Most mums-to-be have heard the term Post Natal Depression (PND). However, have you heard of the term Antenatal Depression? This is my story of how antenatal depression affected my pregnancy, and how carrying my son helped me to heal.

The First Half

Up until I was 19 weeks pregnant with my first baby,  things had gone  pretty well. I had no morning sickness. I hadn’t take a single day off work despite fertility treatment,  and had no complications unless you count some pretty bad indigestion. We had been on holiday, made plans to see friends, and life carried on pretty much as normal. The media told me that I should be glowing, feeling the wonder of a little life growing inside of me, and connecting with my baby. Friends asked constantly how the baby was doing, if I knew what I was having, had I chosen any names.

Things Changed

However my work situation had deteriorated. Support was lacking, and I just was not coping with doing my job. One incident left me lying on the floor in the changing rooms sobbing my heart out for an hour. I was sent home sick, and managed to get a GP appointment. He quickly identified me as suffering from a “depressive episode”, and made an immediate referral to the Perinatal Midwife at my maternity unit.

I had never heard the term Antenatal Depression before, despite being a health care professional myself. Nobody I had ever met had suffered from it to my knowledge. It was to take over the remainder of my pregnancy.

The Blur

The next weeks passed in a bit of a blur. I cried the whole way through our 20 weeks scan. I sobbed through a dental hygienist appointment. I blubbed through an appointment with an obstetrician who carried on as if nothing was happening. Apart from appointments I sat in the house, claiming I was watching Wimbledon on the TV, or sleeping. I couldn’t face going to the supermarket. I ducked out of plans with others. I sobbed through telephone counselling appointments arranged by my work. At a “wellness” meeting with my manager I was so upset she was reluctant to let me drive home as she thought I would crash.

I Was A Fraud

I didn’t care. Although I could see my bump growing I struggled to believe that I was actually pregnant. I was a fraud. I didn’t deserve to be a mum. The pregnancy was a mistake, what was I thinking?! I told my husband I was going to leave him with the baby as soon as it was born. In fact, there was no need for me to be around at all. I was a horrible person, and I was better off not in this world. If the baby had a quiet day and wasn’t kicking I didn’t care. I couldn’t go in to the nursery. I felt massive amounts of guilt that I didn’t love my baby. I felt so alone and isolated, and told very few people what was going on as I felt judged.

The Turning Point

And yet I had the insight to know that I was not myself. I was very fortunate that a new Perinatal Mental Health team had been set up in my area, and I was referred and seen very quickly. The care and support I got from them, my midwives and GPs was to probably save my life. They supported me through the rest of my pregnancy, which was further complicated by anaemia and gestational diabetes. And my husband was amazing, supporting me emotionally, eating the same meals as me, and reassuring my that I was beautiful even when I felt like a hippo. Most importantly he believed that I would love my baby, even thought I didn’t.

I’m Finally A Mum

Three years after we started trying to start a family, I was finally a mum. Baby Matthew didn’t have the most straight forward start in life. He spent his first three nights of life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and suffered from severe reflux. And yet, I loved him. It was not that big rush of love that some people tell you about, it was a more gradual process. Even the day after he was born I felt the fog of depression lifting.

Carrying Connects

So what does this have to do with carrying? Matthew and I went to our local sling library when he was a few weeks old and we started using a stretchy wrap. At first I saw it as a tool to free up my hands and get on with things… and then I realised that holding Matthew close to me helped me feel better. It made him cry less, and even when he was crying it was less shrill. I looked him in the eye, spoke to him and involved him in making decisions – kind of! We danced and swayed, I pulled funny faces in the mirror, and learned to interpret his cues. I describe carrying M in a stretchy as being like a big long cuddle without your arms getting tired. I felt that bond that I never felt while he was in my womb. I was a mother at last. We were connected.

Practical Parenting

Carrying Matthew has also helped in other ways. My husband used a sling from the early days, and seeing them together warms my heart and helps us feel like a true family. Carrying enabled us to keep him upright after feeds, reducing his reflux. We are able to get out and about more easily, without the anxiety of manoeuvring a buggy, which has helped us to cope with life as new parents. M is at eye level so strangers engage, and talk to him and us where they wouldn’t if he was in a pram. The sling acts as a great ice breaker with other parents.

Caring Is Sharing

I wanted to share my love of babywearing with other families, so trained as a Peer Supporter and then a Babywearing Consultant. I have met hundreds of families over the last two years, increasing my confidence as I have found them the right sling. Getting along side families in those precious first weeks, and sharing with them the many benefits of using a sling has been amazing.

Let’s Talk

I strongly believe that carrying my son, together with the support of my healthcare team and family, has helped my recovery from antenatal depression . I also believe that it has helped to prevent post-natal depression, which I was at high risk of developing. When discussing my pregnancy I now feel able to discuss my experience and hope that it will become more widely recognised. As many a one in ten pregnant women is thought to be affected by depression and anxiety, so let’s talk about it. If you are struggling, please talk to your midwife or GP, or contact PANDAS Foundation UK. http://www.pandasfoundation.org.uk/

To find out more about the benefits on mental health from babywearing, how to do it safely and advice on slings visit Carrying Matters, https://www.carryingmatters.co.uk/

Ruth Grint is a babywearing consultant based in Wirral, Merseyside.  Ruth offers one to one consultations on slings and carrying, as well as offering a range of slings in the Carrying Connects Shop. 

www.carryingconnects.com