Post-natal depression and anxiety is thought to affect one-in-10 mums within one year of giving birth but what's most concerning is that so many women have expressed that they didn't feel they could speak out about it, or that they didn't even realise what they were suffering from while it was happening.
This month marks Maternal Mental Health Month, and Chrissy Teigan has launched an initiative to get women sharing what they wish they'd known while they were in the midst of post-natal mental health issues.
Mums are being invited to post a picture that captures what it felt like having a new baby, along with a message of what they wish they'd known at the time, using the hashtag #MyWishForMoms.
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Joining in on the hashtag, Dr Melody Burgess wrote: "I wish I knew the heart explosion of love you will feel after having your own baby, your soul vibrates and your heart pumps for them you would do absolutely anything for them...and in the same breath I wish I knew you could worry so much about a small human, and when they are upset and crying unable to be soothed with colic you feel so helpless and wish you knew how to help them. You fear for their safety and all of a sudden you feel your own mortality and don't want to spend a minute away from them!"
She continued: "Mummas out there all the sleepless nights are worth it! You're doing an incredible job and you're everything and more your baby needs! You don't need to be perfect your bubba already thinks you are! Just remember you're perfect in their eyes. If you need help definitely reach out to family friends or a professional it is not weak you're okay to ask for help and not be okay [sic]."
Alice from CrapNapChronicles' Instagram account joined in on the debate by sharing her experience with post-partum mental illness, explaining she had no "deep and moving story about my suffering."
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I don't have a courageous journey on getting help," she wrote. "Sharing this intimate aspect of my postpartum period makes me feel like an imposter because I wasn't in 'enough' pain, hurt, or anxiety. But I know that's ridiculous because there is no 'bandwagon' for mental health. Our experience, however severe or not, is a true experience, and looking back, I know lived in a fourth trimester fog with Amelia."
She continued: "I think it was especially hard with her because everyone assumes after your first child you know the signs to look for; how to get help; or know how to manage it. I, for one, have always been an advocate for 'you' to reach out for help, or being there for 'you' if 'you' need me. Yet, I remember seeing repeated texts from friends asking 'how are you?' They went unanswered. I recall @chuangerasked if I wanted to talk to someone. I didn't. At my 6 week check-up, my OB asked how I was, and I said 'fine'. Nobody blinked an eye. I suffered alone.
"And then, the dark fog lifted (almost as easily as it had set), and I moved on, friends and family none the wiser. Now, I cringe at myself for not asking for help - for not telling my doctor - for not talking to someone to help heal my soul, but such is life. We live, we learn, and we grow.
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"Please know that there is no 'minimum level of suffering' before your experience is worthy of help. And if you know a new mother, dig a little deeper and read between the lines. As uncomfortable as it might feel at the time, it won't be unappreciated in the end."
Priya Joshie shared a candid photo of herself being held by her husband, while she was still being stitched up post-birth. "After twelve hours of intense labour and one and half hours of pushing, I had no strength left in me for anything.
"I never imagined that child birth would be so painful and traumatic. How naive of me. What followed were months of post-natal anxiety.
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"I was in a perpetual haze of anxiety, not being able to fully be present, with an under-fed baby and feeling so alone most of the time. I was lost in this mind mess. I had not enjoyed pregnancy at all, and i did not enjoy the first few months of motherhood.
"#MyWishForMoms is that we are able to forgive ourselves and accept ourselves and our emotions and thoughts. Together, we can get through this!"
"Being a mom to a newborn is hard and in these first weeks I went through so much fear and pain," another mum wrote.
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"I remember the first time I tried to breastfeed at home and it took so long til it worked. I remember I could barely walk and was not allowed to, so I was attached to our sofa, breastfeeding every 1-2 hours, not getting any sleep (or not more than 1-2 hours consecutive) and thinking: is this my life now? I was crying a lot. I felt like I could not do this thing - being a mom."
She continued: "It took some time til we found a routine and I am lucky enough to have a supporting husband and amazing friends and family who could relate, who encouraged me to not give up and assured me that what I went through was normal. Being someone who suffered from depression and anxiety before pregnancy, I was pretty afraid of getting it again. I was looking for signs and preparing myself for the worst case. It didn't happen, thank God.
"I am 6 weeks postpartum now. There will be more tough moments, days and weeks in the future. But I know I will get through it! And I wish every new mom the support she needs and that she doesn't fear to speak about her feelings."
Tori Hyde added: "#MyWishForMoms with what you wish new moms would know. (Peep those bloodshot eyes in the 2nd pic from Hayes's delivery!)
"I didn't have [postnatal depression] diagnosed, but I definitely have cried more times than I ever have known possible, and I still don't feel in control of my emotions postpartum.
"It's crazy to feel this amount of love for someone, and also not know what you're doing (new motherhood lifeeee), and at the same time worry with every ounce of your being that you're doing enough for them.
"#MyWishForMoms is that they all know they're not alone and chances are if you text your other mama friends they will know exactly what you're going through. Also, that even when they don't feel like it, they're doing an AMAZING job - seriously - say it until you believe it [sic]."
Most importantly, the common denominator among all the women's stories, is that help is always available, and it does get better.
Any mums suffering and in need of someone to talk to should call the NCT helpline on 0300 330 0700.
Featured Image Credit: PexelsTopics: Life News, Real, Parenting