I’m a postnatal depression survivor, author of Motherhood – The Unspoken, (the second edition is coming out this year, whoop!!), motivational speaker, award-winning mentor, mother of three (including twins) & wife to an amazing husband, who is on a mission to put an end to suffering in silence in (new) mums & postnatal depression!
After my twin boys were born, I struggled with severe postnatal depression (PND).
This was frankly the scariest experience of my life and something I don’t wish on anyone.
Saying I felt low at the time would be an understatement.
I hated being a mum, I longed to turn back time and was even suicidal at one point.
I felt incredibly ashamed about how I felt and put all the effort into hiding my feelings.
Outwardly, I was the happy, relaxed mum I thought I should be but inside, I was falling apart.
However, my story isn’t unique.
There are thousands of mums (and dads) around the world who suffer in silence.
Statistics say that 1 in 7 women suffers from PND. However, these are all reported cases so the real numbers are even more alarming.
I am convinced that one of the main causes of postnatal depression is unrealistic expectations about motherhood. (Social) media and the environment feed us with the illusion that motherhood is nothing but pure joy and happiness.
However, this is often not the case. Becoming a mum is a huge shock to the system. It takes time to adjust to all the changes that come with a baby and the process is painful, both physically and emotionally.
But since these facts are not spoken about, if a new mum does not feel happy, she often feels like a failure and suffers in silence, and falls into depression.
But even if it does not go as far as depression, being a mum is far from a bed of roses, and without relevant information and support, it can (and it often does) lead to it.
Once I understood this, I KNEW I had to make a difference.
I set up @Mumsjourney, published the book Motherhood – The Unspoken, organised workshops for new parents, and eventually also started 1-2-1 mentoring.
It has not been easy to run a business while looking after small children, but the memory of how lonely and low I felt once – and the idea that there are thousands of mums out there who feel like it RIGHT NOW – is my fuel that keeps pushing me forward.
Thanks for reading and always remember how amazing you are!
Love,
Ivana xx
From the blog:
The BEST new mum advice (from real mums who have been here)
How to easily let go of the need to be a perfect mum
8 Simple tips for surviving the extra tough mum days
