Episode 19 - bonus
Frightened of My Baby: EVE CANAVAN (MMHAW Special Pt.1)
I chat to perinatal mental health blogger, peer supporter and charity campaigner Eve Canavan, BEM in this Blue MumDays special for Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. Eve is a founding member of the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership and the lead co-ordinator for MMHAW - now in its 6th year and a global success. In this fantastic and super honest chat, Eve tells me about her lived experience of postpartum psychosis, 12 years ago after the birth of her son.
(In Part 2, she discusses the birth of MMHAW and how she collaborated with EastEnders to deliver Stacey's PPP storyline.)
*TRIGGER WARNING: POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS, brief mention of MISCARRIAGE*
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
[00:00] Teaser quote.
[01:40] Introduction to Eve Canavan.
[05:31] Life before motherhood.
[10:20] Why it's important for women to own their own experiences.
[13:00] Suffering incontinence after giving birth.
[14:07] Bleeding after birth - 'lochia'.
[17:51] Speaking out about perinatal illness - sharing your story.
[25:11] Eve's birth experience.
[27:10] The first signs that things weren't right.
[32:24] Leaving hospital - early signs of postpartum psychosis.
[34:41] Realising she was frightened of her baby - feeling trapped.
[37:15] Escalating psychosis.
[40:07] Being fobbed off
[43:11] Finally seeing a psychiatrist - being admitted to a Mother & Baby Unit.
[45:15] Given medication to help and exposure therapy.
[50:25] Getting better - Home-Start, complex PTSD and EMDR therapy.
[51:15] Wanting to tell her story - choosing what to share.
[54:31] The difference between the baby blues, PND and postpartum psychosis.
[57:03] Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Peer support can be a tremendous help - just knowing you are not alone and getting some hope of recovery. Try and find support groups in your local area (Facebook is normally helpful for this).
- Information on double wombs can be found on this link.
- You can read Eve's blog here.
- Perinatal Mental Health Partnership
- Action on Postpartum Psychosis.
- Don't be afraid to tell your GP or health visitor about how you're really thinking or feeling - it may feel frightening, but it's really crucial for getting the support you need.
- Home-Start - local support for families.
- EastEnders: Stacey's storyline
- Mind - the mental health charity's information on postpartum psychosis
If you enjoyed this episode, please share, rate and subscribe. It really does make the difference in helping others find it – which means helping more parents in need.
Follow us:
Join our Facebook Group
Email: bluemumdays@gmail.com
SEASON 2 *COMING SOON*
We are taking a very short break, but have a fantastic Season 2 lined up - we can't wait to share it with you very soon - watch this space!
SUPPORT:
If you are struggling right now, please know that it’s okay to talk and reach out for help.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND WILL NOT FEEL THIS WAY FOR EVER.
We hope these support services are helpful (please note we do not check or monitor them individually).
Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP)
Moderated Forum, click here to find out more.
Email: app@app-network.org
Tel: 020 3322 9900
AIMS for better birthing.
Email: helpline@aims.org.uk
This email will go to a group of AIMS volunteers and someone will respond as soon as possible.
Telephone: +44 (0) 300 365 0663
You will be able to leave a voicemail message which will be sent to all our Helpline Volunteers. Please include your name, phone number and brief details of your enquiry. A Volunteer will try to call you back as soon as possible.
Andy's Man Club
A non-judgemental talking group for men
https://andysmanclub.co.uk/club-information/clubs/
Email: info@andysmanclub.co.uk
Association of Postnatal Illness
Helpline: 10am – 2pm – 0207 386 0868
Email: info@apni.org
Live chat online facility
Free NHS-accredited Baby Buddy app offering
evidence-based information and self-care tools to help parents during pregnancy
and early stages of parenting.
App users also have access to a confidential, text-based Crisis Messenger which provides
24/7 support for new and expectant parents who are feeling extremely anxious or overwhelmed.
email: info@bipolaruk.org
Email: support@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
Contact CALM
on their national helpline: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight)
Email: lwise@talktalk.net (Liz Wise)
Mobile: 07773 283556
Contact: for families with disabled children
Support, advice and information for parents with disabled children.
- helpline: 0808 808 3555
- website: https://contact.org.uk/
Offers support and knowledge through a community of dads on practical parenting and fatherhood.
Family Lives
An organisation providing immediate help from volunteer parent support workers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- helpline: 0808 800 2222
- website: www.familylives.org.uk
Family Rights Group
Support for parents and other family members whose children are involved with or need social care services.
- helpline: 0808 801 0366
- website: www.frg.org.uk
Fathers Reaching Out
https://www.reachingoutpmh.co.uk/
Run by Mark Williams, campaigner, speaker and writer, offering support to dads.
A grassroots organisation committed to changing Black women and birthing people’s maternal health outcomes in the UK.
fivexmore@gmail.com
Gingerbread
Single parents, equal families. Help and advice on the issues that matter to lone parents.
- helpline: 0808 802 0925
- website: www.gingerbread.org.uk
A directory of mental health support around the UK.
Supporting LGBT+ women & people globally on the path to motherhood or parenthood.
Email: contact@lgbtmummies.com
Make Birth Better (Birth Trauma Support)
Email: hello@makebirthbetter.org
Peer support available, email info@maternalocd.org to
arrange
Dedicated to sharing and supporting the black maternal experience through peer support, projects and advocacy.
Offering Trauma, Mindfulness and Meditation sessions for Mothers and Mums to be with an NHS Mental Health Specialist, who’s also a Mother.
motivationalmumsclub@gmail.com
Open conversations around fatherhood, including blogs, peer support and podcasts.
hello@musicfootballfatherhood.com
Helpine: 0800 999 5786, open Mon-Fri 10am –
4pm with support offered in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Mirpuri, Putwari, Hindko,
and Bengali.
Email: info@mwnhelpline.co.uk
Online chat: www.mwnhelpline.co.uk
Text: 07415 206 936
Netmums offer peer support via their Maternal Mental Health Drop-In
NHS
Contact your local GP surgery.
Call the NHS on 111
or contact a local NHS urgent mental health helpline
If you are in crisis, visit Accident & Emergency at your nearest hospital.
Helpline open from 9am-8pm every day – 0843 2898 401
Email support available – info@pandasfoundation.org.uk
Petals offers free-of-charge specialist counselling to anyone who has experienced pregnancy
or baby loss.
Web: petalscharity.org/counsellingcontact/
Email: counselling@petalscharity.org
Tel: 0300 688 0068
Tel: 116 123
(this is a free telephone number and will not appear on the phone bill)
Web: www.samaritans.org
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Text SHOUT to 85258 to start a confidential conversation with a trained Shout volunteer.
Twinline is Twins Trust’s listening service for parents of twins, triplets and more. All
the calls are answered by volunteers who have multiples themselves.
Twinline is open Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm and from 7pm to 10pm. 0800 138 0509,
alternatively email asktwinline@twinstrust.org.
Web: twinstrust.org/let-us-help/support/twinline.html
Tommy’s has a team of in-house midwives who offer free support and information for women and their families at any stage of pregnancy and after the birth.
Web: www.tommys.org
Helpline: Tommy’s
helpline has been closed temporarily but their midwives are answering questions
via email, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Email: midwife@tommys.org
MUSIC by Joseph McDade
