“This is more of a vocation. It’s certainly not a money career and it’s totally the opposite to sales.

But you can make as much or as little from it as a career.

“It’s something that’s nice to do and fortunately I’m in a position to do it and it works around the family. I decide how, when and where I will run the courses.

“Birth in this country has been highly medical; people are scared of it from the horror stories, so I want people to look forward to their child's birth,” said Rachel.

“NCT classes are ideal for building up confidence and reducing anxiety. They also provide new parents with a support network in the run-up to birth as everyone is expecting a baby around the same time, and many people find they make good friends through the course and the reunions.”

For more information about attending an NCT antenatal class, call Rachel on 07983 486631.