Barbara Strawbridge
Caring Hands Midwife
Coleraine
County Londonderry
Northern Ireland
BT51 3QT
Mobile 07790 914 420
Bespoke treatments for Menstrual, Fertility, Preconception, Pregnancy, Postnatal and Menopause symptoms, including Caesarean Section Scar treatment, supporting and optimising women’s wellness across all stages of life.
Business Opening Hours: Varies (by appointment)
Mobile Therapy: Not offered routinely but can be considered on request
Website Email Facebook Instagram
Treatments Offered
Specialised pregnancy and post-natal massage
Fertility and maternity reflexology
Clinical aromatherapy
Midwifery acupuncture and moxibustion
Pelvic Floor Assessment and Mummy MOT
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) - Vodder method
Caesarean Section Scar Therapy - utilising RESTORE techniques and advanced clinical technologies
Chronic pain support
Now offering DEEP OSCILLATION®
How DEEP OSCILLATION® Helps
In her highly specialised clinical practice focusing on women's maternal, pelvic, and post-surgical health, Barbara incorporates DEEP OSCILLATION® as a supportive clinical adjunct. This non-invasive manual therapy method utilises a low-intensity, pulsed electrostatic field that operates on the biophysical phenomenon of the Johnsen-Rahbek effect. During treatment, a gentle, rhythmic electrostatic attraction and release phenomenon is generated within the tissue layers, inducing "endogenous microdeformations". These microscopic changes are produced entirely within the tissue environment with minimal mechanical load and without requiring significant downward physical pressure, offering an exceptionally gentle option with an excellent safety profile.
Caesarean Section & Post-Operative Scar Therapy
Advanced Scar Pliability: Early biophysical interaction supports tissue pliability at incision sites, helping to prevent restrictive scar adhesions and encouraging recovering tissue to heal with optimal softness and elasticity. It is particularly valuable for Caesarean section recovery, where minimising subcutaneous adhesions and encouraging healthy structural remodelling is essential.
Decongestion and Healing Support: Gentle electrostatic pulses assist in the reabsorption of acute post-surgical swelling, congested fluid, and deep bruising, contributing to pain modulation and improved tissue comfort to help new mothers move earlier and with greater ease.
Post-Natal Lymphatic Support
Gentle Fluid Clearance: Helps facilitate the clearance of stagnant fluid and softens localised tissue congestion, providing highly effective support for post-natal fluid retention, such as swollen legs and ankles. Biophysical tissue interactions have been reported at depths of up to approximately 8 cm, supporting natural connective and lymphatic pathways.
Soothed Tissue Sensitivity: Designed to soothe local pain receptors and reduce tenderness or low-grade swelling, helping heavy, congested limbs feel lighter, softer, and more comfortable.
Post-Partum Breast Pain, Tension, & Lactation Support
Relief from Physiological Engorgement: Post-partum breast pain and tension typically occur two to four days after birth due to local hyperaemia (increased blood flow) and oedema (swelling) from lymphatic overload as lactation begins. Gentle electrostatic pulses assist in the rapid reabsorption of this acute fluid congestion, easing spontaneous pain, tenderness, and tension. Relieving this physical burden supports overall comfort and helps facilitate the normalisation of lactation.
Support for Blocked Milk Ducts: Rhythmic biophysical tissue interaction encourages localised fluid clearance and improves overall tissue pliability. This helps to clear painful, plugged milk ducts gently and comfortably, promoting healthy milk flow without requiring firm or painful physical manipulation of highly sensitive breast tissues.
Immediate Comfort & Milk Flow: Noticeably alleviates spontaneous breast pain and tenderness. Rapidly relieving local tension and swelling contributes to the normalisation of lactation and milk flow, providing a highly soothing and comfortable treatment during early motherhood.
Post-Natal Wellness & Relaxation
Stress Relief: Rhythmic attraction and release cycles generate a gentle, soothing effect within the tissue layers to induce deep physical relaxation, helping to calm overall nervous system tension.
Muscle & Tissue Refresh: Restores comfort to tired or fatigued muscles, helping new mothers feel refreshed, deeply relaxed, and physically rejuvenated.
Professional Qualifications & Training
BSc, Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Midwife (RM), and Registered Health Visitor (RHV) (NMC Pin No: 86J0044N)
Diploma in Complementary Therapies in Midwifery - Expectancy Programme, London
Certificate in Midwifery Acupuncture - Expectancy Programme, London
RESTORE Scar Practitioner & RESTORE Advanced Scar Practitioner - RESTORE Therapy
Pelvic Floor Assessment & Mummy MOT Training - HLP Therapy
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) Vodder Method - Natural Touch Training Academy
Clinical Acupuncture - Breeze Academy
Clinical Hypnosis and Moxibustion Training
Professional Memberships & Accolades
Expectancy Licensed Consultancy Programme Member (Expectancy LC)
Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
RESTORE Closed Professional Practitioner Network
HLP Therapy Closed Professional Practitioner Network
Winner: Local Women Magazine Business Awards - Best North Coast and Ballymena Business of the Year 2025
Highly Commended: Mighty Women Northern Ireland (NI) Awards 2024
Runner-Up: Best Student of the Year 2022 - Expectancy Maternity Complementary Therapies
Professional Insurance
Insured By: Balens (also insured with FHT and FEDANT; fully covered by the Royal College of Midwives)
Insurer Website: www.balens.co.uk
Personal Profile
Mrs Barbara Strawbridge brings close to four decades of outstanding expertise and maternal care to her practice, Caring Hands Midwife. As a highly qualified Registered Nurse, Midwife, and Health Visitor, Barbara possesses a deep-seated clinical understanding of women's physical health needs at every stage of their lives—from preconception, fertility, and pregnancy, through the postpartum period, and into menopause. Her extensive nursing and midwifery background is uniquely combined with her expertise in bespoke complementary therapies. Barbara holds a prestigious Diploma in Complementary Therapies in Midwifery and a Certificate in Midwifery Acupuncture from Dr Denise Tiran's renowned Expectancy programme in London, where her exceptional dedication was recognised as runner-up for Best Student of the Year in 2022.
Barbara is highly skilled in integrating holistic treatments—such as aromatherapy, acupuncture, massage, reflexology, clinical hypnosis, moxibustion, pelvic floor assessments, and RESTORE scar therapy—alongside NHS care, offering women alternative, evidence-based avenues for managing fertility, maternal, and postpartum challenges. She is particularly renowned for her specialised Caesarean Section Scar Therapy, where she utilises cutting-edge, gentle modalities to support healthy scar remodeling, minimise adhesions, and restore tissue sensation and comfort. Her clinical excellence has been widely celebrated, earning her a Highly Commended recognition at the Mighty Women NI Awards in 2024 and the prestigious Business of the Year award at the Local Women Magazine Business Awards in 2025.
Feedback & Experience for PhysioPod®:
How did you hear about DEEP OSCILLATION®? What prompted you to buy?
Met Mary and Julie at the Scar Symposium last November.
How do you find dealing with PhysioPod® UK Limited?
Great!
