Despite being one of the 10-15% of new mums that experience postnatal depression, Kavita, aka The Unlikely Mummy took it upon herself to raise awareness and shine a spotlight on this often unreported mental health issue.

Featuring on the likes of BBC Radio 4 Women's Hour and Channel 5 News speaking of her journey as well as starting her own amazing blog, Kavita kindly took the time to share her story with Book of Beasties...

What is it? #Postnatal depression is a common type of depression that some women experience after having a baby, although some women experience ‘baby blues’, for others it can last a little longer and that is when the #emotions, feelings and experiences are diagnosed as post–natal depression.

There are many factors that determines PND and I feel certain factors contributed to my diagnosis of PND. My pre-care with the midwives, my care within the delivery room, my care afterwards, my emergency caesarean.

Maybe it was the fact my husband returned to work after 5 days or was it just the fear of being a mum who didn’t have a clue. Was it the loneliness I experienced when I was left on my own? I honestly do not know what the reason was for why I had or why I at times still think I have PND, but I am grateful I asked for help when I did, and I still ask for help today.

Postnatal depression doesn’t have to define your early days of motherhood, nor does it have to define you completely, it is a chapter in your life that some experience more of whereas, other don’t experience it at all. Either way, it really is just a chapter and one that can be overcome after the feeling of being constantly overwhelmed has passed.

For me, I struggled with this in the early days, I felt so ashamed for not instantly falling in love with my son, I felt guilty that I struggled to feed him but worse of all, I felt nothing for the want of my life. I didn’t understand it at the time but the anger that was building up and the anger I felt was toxic.

I was unable to care for my son in the best way I should have, the care for myself or my husband didn’t exist and all I wanted to do every moment I had was cry, that to me was mental health. My health was hurting, I didn’t know what I could do to help it. What I do know now and what I had wished I had known during those early days was the #health part of #mentalhealth.

I wish I concentrated on the HEALTH side of mental health. I wish I had a better diet, exercised more, cared for myself, had the right people to talk to. Most of all, I wish I had just loved myself. It is hard for me to admit that I felt like a failure and there is a lot of fear and regret in my past behaviour. I lost a part of me, friendship groups, respect for myself, but worst of all, I miss the person I knew I could have been and the person I wish my son first met.

When I was told I had PND, I lost a part of myself forever and a part I know I will never get back. That is the saddest part. You hear all the time that you are never the same person once you are a mum and #motherhood can change a person. The truth is I hated the change, I craved my old life and at times I hated what I had because it took my freedom.

Now on reflection, it pains me to even think that way. There are so many people in the world longing for a baby, a family and what I have. Back then, all I had was hatred towards some of the things I was lucky to have. But that was me then not me now. Now I am happy with what I have created, that cheeky grin that smiles back at me every morning is the greatest reward for all the self-help and therapy.

The hardest thing was returning to the woman I once was and now juggling between family and work is by far the greatest achievement. I was in awe of those who were ‘working’ mums and now that I am one, I understand the difficulties to it and I am proud of that, I am proud of what I have achieved and with the strength I have inside me to be an even better version of myself not just for me, but for my son.

Get in touch

We can all learn to live with mental health illnesses, we can all learn to deal with them too, but to overcome it is another story and a story that is often untold. However, as The Unlikely #Mummy, I am becoming to understand and gain the confidence in telling my story of beating the illness, or at least trying to.

I am slowly dealing and learning from my mental health challenges. When you feel ready, head over to my page and have a chat with me hello@theunlikelymummy.co.uk or just take a look at my journey so far on www.unlikelymummy.co.uk.

I think it is important to understand mental health, introduce talking about it early in schools and support everyone who suffers or encounters it. #Parents, grandparents, employees, employers, friends and #family - we all need to be aware of what mental health can be and ways we can all help.

None of us are alone, it isn’t contagious, we all can learn to help support each other. We just need to understand.

About Kavita

Working within my local council in Sports Development, I have a passion to give everyone an opportunity to be #healthy, whilst playing a game they love. 

My most favourite part of the day is being a mummy to my son and wife to my husband, two things for me that have been the hardest and two things I work at every day. 

From this I created The Unlikely Mummy to provide, in opinion a real account of parenting while giving mums a safe place to be. I have a big focus on mental health because I have lived it, however, I’m also just a mum wanting to support and help other mums and families.

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