Crossing the threshold
A small eight-woman retreat for pregnant women who want to consciously prepare for the transition into Motherhood.
A sanctuary of rest, nourishment,
connection and inner preparation
A held threshold space, to co-regulate, orient to Matrescence and step into motherhood with steadiness and clarity.
Friday May 1st - Monday 4th May 2026
Eden Rise Centre, Devon
Whether you have experienced pregnancy before, or this is your first time,
you are so welcome here.
Our nourishing and transformative retreat will create space for you to deeply relax, connect, and prepare for your Motherhood journey.
Join us in the lush Devon countryside in two beautifully converted barns on 7 acres of land. An oasis of rest, nourishment and inspiration.
Congratulations on your pregnancy !
I hope you are feeling really well.
Pregnancy can be such a magical time,
and.... it can also be exhausting and stressful.
There can be moments when we yearn for the world to stop and to have space... to rest... to remember the wonder of being pregnant...
* To connect with our baby
* To hang out with people who get how we feel, because they are pregnant too or have been through that initiation before.
* To have the opportunity and the support to reset, take stock, make sense of the changes that have already happened, and prepare for the ones that are to come, including the big change we rarely prepare for : Becoming a Mother.
Life is so busy...When is there time to really drop in and connect?
So much information out there...
It can be hard to know what I want, what I need,
what's right for me and my baby.
.
I have big questions:
Who am I becoming? Will I be okay? Will my relationships change? How do I prepare for the new life ahead of me?
What is the matrescence journey— this physical, emotional and identity transition into motherhood? How can it help me right now?
Imagine .....
……being able to step away from daily demands, noisy expectations and pressure..
……having time to stretch, breathe, journal and simply be
……being held, supported, and seen - within a caring community of pregnant women.
……listening inward, and connecting with your baby and with this profound transformation.
Picture yourself walking in the 7 acres of land surrounding the centre, discovering the labyrinth, and returning to the cosy kitchen, renewed and inspired, to a delicious and healthy meal, especially crafted to nourish you and your baby.
What would it feel like to have the opportunity to deeply soothe your nervous system so the emotions and the questions that have been racing around your being can settle, and, with support and gentle guidance, make sense of your matrescence journey?
As part of the retreat, you’ll also be gently introduced to Self-Havening, a simple, soothing practice that supports the nervous system from the inside.
Using gentle touch and attention, Self-Havening can help the body soften out of stress and into a state where emotions can settle, and clarity can return. Many women find it supportive during pregnancy as a way of staying present, meeting intensity with kindness, and cultivating a sense of inner safety that can be returned to again and again.
It’s a simple practice you can take back with you into your daily life, your birth, and early motherhood, when it will benefit both you and your baby greatly.
What might open up if you gave yourself this time?
I am so grateful to be able to offer you a haven.
I have grown, birthed and raised 4 children and supported expectant mothers and families for over 2 decades so I know how needed it is.
Pregnancy is so much more than a physical journey
it is also an emotional, spiritual, and identity shift.
This retreat is a space to honour it all.
What if you could feel more resourced, more centred,
and more connected to your path into birth and motherhood?
This retreat is more than just a break
it’s also an opportunity to rediscover your inner balance,
envision the future
your heart and soul are calling for
and feel better equipped to meet what arises
with presence and grace.
Step away from the noise and into yourself.
Return home rested, recharged,
with the clarity, capacity, and tools
to start creating a future
where everyone can thrive.
Here's What Awaits You
Relax, feel calmer and at peace...
...with Pregnancy Yoga and Yoga Nidra. Release any tension and stress with Havening and other nervous system reset tools.
Connect...
...with other mums to be and enjoy being in community, sharing meals, chats and activities like singing with Helen, stone painting or making a vision board. You will have the opportunity to carry on connecting with this amazing community of mothers after the retreat.
Prepare...
...with Olivia’s Matrescence coaching, explore how to mother aligned with your values, your needs and the uniqueness of your situation ..
Receive...
...massages to make your body sing and your skin tingle with delight.
These are an extra cost. see price list below).
Eat...
... Seasonal and mostly organic, delicious, hearty and nutritionally balanced food, in great company. We know how much food can matter when you are pregnant.
Beyond Your Retreat
To support your transformation after the retreat, you will have the opportunity to work one to one with Olivia or join her 6 week post-retreat integration circle, at an extra cost.
What's Included
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All meals, starting with dinner on arrival, and ending with lunch on the day of departure, snacks and drinks.
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Accommodation for 3 nights.
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A Zoom call before the retreat to get us connected and clear on our intention
What's Not Included
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Your travel to the venue
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Personal, medical or trip cancellation insurance
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Massages and treatments.
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The 6 week integration circle.
What Our Guests Are Saying
"The most nourishing experience I've had in years.
I came home with a new sense of calm and energy." - A.H.
"The coaching sessions gave me clarity and focus.
I feel ready to take on whatever comes my way." - L.S.
Florence’s food was delish, and I would definitely go again just for the tasty veggie treats she made - especially the special chocolate balls! F.
"Olivia holds an amazing space, which has real depth, yet is permissive, gentle and extremely supportive. I find her reflections and guidance spot-on and the culture she creates around motherhood in these times refreshing and enriching." K.N.
"I was really surprised by how much I opened up, how much I learned, and how much I connected with other people. I feel so much more like myself after this experience"
Kay
"What an incredible experience... how motherhood was brought into my consciousness for the first time in a way that I hadn't connected with it before."
Tamsin
Gorgeous Setting
We are being hosted by Eden Rise....
“A place for inspiration, celebration and gratitude where visitors can reconnect to the earth and receive nourishment of body, heart and spirit."
Meals are seasonal, largely plant based and organic dishes.
"Working with Olivia since the On Becoming a Mother Pregnancy Retreat has been the most incredible support throughout my pregnancy, the birth of my son and early postpartum weeks. Her love, care and attentiveness to our journey is impossible to describe in such few words. Her skills as a coach are so intuitive, and so full of wisdom from the years of experience she has as a mother and Doula helping other mothers."
E.K
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Bonuses
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1 x 60-Min intention setting group coaching call with Olivia before the retreat.
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The Nervous system care and Pregnancy Havening Handbook.
Spaces are limited to 8.
Book your spot today and take the first step toward a life where you and your family can truly flourish together!
"Olivia has a deep sense of connection and is able to grow and hold the space for effective communication in such a gentle way that you feel drawn to share and let go of what has been holding you."
Cancellation & Transfer Policy: We understand that plans can change. Our cancellation policy is designed to be fair and transparent, balancing the needs of our participants with the commitments involved in organising the retreat. Cancellation Terms: If you cancel at any time before the retreat, and your place is filled by another participant, we are happy to refund your payment in full minus £50 admin fee. More than 8 weeks before the retreat start date: Full refund of all payments made. Between 6 and 8 weeks before the retreat start date: 50% refund of the total retreat cost. Between 4 and 6 weeks before the retreat start date: 25% refund of the total retreat cost. Less than 2 weeks before the retreat start date: No refund available but a transfer is possible see options below. Transfer Options: Alternatively, you may choose to transfer your booking to another event or apply the amount paid toward one-to-one sessions with Olivia Seck, subject to availability and agreement. Additional Notes:All cancellations must be submitted in writing via email. We recommend that all participants obtain appropriate travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances that may lead to cancellation. In the unlikely event that we need to cancel the retreat, a full refund will be provided. For any questions or to initiate a cancellation or transfer, please contact us at Olivia@oliviaseck.com.
Single Pod in Shared Space
Twin Room
Investment & Booking
This 4-day event includes all in-person activities, a variety of accommodations within beautifully converted barns, and delicious meals using fresh, seasonal ingredients, organic when possible
(most special diets can be catered for).
If you would like a discovery call to ask any questions you may have, just get in touch.
- - SAVE £50 ! - -
Use The Code EARLYBIRD50
At Checkout Before Midnight 15th March 2026
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Non residential, meals included: £425
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Single Pod in Shared Space: £490
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Single Bed in Twin room, shared occupancy: £525
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Single Bed in Twin room, single occupancy upgrade (only 1 available): £590
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Single Room (only 1 available): £590
Massages and treatments are at an additional cost. Booking for these is essential - contact practitioners directly to book.
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One low-income concession place available. Contact Olivia directly to apply .
Pay over 3 months with Paypal Pay-In-3
The Retreat Team
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Olivia Seck
Your Retreat Host
Inspired coach, eternal student and teacher of woman wisdom, mother of 4 and havening practitioner, Olivia has supported women and families for over 2 decades, especially through transitions such as pregnancy, birth, and motherhood.
Having recently retired from her birth work and training holistic doulas, Olivia now focuses mainly on her practice as a Matrescence/parenting coach and havening practitioner.. She still offers healing birth trauma sessions as this is still something she is deeply committed to.
In 2011, she founded and still co-runs Radiant Mama (formerly the Totnes Holistic Birth Hub) a Devon project that offers info, emotional and practical support and education, as well as fostering a community of parents – all on a donation basis.
Being a woman and a mother has been a deep exploration in her personal and professional life.
Her intention now is to share what she has learned and offer her presence and the tools she has gathered along the way, in service to women, families and a more peaceful and loving world.
Thea Abbott
Yoga Teacher
Thea is a 200 hour qualified yoga teacher who has been practicing for over 25 years. She is trained in pregnancy and postnatal yoga with LushTums and registered with FEDANT, the regulatory body for Antenatal Educators.
Thea is a mum to two little boys. Yoga and breathing techniques were so beneficial in both pregnancies and in strengthening and reconnecting with her body afterwards.
She's passionate about sharing these wonderful practices with others and creating connections and support networks for women, for whatever stage of life they're at.
All classes begin with a few minutes of breathing or meditation, before moving on to movements and stretches. Modifications are provided along the way to ensure that everyone can safely and effectively participate in the class.
Most classes will enjoy a 10-20 minute savasana relaxation at the end, so you'll leave feeling rested, restored (and sleepy!).
Helen Yeomans
Helen Yeomans is the founder of Glorious Chorus. She writes and/or arranges all the songs that the choir sings and runs workshops around the UK and abroad teaching her award-winning compositions.
Helen is a mother of 4. Her dream when she discovered the joy of singing in her late 30’s was to bring it to her mother friends as soon as her youngest was at playgroup. Thus was born Thula Mama – a weekly group of mums and babies who meet and sing together with Helen. She teaches a wide variety of songs in harmony from lullabies to gospel. Thula Mama itself is a beautiful South African lullaby. https://helenyeomans.co.uk/thula-mama/
What sets Helen apart is being able to bring out the best in all singers – from the professional to the absolute beginner.
Massages Price List
We're happy to be able offer massages and treatments at the retreat.
Please arrange your booking directly with your preferred practitioner as soon as you have your place on the retreat has been confirmed. Slots are limited.
Uma Oliver
Massage Therapist
Uma is a bodywork and massage specialist, with a strong background in yogic and ayurvedic principles.
Her practice includes myofascial release and body work, and she utilises both to help others find joyful embodiment and wellbeing.
07985 013 085
Kirstie O Leary
Craniosacral Therapist
Kirstie has trained in a variety of techniques and brings her 20+ years of experience to the session to meet the needs of each individual.
She is a qualified Craniosacral practitioner since 2010 and holds a gentle safe space for all, to rest in the stillness of ones being.
£25 for 30 mins (usually £60)
£50 for an hour
WhatsApp: 07825 447860