#PNDhour supports mums with postnatal depression

Published on: 25/05/2015

Rosey Wren lives in the Outer Hebrides and is a mum of three – Kimberley (7), Connor (5), and Harvey (2). She experienced antenatal and postnatal depression with all three children, and now runs the weekly #PNDhour support chat on Twitter. MAMA Academy is pleased to help promote #PNDhour as an important means of peer support for those experiencing perinatal mental health problems. Here Rosey explains more about it.

When you become a mum it is the most wonderful experience but unfortunately many mums, approximately 1 in 7, like me will suffer with postnatal depression. It overshadows those early months taking away the joy that comes with being a new mum. This is where the importance of peer support alongside professional help can be a great benefit to a mum suffering with a perinatal mental illness, to help alleviate the loneliness and isolation that comes with battling a mental illness.

When I experienced antenatal depression the first time I didn’t know it was an illness; I just assumed every expectant mum felt the same struggles and exhaustion I did so I didn’t talk to my midwife about it. If only I had known, it may have prevented my experiences with postnatal depression or at least they wouldn’t have been so bad.

When I was pregnant with my third, I was very lucky to see a very understanding midwife at my 28 week routine appointment where I expressed how exhausted and worn out I was mentally. She encouraged me to seek help there and then, which helped that experience of postnatal depression to just be in the background, rather than taking over those early months of my new baby.

My eldest is now 7 but experience of PND after her birth will stay with me for a long time. The best way to describe how PND manifested for me almost straight away after the birth of my daughter is that the ‘headfog’ descended. My positive thoughts were constantly battling to get through the fog but the negative ones always slipped through with ease. The thoughts that would make me feel like I was better off not here, that my daughter deserved a happy mum.

I received very little professional support during any of my experiences other than being prescribed anti-depressants. Ultimately what would have a made a big difference to my journey with PND would have been access to accredited peer support, to have another mum say to me “I understand how you are feeling and I’m here to tell you it does get better, you won’t always feel this way”.

That is partly why I set up the Twitter support network I run via my profile @PNDandMe. I’m a trained Mental Health First Aider and I also have an ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) certificate. These help me to carry out #PNDHour safely which I think is massively important for anyone offering postnatal depression peer support.

Every Wednesday at 8pm, between 30-60 people tweet with the hashtag #PNDHour where we discuss a variety of topics surrounding perinatal mental illness, from seeking help to how it affects relationships. Those tweeting consist of mums with lived experience of perinatal mental illness (whether recovered or still battling), as well as midwives, health visitors and doctors. There is no judgement during the hour, just understanding and support. We have mums from all walks of life offering and receiving support from one another, and that is the beauty of it. We are all mums connected by one thing the experience of a perinatal mental illness – and all with the same aim: to feel less alone and more understood.

#PNDHour offers a hand to guide mums from the darkness of postnatal depression into the light. It helps mums to see they are not alone, that they don’t need to hide away, and that suffering with a perinatal mental illness doesn’t make them a bad mum. It gives mums a voice where they may not have had it before because it helps professionals see that it’s not just physical health that is important during pregnancy and in the postnatal period. It is SO important women take care of their mental health during this period of massive change.

Awareness of perinatal mental illnesses is hugely important from the start of pregnancy – it includes anxiety and OCD as well as antenatal and postnatal depression. The more knowledge a woman has of these illnesses the better prepared she will be should she begin to struggle and know that it’s ok to seek help and talk about it.

Rosey blogs at www.pndandme.co.uk where you can find more advice and support.

Rosey Wren lives in the Outer Hebrides and is a mum of three – Kimberley (7), Connor (5), and Harvey (2). She experienced antenatal and postnatal depression with all three children, and now runs the weekly #PNDhour support chat on Twitter. MAMA Academy is pleased to help promote #PNDhour as an important means of peer support for those experiencing perinatal mental health problems. Here Rosey explains more about it. When you become a mum it is the most wonderful experience but unfortunately many mums, approximately 1 in 7, like me will suffer with postnatal depression. It overshadows those early months taking away the joy that comes with being a new mum. This is where the importance of peer support alongside professional help can be a great benefit to a mum suffering with a perinatal mental illness, to help alleviate the loneliness and isolation that comes with battling a mental illness. When I experienced antenatal depression the first time I didn’t know it was an illness; I just assumed every expectant mum felt the same struggles and exhaustion I did so I didn’t talk to my midwife about it. If only I had known, it may have prevented my experiences with postnatal depression or at least they wouldn’t have been so bad. When I was pregnant with my third, I was very lucky to see a very understanding midwife at my 28 week routine appointment where I expressed how exhausted and worn out I was mentally. She encouraged me to seek help there and then, which helped that experience of postnatal depression to just be in the background, rather than taking over those early months of my new baby. My eldest is now 7 but experience of PND after her birth will stay with me for a long time. The best way to describe how PND manifested for me almost straight away after the birth of my daughter is that the ‘headfog’ descended. My positive thoughts were constantly battling to get through the fog but the negative ones always slipped through with ease. The thoughts that would make me feel like I was better off not here, that my daughter deserved a happy mum. I received very little professional support during any of my experiences other than being prescribed anti-depressants. Ultimately what would have a made a big difference to my journey with PND would have been access to accredited peer support, to have another mum say to me “I understand how you are feeling and I’m here to tell you it does get better, you won’t always feel this way”. That is partly why I set up the Twitter support network I run via my profile @PNDandMe. I’m a trained Mental Health First Aider and I also have an ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) certificate. These help me to carry out #PNDHour safely which I think is massively important for anyone offering postnatal depression peer support. Every Wednesday at 8pm, between 30-60 people tweet with the hashtag #PNDHour where we discuss a variety of topics surrounding perinatal mental illness, from seeking help to how it affects relationships. Those tweeting consist of mums with lived experience of perinatal mental illness (whether recovered or still battling), as well as midwives, health visitors and doctors. There is no judgement during the hour, just understanding and support. We have mums from all walks of life offering and receiving support from one another, and that is the beauty of it. We are all mums connected by one thing - the experience of a perinatal mental illness - and all with the same aim: to feel less alone and more understood. #PNDHour offers a hand to guide mums from the darkness of postnatal depression into the light. It helps mums to see they are not alone, that they don’t need to hide away, and that suffering with a perinatal mental illness doesn’t make them a bad mum. It gives mums a voice where they may not have had it before because it helps professionals see that it’s not just physical health that is important during pregnancy and in the postnatal period. It is SO important women take care of their mental health during this period of massive change. Awareness of perinatal mental illnesses is hugely important from the start of pregnancy – it includes anxiety and OCD as well as antenatal and postnatal depression. The more knowledge a woman has of these illnesses the better prepared she will be should she begin to struggle and know that it’s ok to seek help and talk about it. Rosey blogs at www.pndandme.co.uk where you can find more advice and support. You can also read more about postnatal depression on our website https://www.mamaacademy.org.uk/for-mums/postnatal-depression/

You can also read more about postnatal depression on our website https://www.mamaacademy.org.uk/for-mums/postnatal-depression/