Posted By: MMHA
2 minute read
Without doubt, we need a dedicated Mother and Baby Unit in Northern Ireland and maternal mental health must be discussed at every hospital appointment and in antenatal classes.
I was a new, first-time mum with a five-month-old son when I found out I was nine weeks pregnant with twin girls. My husband and I got the shock of our lives, and throughout my pregnancy I experienced perinatal anxiety, as I was unsure how we would cope.
After the birth of the twins, my anxiety continued to grow. Life was really tough. I was constantly tired and chasing my tail to do the simplest of tasks. Thankfully, I started to reach out for help when I knew I could no longer cope.
My GP was a fantastic support to me, and helped me get back on track after I was diagnosed with perinatal anxiety and stress, and having panic attacks. My health visitor also referred me to a local Home-Start charity group. This led to a volunteer helping me with the kids and other practical stuff, as well as being someone who would just listen to my worries.
I also joined the Home-Start family group, which me and the kids continue to attend. This offers a great opportunity to meet other inspiring mums and talk to people who understand what I’m going through. And I can’t forget my family and friends, who were, and still are, absolute heroes because of the amazing kindness and unforgettable support they’ve shown me.
But I do know I’m extremely lucky. I managed to reach out, and I managed to receive the perinatal mental health support I needed. But there are many women in similar situations who feel they can’t speak out and ask for help. That’s why I want to do all I can to give them a voice and make sure they receive the support they need.
Maternity wards need informed perinatal mental health clinicians, so mums can quickly chat over their concerns and I believe dads need access to free courses on how to support the mental health of their partners.
Without doubt, we need a dedicated Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in Northern Ireland and maternal mental health must be discussed at every hospital appointment and in antenatal classes.
There’s a lot we can do, and we need to do it now.
You can follow Lindsey on Twitter @elinshall.
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