Ahead of the appointment of the UK’s first Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner, SME co-founders and sisters use their own postnatal experiences to support new parents
The Government's move to appoint the UK's first Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner has reignited focus about the support available to new parents. For sisters and mothers Louise and Jenny, it's an issue that inspired them to turn their own postnatal struggles into a business dedicated to supporting families.
The pair founded Leteau, a baby spa created to support not only babies, but parents too. It provides a holistic approach to wellbeing during what can be one of life's most challenging transitions and was founded after their own experiences of postnatal depression, anxiety and the challenges of accessing support during early parenthood.
Supported by a UK Government-backed Start Up Loan accessed through the West of England Growth Hub, the pair transformed their own experiences into a fast-growing business supporting parents and babies across the region, with ambitions to expand nationwide.
For co-founder Louise Rickman, the inspiration came after she was hospitalised with sepsis following the birth of her first son in 2022. While she recovered physically, she later developed PTSD and postnatal depression.
Louise explained: " I struggled with PTSD and postnatal depression after falling ill with Sepsis following an infection from breastfeeding and found it difficult to access the right support through existing pathways. At times, I felt unable to leave the house. There were services available, but finding the right help at the right time felt incredibly difficult."
Her sister and co-founder Jenny Alexander-Bowen faced similar challenges after being made redundant just four months after having her daughter, with the combination of job loss and new parenthood contributing to postnatal anxiety and depression.
Leteau was inspired by a family trip to the Netherlands in 2024, where Jenny attended a baby spa session with her young daughter. The experience left a lasting impression on the family.
"It was one of the first times I felt truly present," said Jenny. "The experience helped calm my anxiety, benefited my daughter and showed us how powerful the right support can be for families."
Determined to bring that experience to the UK, and following Louise losing her job, the sisters launched Leteau in November 2025 to help parents access support earlier.
Jenny explained: "The NHS provides vital support for families in acute need. But many parents experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional challenges don't know where to turn until they're already struggling."
The founders have big ambitions for preventative postnatal support in the UK and believe services such as Leteau’s could play an important role in improving parental wellbeing and reducing the risk of postnatal mental health challenges.
"Without the Start Up Loan, Leteau simply wouldn't exist," said Louise. "The funding gave us the confidence and resources to turn an idea born from our own experiences into a real business. It enabled us to secure premises, invest in specialist equipment and create a space designed to support both babies and parents from day one. Just as valuable was the mentoring we received, which helped us navigate the challenges of launching a business while raising young families. Seven months on, we've built a growing customer base and are already exploring opportunities to expand our model and support more families across the UK.”
Long term, the founders hope to grow Leteau into a one-stop destination for parental wellbeing, offering services ranging from lactation consultancy and pre- and post-natal fitness to physiotherapy, therapy and holistic healthcare. They also hope to contribute to research into infant development and parental mental health, with the ambition of one day seeing services like Leteau’s incorporated into NHS care pathways.
Information about the wide range of government support for UK companies is available at business.gov.uk.
