Become a contributor and register to submit your story!
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

Boobingit
  • Mama Stories
  • Breastfeeding and…
    • All
    • Being prepared
    • Covid19
    • Doing it longterm
    • Products + Reviews
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Sleep
    • Style
    • Support
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    Breastfeeding my son with Down Syndrome has been hard but it’s given me a sense of empowerment

    Breastfeeding my son with Down Syndrome has been hard but empowering

    Laid back nursing – what it is and how it can be beneficial

    Do you breastfeed in secret? 

    My sister gave me the confidence to breastfeed

    Empty Jury Seats in Courtroom

    Australian Judge under fire for ordering breastfeeding mother to leave courtroom

    Mothers Day Giveaway – Win £100 gift card to spend at Bump & Milk

    Mothers Day Giveaway – Win £100 gift card to spend at Bump & Milk

    Mothers Day gifts for the breastfeeding mama

    Mothers Day gifts for the breastfeeding mama

    Trending Tags

    • breastfeeding
    • covid vaccine and breastfeeding
    • breastfeeding and Covid19
    • Hypnobirthing and breastfeeding
    • boobingit podcast
    • Latched breastfeeding bra
    • breastfeeding support
    • diy breast milk soap
    • Sleep
    • Covid19
    • Being prepared
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    • Doing it longterm
  • Resources
    • Guides
      • Breastfeeding after giving birth
      • Breastfeeding after a c-section
      • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
      • Breastfeeding the unsettled baby
      • Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome
      • Breastfeeding positions
      • Responsive feeding
      • Breastfeeding and teething
      • Breastfeeding in public
      • Breastfeeding at Christmas
      • Breastfeeding multiples
      • Expressing milk
      • Breast refusal
      • Bottle refusal
      • Tongue Tie in babies
      • Mastitis
      • Relactation and Induced Lactation
      • Breast milk soap
      • Babywearing
      • Weaning a nursing child
      • Transitioning baby to solid foods
    • A-Z Glossary
  • The Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book
  • Mama Stories
  • Breastfeeding and…
    • All
    • Being prepared
    • Covid19
    • Doing it longterm
    • Products + Reviews
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Sleep
    • Style
    • Support
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    Breastfeeding my son with Down Syndrome has been hard but it’s given me a sense of empowerment

    Breastfeeding my son with Down Syndrome has been hard but empowering

    Laid back nursing – what it is and how it can be beneficial

    Do you breastfeed in secret? 

    My sister gave me the confidence to breastfeed

    Empty Jury Seats in Courtroom

    Australian Judge under fire for ordering breastfeeding mother to leave courtroom

    Mothers Day Giveaway – Win £100 gift card to spend at Bump & Milk

    Mothers Day Giveaway – Win £100 gift card to spend at Bump & Milk

    Mothers Day gifts for the breastfeeding mama

    Mothers Day gifts for the breastfeeding mama

    Trending Tags

    • breastfeeding
    • covid vaccine and breastfeeding
    • breastfeeding and Covid19
    • Hypnobirthing and breastfeeding
    • boobingit podcast
    • Latched breastfeeding bra
    • breastfeeding support
    • diy breast milk soap
    • Sleep
    • Covid19
    • Being prepared
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    • Doing it longterm
  • Resources
    • Guides
      • Breastfeeding after giving birth
      • Breastfeeding after a c-section
      • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
      • Breastfeeding the unsettled baby
      • Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome
      • Breastfeeding positions
      • Responsive feeding
      • Breastfeeding and teething
      • Breastfeeding in public
      • Breastfeeding at Christmas
      • Breastfeeding multiples
      • Expressing milk
      • Breast refusal
      • Bottle refusal
      • Tongue Tie in babies
      • Mastitis
      • Relactation and Induced Lactation
      • Breast milk soap
      • Babywearing
      • Weaning a nursing child
      • Transitioning baby to solid foods
    • A-Z Glossary
  • The Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

Boobingit
No Result
View All Result
Home Breastfeeding And... Self-care

Perinatal anxiety and postnatal PTSD during a pandemic

Georgina Withers by Georgina Withers
March 12, 2021
in Breastfeeding And..., Covid19, Self-care, Support
0
perinatal anxiety and postnatal PTSD

When my husband and I decided to try for a baby I had a lovely idea of what my pregnancy and maternity leave would be. There would be family visiting and cooing over the baby, coffee dates and playdates with friends and their babies, breastfeeding support groups, baby swim classes…

I imagined all the lovely things we’d do as a family and with those we loved. Don’t get me wrong I’m realistic and know there’s no such thing as perfect, but never could I have imagined how different my ideal maternity leave and the reality would be. Nor could I have imagined how having a baby during a pandemic would affect my mental health.

My baby was born at just 30 weeks and that’s when my maternity leave started

My maternity leave started way earlier than I expected after giving birth to my daughter prematurely at 30 weeks. The first 5 weeks were spent in NICU away from my husband and family. Baby Freya was so tiny and needed expert care. I didn’t get to take her home as others did and couldn’t see my husband with her until our discharge (you can read my birth and breastfeeding story here). As you can imagine it was a really stressful and agonising time for us.

Once discharged from hospital my husband and I breathed a sigh of relief. We could finally be a family and I could start to enjoy my maternity leave. I was so excited to finally be able to introduce Freya to all her loved ones and start making memories together.

We got a glimmer of ‘normal life’ for a few weeks

Fortunately, when I had Freya, the UK’s lockdown had just ended a few weeks prior. However, Covid was still at the forefront of everything and it was especially on our minds due to Freya being so small and vulnerable.

We were able to go and get coffee and even went to a petting zoo. It felt good to do these things after being in hospital for so long, but Covid was always on my mind. I was always trying to be as safe as possible. I would change her in the pram instead of touching changing facilities and I would keep her away from anyone we didn’t know as best I could.

Covid was always on my mind. I would change her in the pram instead of touching changing facilities and I would keep her away from anyone we didn’t know as best I could.

Georgie

My support system was taken away from me

Soon, the bit of freedom we had started to enjoy again was soon taken away from us as a new lockdown was enforced. Once again we were limited to what we could do and who we could see. Family and friends who had only seen Freya when first discharged couldn’t see our little miracle grow other than on social media. My support had been taken from me, I had to go through things as a new mum on my own when normally you could have that support that others had.

Even baby groups were not allowed. The chance to discuss things with other new mums, ask for advice and discuss any worries. The chance to make new friends was taken from us. Shopping for our babies was now done online.  Baby swim classes had stopped which Freya and I had really been enjoying together. We were even prohibited to travel to go for a walk and this had been my therapy. I wondered if my entire maternity leave would be this isolating and restrictive.

I’m now trying to cope with perinatal anxiety and postnatal PTSD

We were now confined to our house and the local park. No matter how positive I would try to remain for Freya, I still struggled with not being able to go out and about, take her to meet people, meet friends for coffee, meet new mums at baby groups, and just being able to lead a ‘normal’ life with my daughter.

No matter how positive I would try to remain for Freya, I still struggled with not being able to go out and about…to lead a ‘normal’ life with my daughter.

Georgie
maternity leave during a pandemic has taken a toll on my mental health

I will always be thankful that Freya is here for me to even have a maternity leave but I do feel sad for what I believe the two of us missed out on. I feel for all the mums during this pandemic who have had so much taken away from them and will no doubt return to work feeling they never had a ‘normal’ maternity leave.

One positive that I do take away from this pandemic is that I have been able to spend so much one on one time with Freya compared to if lockdown wasn’t in force. However, I do feel that having my baby during a pandemic has exacerbated the perinatal anxiety and postnatal Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following her premature birth. After contacting the wellbeing team in my local area I am now having Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help me.

I have so much respect for all the mums of the Covid pandemic. They have drawn strength from somewhere to carry on despite the challenging circumstances. We should all be so proud of ourselves, and remember to look after our mental health as best we can. 


Maternal mental health matters

According to the mental health charity MIND “A ‘perinatal’ mental health problem is one that you experience any time from becoming pregnant up to a year after you give birth.”

If you have concerns about your mental health and wellbeing before, during or after you’ve had a baby then please seek out help and support. Talk to friends and family about how you are feeling, speak to your doctor, midwife, or health visitor as they are there to help advise and support you. You can also make contact with mental health support groups and helplines, where you can speak confidentially.

Tags: motherhood mental health in the pandemic
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

“After a difficult birth, I wasn’t sure I could fulfil my dreams of breastfeeding”

Next Post

“I’ve reached my one year breastfeeding milestone, and can now say I have golden boobs!”

Georgina Withers

Georgina Withers

First time mummy to Freya born at 30 weeks weighing 2lb 10oz. Establishing breastfeeding as a first time mum to a premature baby is one of the biggest accomplishments in my life and we are still going 14 months later. Our breastfeeding journey talks about establishing breast feeding in NICU, CMPA, Reflux, postnatal anxiety and returning to work whilst breastfeeding

Next Post
one year breastfeeding milestone

"I've reached my one year breastfeeding milestone, and can now say I have golden boobs!"

Please login to join discussion

Recommended

Breastfeeding my son with Down Syndrome has been hard but it’s given me a sense of empowerment

Breastfeeding my son with Down Syndrome has been hard but empowering

6 hours ago
Laid back nursing – what it is and how it can be beneficial

Do you breastfeed in secret? 

6 days ago

Become a boobingit member today. It's FREE!

Sign up today for the latest breastfeeding information & inspiration.

Sign Up Now!

Trending

Beautiful couple being romantic and passionate in bed

Let’s talk about Sex and Breastfeeding

January 10, 2023
celebrity breastfeeding photos 2022

8 celebrity breastfeeding moments that broke the internet in 2022

December 29, 2022
Weaning a nursing child from the breast or chest 

Weaning a nursing child from the breast or chest 

January 5, 2023
Boobingit

Boobingit is here to inform, inspire, and empower you as you navigate your own unique breastfeeding journey.

Follow Boobingit on social

Be part of boobingit.com

Become a Partner

Become a Contributor

  • About boobingit
  • Shop
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2020, Boobingit - for breastfeeders everywhere.

  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
No Result
View All Result
  • Mama Stories
  • Breastfeeding and…
    • Sleep
    • Covid19
    • Being prepared
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    • Doing it longterm
  • Resources
    • Guides
      • Breastfeeding after giving birth
      • Breastfeeding after a c-section
      • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
      • Breastfeeding the unsettled baby
      • Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome
      • Breastfeeding positions
      • Responsive feeding
      • Breastfeeding and teething
      • Breastfeeding in public
      • Breastfeeding at Christmas
      • Breastfeeding multiples
      • Expressing milk
      • Breast refusal
      • Bottle refusal
      • Tongue Tie in babies
      • Mastitis
      • Relactation and Induced Lactation
      • Breast milk soap
      • Babywearing
      • Weaning a nursing child
      • Transitioning baby to solid foods
    • A-Z Glossary
  • The Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book

Sign up today to become a contributor and share your story!
Sign up now!

Copyright © 2020, Boobingit - for breastfeeders everywhere.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create a boobingit account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Breastfeeding for Beginners – Latches, letdowns & leaky boobs

Out Now!

Shop Now

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?