On Monday, 20th November, 2017, my colleague Vanessa Taylor, Head of Maternal Health and Wellbeing at MamaBabyBliss, and I were honoured to attend a debate at the House of Commons about improving the conditions of maternal mental health in the UK. The event was organised by Dr Raja Gangopadhay, an eminent consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, who specialises in perinatal mental health.
My Recovery Journey – Rose and Elijah
In this blog I am going to share my experience of Post-natal Depression and Adjustment Disorder, the highs, the lows and the bits in between. MamaBabyBliss were a part of this journey and together we want to raise awareness of pregnancy related mental health problems and how they can affect any mother or family. Most importantly, I want to share how despite the desperately painful times, there really is light at the end of the very dark and scary tunnel.
Be bold for change
Last week, I took part in the ‘Be Bold For Change’ initiative as part of International Women’s Day. Truth be told, I always feel somewhat ambivalent about International Women’s Day. After all, there isn’t an International Men’s Day and I suspect there would be general outrage if men suggested there was. But then again, if we look at what it means to be woman from a global perspective, then it is clear that as far as women’s rights go, there is still a job to be done.
But actually, in writing this it occurred to me that I don’t even have to look that far afield to spot that somehow there is still an imbalance, even in my own household.
Blue? OPPORTUNITY Monday
Blue Monday has been pin pointed as the most depressing day of the year. At MamaBabyBliss, we are not calling it Blue Monday any more. We are coining it “Opportunity Monday”. We feel we should be looking at all the factors that make us feel blue and creating positive behaviours for ourselves to benefit from through the rest of 2017 and beyond!
Below, we prescribe a good dose of the following remedies! Me time, happy jar, foods for healthy moods & planning ahead & changing career…
To the husband who forgot it was Christmas…
So today it is the 22nd December. Three days until Christmas or so I thought until my step-daughter sent me a message saying: “So excited! Can’t wait to see you on Friday!” Friday? Why Friday? I pose this question to my husband (who had been responsible for co-ordinating said visit with our eldest and her family plus my mother-in-law) says: “Because it’s Christmas Eve.” No, it’s not, I reply.
After him arguing that Friday IS Christmas Eve (DESPITE me waving the phone calendar in his face or rather aiming it to smack him very hard at the centre of his forehead), I take a deep breath and review the implications of Christmas arriving early.
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Self-care tips for busy mums!
Looking after a new baby can be incredibly stressful as it is 24/7, 364 days a year with sleep deprivation thrown in for good measure. As part of the NHS Self-Care Week initiative, we have created some practical everyday tips to get some well-deserved me-time (with baby even) in just a few minutes every day.