Perinatal Mental Health has impacted pregnant women and MBRACE (2020) reports that Maternal suicide remains the leading cause of direct deaths occurring within the first year postnatally.
Perinatal mental health has an impact on the baby/child, the woman's personal health and effects how she bonds with her baby. Pregnant women who have mental health issues are more likely to go into preterm labour (<37 weeks gestation) and have a complicated pregnancy and birth (Got et al, 2010). There has been a huge increase in the need for mental health support especially since the COVID19 pandemic. If women engage in treatment they are shown to have better antenatal care than those who do not (MBBRACE, 2014).
I have had personal experience of antenatal and postnatal depression and can not comprehend the additional challenges associated with COVID restrictions on pregnant and new mums during this pandemic and how these may impact women's perinatal mental health.
The things I found helpful were relaxation techniques, Reiki and meditation, walking and gentle exercise preferably outside in nature and talking to people I could trust about my thoughts and feelings including my family, friends, GP and Midwife. I also had medication, because I was in a crisis situation at one point and this saved my life. One Nurse in particular was an absolute God send, she recognised my desperation while sitting in the waiting room at the Doctors and wrapped me up in understanding, compassion and genuine care. Helen, thank you, I will never forget your kindness.
I have developed Breathe and Bloom, which is a space where expectant and new parents can come to either prepare for labour and birth by accessing a specially formulated evidence based Hypnobirthing course or take some much need restoration as new parents, by accessing the Reiki and Holistic Therapy sessions we offer. The aim and essence of Breathe and Bloom is to positively change experiences for the better during this very important rite of passage into Motherhood.
Pregnant women and parents can take back some control and reduce feelings of stress and in-balance by accessing a support such as Breathe and Bloom, where interesting and relevant topics are discussed in our quarterly Newsletter and our Facebook Focus Group has lots of engaging and relevant content.
I don't know what I would have done without the mum and baby group I attended with my first son, breastfeeding support group and my newly found support network of mums after having my babies. Especially following the birth of our second son when I felt extremely low. I don't know why I felt more depressed after the birth of our second son; maybe it was the tiredness of looking after a 2 and half year old along with a new born, maybe it was that the birth of our second son did not go to plan (we had planned another home-birth) due to my blood pressure being elevated, my mum had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer during this pregnancy, I was working as a Community Midwife at the time, working 'on calls' and we were doing major house renovations too. I needed to be well for our kids but the pressure was only ever put on myself by myself and this just made everything so much worse.
All these circumstances and situations elevated my stress levels and this has been proven to negatively impact mental health for some people; in my case it certainly did.
Reaching out for help is a good thing, and it was around this time that I discovered self help strategies, such as Reiki for example, to help me through this very challenging time in my life.I became a Reiki practitioner and now Breathe and Bloom offers Reiki sessions, this is a wonderful Holistic Therapy that can help you recover, relax and rebalance.
I hope you do visit Breathe and Bloom and try a Reiki session, you can book onto the sessions now via our website.
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