Rediscovering you - Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2024

'Rediscovering you' is this year's theme for Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. As we know, welcoming a baby into the world is undoubtedly one of life's most profound experiences, but amidst the joys and responsibilities of parenthood, we often find themselves navigating transitions in our identities. Particularly for mothers, the journey of rediscovering oneself after having a baby entails nurturing not only our new born baby, but also prioritising our own mental and physical health.  

The arrival of a baby heralds a significant shift in priorities and routines. Suddenly, the once familiar landscape of our daily habits are transformed into a whirlwind of cuddles, nappy changes, and sleepless nights. Amidst this period, we can ourselves grappling with a sense of identity loss as we navigate the transition from having time for ourselves to the role of caregiver. Nonetheless, it is important to recognise that embracing this change does not equate to losing ourselves and there are things we can do to bring in our old hobbies and interests.

In the whirlwind of caring for a new born, it is easy to neglect our own mental and physical health. However, prioritising wellbeing is paramount for both us as mothers, and for our child's happiness. A good place to start when thinking of our own wellbeing, can be incorporating self-care practices into the daily routine, such as ensuring we are eating throughout the day, taking a shower and getting dressed. It may help to involve seeking support from loved ones, a partner or family member, or even a friend who can help. 

As we navigate the demands of parenthood, it is also essential not to lose sight of interests that once brought us joy and fulfilment. It can be so hard to find the time to complete activities that we used to enjoy doing, whether it be pursuing a hobby, engaging in creative endeavours, exercising, or even focusing on a career. If we are able to reconnect with these pursuits it can reignite a sense of purpose and help us to rediscover who we are.

Sometimes it helps to think about what purpose an old activity gave us, and can I get that same sense of achievement from something different? If before becoming a Mother you used to like going to the gym to socialise as well as exercising, is there another way of socialising by joining a local baby group, a buggy walk, or story time at the library, which will give you the same sense of belonging. 

For me when I became a Mum, one of the things I found helpful to rediscovering my identity, was to join a parent and baby walking community and become a local walk organiser in my area. Being outdoors and walking was something that I had enjoyed tremendously before becoming a Mother, and finding a community of like-minded parents to share the joys of the countryside really helped me to rediscovering who I was. The benefits of being outside on both physical and mental health are widely known and it felt like a good match for my baby too. I found that he slept well in the fresh air when he was first born, and it has been wonderful to see him exploring and becoming independent as he grows into a confident toddler.  I’m still amazed by the hidden gems on my door step, which I love exploring with my son. It has also helped me to make new friends with whom I can share difficulties with as well as the good times. And it always helps if there is a café at the end of our walks.   

In essence, it is important to remember who we are in the midst of parenting and aiming to rediscover ourselves can help with this. If you are thinking that you would like to give it a go at 'rediscovering you' after giving birth, but don’t know where to start, then TALKWORKS is here to help. By engaging with the service your therapist will support you with an assessment of your presenting difficulties, help you to devise goals you would like to achieve, and discuss any barriers that might be getting in the way of achieving them.

With the help of TALKWORKS and your therapist they can point you in the right direction to 'rediscovering you'.  

HOW CAN I ACCESS SUPPORT FROM TALKWORKS?

You don’t need to visit your GP in order to access our service. You can self-refer to TALKWORKS or call 0300 555 344 (phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am – 4:45pm) and speak to a member of our friendly team. As Devon’s Talking Therapies service, all treatment and support accessed through TALKWORKS is available free of charge.