Episode 37

"My culture has no real word for mental health". The Unlikely Mummy: Kavita Trevena

Published on: 4th November, 2024

Kavita Trevena, founder of The Unlikely Mummy, shares her profoundly personal motherhood journey, including gestational diabetes, postnatal depression and being diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after two stressful births. Kavita also talks about a lack of openness around mental health issues in her culture, and a general lack of support for South Asian mums within maternal care services.

Kavita discusses her community-driven initiatives such as The Unlikely Mummy blog, counselling services, exercise therapies, and wellness activities designed to support mothers.

Far from being a heavy listen, Kavita was a joy to speak to and our positive conversation underlines a message of hope, resilience, and the importance of creating supportive networks for mothers.

*Trigger Warning* Postnatal Depression, Birth Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

In This Episode:

[00:00] Teaser quote.

[02:01] Introducing Kavita Trevena: founder of 'The Unlikely Mummy'.

[04:30] From being told she couldn't have children to a honeymoon baby - Kavita's journey through pregnancy.

[06:34] Discovery and challenges of Gestational Diabetes.

[13:16] The birth experience - an emergency caesarean.

[20:44] Postpartum struggles and support.

[23:16] Creating 'The Unlikely Mummy' community.

[28:34] Being diagnosed with PND (Postnatal Depression).

[31:04] The need for more support for mums. Growing the Unlikely Mummy to provide community support and specialist services.

[34:22] Running for the cause: The Big Half Marathon, raising funds for a Forest School, counselling and lactation consultant sessions.

[36:37] Starting a walking club for mums.

[40:14] Kavita's second pregnancy: psoriasis and setting up support in advance.

[43:10] Diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) for her first birth.

[47:19] Cultural barriers and lack of support for South Asian mums.

[55:23] The Unlikely Mummy: future plans and support.

[01:01:45] Final thoughts and encouragement.

Key Takeaways:

  1. The Unlikely Mummy's Insta page. 
  2. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition that affects women of reproductive age and is a leading cause of infertility. NHS information on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. It’s believed 1 in 10 women may suffer from PCOS.
  3. UK Government information on Gestational Diabetes, a type of diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can cause health problems in both mother and baby. Support is available from Gestational Diabetes UK.
  4. Dr. Hannah Short is a doctor who specialises in menopause and premenstrual disorders. Dr. Hannah Short's website. Listen to Hannah's episode:  Blue MumDays S2 Ep31: 'The one About Hormones: POI, PMDD, Endometriosis + PME.
  5. Postnatal depression is depression that happens after you've had a baby. It can range from mild to severe and is more common than you think. Up to 1 in 7 mums are affected and up to 1 in 10 dads. NHS information on Postnatal Depression. More information can be found here, Royal College of Psychiatrists page on PND.
  6. CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) is the name for the NHS services that assess and treat young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties. Find CAMHS support near you (UK only).
  7. Find out more about the Big Half Marathon, a 13.1 mile course weaves through London from Tower Bridge to the iconic Cutty Sark in Greenwich.  Donate to Kavita's Go Fund Me here.
  8. NHS information on psoriasis, an immune-mediated inflammatory skin condition that can be both physically and psychologically distressing. Support and information from the Psoriasis Association, a UK charity.
  9. Mind's guide on postnatal PTSD. Blue MumDays S1 Ep17: When Birth Leads to Trauma – listen to my conversation with Make Birth Better’s Dr. Rebecca Moore to learn more about birth trauma.
  10. In the UK, postnatal depression is more common in British South Asian women than white women. Cultural stigma can also contribute to Asian mums not seeking help. The ROSHNI-2 Study is evaluating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a CBT(Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) based positive health programme group intervention in British South Asian women with postnatal depression.
  11. Mindfulness is a technique that involves being fully aware of the present moment without judgment. Kavita's Mindfulness session for Maternal Mental Health Week.
  12. Eve Canavan BEM is an award-winning lived experience survivor of postpartum psychosis. She works tirelessly to support mums and families and is the co-founder and National Co-Ordinator of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week.  Blue MumDays S1 Ep 19: 'Frightened of My Baby' - Eve Canavan.
  13. For donating to The Unlikely Mummy: Account name: THE UNLIKELY MUMMY C / Sort Code: 51-70-14 / Account Number: 78918855.

Follow us:

Instagram / Twitter / Facebook Group / bluemumdays@gmail.com

Next Episode:

Next time I talk to the incredible 'Frontline Midwife' Anna Kent. Anna has delivered babies in war zones, caring for the most vulnerable women in the most vulnerable places in the world, including responsibility for the female health of 30,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Anna talks movingly about her own experience of motherhood, including the loss of her first baby Fatima. One of my very favourite conversations, I can't wait for you to hear it!

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.

You are not alone and will not feel this way forever.

Links to Support: (please note we do not check or monitor them individually).

1.    Acacia Family Support Pre and postnatal depression support for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic mums and dads.  0121 301 5990, help@acacia.org.uk. 

2.    Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) Moderated Forum, click here to find out more. Email: app@app-network.org / Tel: 020 3322 9900

3.    AIMS for better birthing. 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 (leave message)

4.    Andys Man Club A non-judgmental talking group for men. info@andysmanclub.co.uk

5.    Association of Postnatal Illness Helpline: 10am – 2pm – 0207 386 0868 / Email: info@apni.org (Live chat online facility)

6.    Best BeginningsFree NHS-accredited Baby Buddy app offering 24/7 App support for new parents

7.    Birth Trauma Association Email: support@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk

8.    CALM. National helpline: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight)

9.    Cedar House Support Group for mums with postnatal depression. Email: lwise@talktalk.net (Liz Wise) / Mobile: 07773 283556.

10. Contact - for families with disabled children. Helpline: 0808 808 3555.

11. Dad Matters. Support dads to have successful relationships with their families, with mental health and accessing services through peer support and signposting. kierananders@homestarthost.org.uk / 0161 344 0669

12. DadsNet offers support and knowledge through a community of dads on practical parenting and fatherhood.

13. Dope Black Dads - A digital safe space for fathers who wish to discuss their experiences of being black, a parent and masculinity in the modern world. hello@dopeblack.org

14. Family Lives provides immediate help from volunteer parent support workers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Helpline: 0808 800 2222.

15. Family Rights Group. Support for parents and other family members whose children are involved with or need social care services. Helpline: 0808 801 0366.

16. Fathers Mental Health UK is a UK-based community interest company dedicated to enhancing the mental health of fathers and their families, especially during the perinatal period. Run by paternal mental health pioneer Mark Williams, offering support to dads.

17. Fatherhood Solutions. Scott Mair is a consultant in paternal mental health and parent education, Peer support trainer. Dad, Husband, Army veteran. 

18. FiveXMore. A grassroots organisation committed to changing Black women and birthing people’s maternal health outcomes in the UK. Email: fivexmore@gmail.com

19. Gingerbread offer help and advice on the issues that matter to single parents. Helpline 0808 802 0925.

20. The Hub of Hope - A directory of mental health support around the UK.

21. Lactation Consultants of Great Britain – for support with breastfeeding.

22. LGBT Mummies support LGBT+ women & people globally on the path to motherhood or parenthood. Email: contact@lgbtmummies.com

23. Make Birth Better (Birth Trauma Support) Email: hello@makebirthbetter.org

24. The Maternal Mental Health Alliance is a UK charity and network of 130 organisations, dedicated to ensuring women and families affected by perinatal mental health problems have access to high-quality, compassionate care.

25. Maternal OCD Peer support available, email info@maternalocd.org to arrange.

26. Mayah's Legacy support and empower anyone who has experienced pregnancy loss to advocate for themselves. Email: info@bigoutreach.org / 0300 102 1596.

27. The Motherhood Group are dedicated to sharing and supporting the black maternal experience through peer support, projects and advocacy. info@themotherhoodgroup.com

28. Motivational Mums Club offer 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

29. Music Football Fatherhood offer open conversations around fatherhood, including blogs, peer support and podcasts. hello@musicfootballfatherhood.com

30. Muslim Women’s Network Helpline: 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 Text: 07415 206 936.

31. National Autistic Society for support and advice for parents and carers of autistic children, including support to develop a greater understanding of their child’s needs and accessing services that meet the family's needs.

32. Netmums offer peer support via their Maternal Mental Health Drop-InClinic.

33. NHS Services for Mental Health Issues Contact your local GP surgery. Call the NHS on 111 and press 2 for Mental Health Team or contact a local NHS urgent mental health helplineIf you are in crisis, visit Accident & Emergency at your nearest hospital.

34. PANDAS Helpline open from 9am-8pm every day – 0843 2898 401 info@pandasfoundation.org.uk

35. Perinatal Wellbeing Ontario offer pre-natal, pregnancy and postpartum support and connection in Canada. info@perinatalwellbeing.ca

36. Petals Baby Loss Charity offers free-of-charge specialist counselling to anyone who has experienced pregnancy or baby loss. Tel: 0300 688 0068 counselling@petalscharity.org

37. Transcript

VIKKI:

Mental health now is a subject that is very well spoken about.

2

:

Six years ago, no one

really spoke about it.

3

:

It was like, "oh, be quiet now, yeah,

yeah, yeah, you've got postnatal.

4

:

Like, you're miserable".

5

:

Like, "enjoy the fact

that you've got a baby".

6

:

Like, "be grateful you've got a baby."

7

:

Particularly in my culture, there's

no word, really, for mental health.

8

:

And where I've married, a white

person, and I'm in, like, that world,

9

:

I'm fortunate that he understands it.

10

:

But I worry, had I married into an Indian

culture, would I have got that support?

11

:

And I know plenty of Asian mums that have

had postnatal depression that have just,

12

:

"oh yeah, yeah, we had it, and we just

got on with it", because there was no

13

:

support, but I've been reading statistics

around Asian women that have died from

14

:

suicide in the first year because they

were undiagnosed postnatal depression,

15

:

because no one would listen to them.

16

:

KAVITA TREVENA: More

needs to be done for mums.

17

:

And I think that's the turning point

for me, for The Unlikely Mummy,

18

:

was to start fighting for mums.

19

:

You're never alone.

20

:

Never.

21

:

And if you are alone, that's

when you need to start reaching

22

:

out, because we will help you.

23

:

VIKKI: Having a baby is meant to be

the most joyful time of your life.

24

:

But for many mums and dads,

it can be the hardest and, at

25

:

times, the darkest of places.

26

:

Welcome to Blue MumDays, the podcast

for anyone struggling with parenting.

27

:

Everyone is welcome and

you're in a very safe space.

28

:

All the stories shared

here are from the heart.

29

:

Real life experience of people

who have been through it

30

:

and come out the other side.

31

:

You need to know that you are not

alone and these awful feelings

32

:

will not be with you forever.

33

:

Just one word.

34

:

These are real conversations

and may be triggering, so

35

:

please listen with discretion.

36

:

We will also signpost you

to help in the show notes.

37

:

Today's episode covers birth trauma,

and post traumatic stress disorder.

38

:

VIKKI: Today's guest is Kavita

Trevena, founder of The Unlikely Mummy.

39

:

Kavita created her community after being

diagnosed with postnatal depression,

40

:

following the birth of her first

child, and later with post traumatic

41

:

stress disorder after her second.

42

:

Initially, she began the community as

a way to express her frustrations about

43

:

parenting, but soon discovered that

many other parents shared her struggles.

44

:

This led her to grow The Unlikely

Mummy into a non-profit organisation

45

:

that supports not just mothers but all

parents and their supportive community.

46

:

Kavita has built a safe

and supportive space, where

47

:

individuals can access help through

48

:

counselling, exercise therapies,

retreats, forest schools, and a newly

49

:

launched Walking Club for mothers.

50

:

Her work is rooted in evidence-based

practices, with a strong focus on

51

:

supporting mental health and bonding

through research-backed approaches.

52

:

She works hard to ensure under-represented

groups receive the support they need,

53

:

and her dedication has earned her

awards as a blogger, community leader,

54

:

and Coronation Champion for her work

in supporting maternal mental health.

55

:

Thank you so much for

joining me today, Kavita.

56

:

I'm absolutely delighted to have

you, I've been wanting to get you

57

:

on the podcast for a long time.

58

:

KAVITA TREVENA: You

want to know a secret?

59

:

I've been wanting to be on your

podcast for an even longer time!

60

:

I was like, "When's it my turn?"

61

:

VIKKI: Kavita, I loved when we were

chatting about you coming on and you'd

62

:

mentioned about like "Oh, I'm really

sorry, I tend to tell jokes and things",

63

:

I just want to say "Bring it on!"

64

:

Because I really, whilst this is

a heavy topic - anything talking

65

:

about postnatal depression can be

really heavy - but actually, you

66

:

know, life is about laughter and life

is about the good moments as well.

67

:

And I don't ever want this to

be a really dark, heavy listen.

68

:

I want this to be uplifting and hopeful.

69

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Absolutely.

70

:

I think we will laugh, cry,

and all of it wrapped into one.

71

:

So yeah, I'm looking forward to this.

72

:

It's gonna be a great conversation.

73

:

VIKKI: Fantastic.

74

:

So, on the crying front, I'm a crier.

75

:

Honestly, every single episode,

there's a point you can actually tell

76

:

by, I get more and more sniffly.

77

:

So...

78

:

(laughter).

79

:

KAVITA TREVENA: That's not going to be my

aim today, is to make you cry, by the way.

80

:

Hopefully I won't make you cry!

81

:

VIKKI: It's all good - all emotion's good!

82

:

So, let's start with the pregnancies here.

83

:

You're a mum of two?

84

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yes.

85

:

VIKKI: Did you have a good

first pregnancy with your son?

86

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yes and no.

87

:

I didn't really accept

that I was pregnant.

88

:

So the story of me, because I

think if people aren't aware, or

89

:

you might not be aware, that I

was told I couldn't have children.

90

:

I have polycystic ovarian syndrome

( I'm covered in cysts, so I was

91

:

always told from 18, "If you ever

want children, we will help you.

92

:

It's unlikely you will fall pregnant

naturally, and there's options."

93

:

So I was tested to see

whether I had endometriosis.

94

:

So I've been to all the tests.

95

:

Before my husband and I got

married, all the cards on the

96

:

table were like, "We might not be

able to have children naturally.

97

:

Is that okay?"

98

:

And he wanted me, not the fact

that we could have children.

99

:

So that was brilliant.

100

:

So we were fine.

101

:

And cliche as it is, my

eldest is a honeymoon baby!

102

:

Doctors, no, they don't lie, but obviously

I'm a miracle and I defied all odds!

103

:

so, The whole pregnancy part of

things was us being newlyweds.

104

:

So I come from quite a relaxed

background, as in culturally

105

:

relaxed background with my

parents, but they wanted me to

106

:

get married before I moved out.

107

:

So the day we got married on a Sunday, I

moved into his house - it sounds like a

108

:

Craig David song - on the Monday, and then

we went on honeymoon on the Wednesday!

109

:

So I hadn't really lived with him

or spent that much time with just

110

:

us together, before really getting

married, even though , we've been

111

:

married seven years now and we're

still together, so obviously it works.

112

:

Then, a couple of months later, finding

out we were pregnant, was a really hard

113

:

pill to swallow, like, I was very excited

and very happy, but at the same time, I'm

114

:

like, "But I'm a newlywed, shouldn't I

be going on, like, really exotic holidays

115

:

every year now", and, " shouldn't we

be going on these beautiful long dates,

116

:

and just enjoying being us?", but...

117

:

we were just pregnant, so I

hid it for a very long time.

118

:

So I hid the pregnancy, not through

being, like, ashamed that I was pregnant,

119

:

but everyone was like, "But you've just

got married", like, "it's too soon".

120

:

And everyone loves an opinion,

don't they, so like...

121

:

VIKKI: Oh my god yes!

122

:

KAVITA TREVENA: ...I hid it

for a good chunk of time.

123

:

I hid it from work until I was like

20 weeks pregnant, and a lot of people

124

:

didn't even know I was pregnant.

125

:

If you weren't in my own little

mini circle, if you was on, like,

126

:

you know, like, the second layer

of a circle, you just didn't know.

127

:

The pregnancy was absolutely

fine, I just hid it, but I was

128

:

diagnosed with gestational diabetes

129

:

VIKKI: Oh,

130

:

KAVITA TREVENA: quite early on.

131

:

On my husband's birthday.

132

:

I had to do that test.

133

:

And then on my birthday, I found

out that I was on the marker for it.

134

:

So that kind of ruined the pregnancy a

little bit because I'm a vegetarian as

135

:

well, I just felt like I couldn't eat.

136

:

So the last couple of months

of pregnancy just was awful.

137

:

VIKKI: To explain for anybody that

isn't familiar with gestational

138

:

diabetes and what the ramifications

are for the pregnancy and for you, can

139

:

you tell us a little bit about that?

140

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah, absolutely,

from what I've understood it, or

141

:

how it was explained to me, I didn't

have diabetes, and my child doesn't

142

:

have diabetes, it's just that my body

was unable to process the insulin

143

:

or it wasn't transferring from me to

baby or if I was doing it, it was too

144

:

much and baby couldn't cope with it.

145

:

It's not what people think is I

was sitting there eating chocolate

146

:

every day, or I was sitting there

drinking cans of Coke every day.

147

:

It's got nothing to do with my lifestyle

or how I was eating during pregnancies.

148

:

It's a bit of potluck and a

bit of bad luck, if you like,

149

:

I don't know if I can say that!

150

:

But it's quite hereditary as well, so

if you're known to have diabetes in the

151

:

family, so your mum is type 2, or you're

slightly overweight, or you're from

152

:

an ethnic background, or if you're an

older mum, you're more likely to have the

153

:

chance of having gestational diabetes.

154

:

So, where I was on the border, I

was diet controlled, so I didn't

155

:

have to take any Metformin tablets

or insulin, which lots of women do

156

:

have to take, and there is support

out there if you do need to do that.

157

:

There's nothing, there's no right

or wrong way to have gestational

158

:

diabetes, it's just purely how your

body processes its food, and how it

159

:

takes the good things from the food.

160

:

So you would have a meal, you

would pinprick test like an

161

:

hour later, test it on a machine

to see where your sugars lied.

162

:

And I was really good.

163

:

Purely because I used to pretty much

starve myself, because I was so scared

164

:

that I would be killing my baby.

165

:

Because every time you had a

higher reading, it's potentially

166

:

dangerous for your child.

167

:

This is how it was explained to me.

168

:

And then they would grow too

big, they'd have too much fluid.

169

:

When you're pregnant, you'd have

to have a (Caesarean) section.

170

:

If you gave birth naturally, like,

they could break their shoulders

171

:

because they're too large to get

out, and they'd have to break body

172

:

parts to get him out of your body.

173

:

This is what you are told.

174

:

So I was like, "No, I'm

not having any of that."

175

:

So I was determined to only be diet

controlled, so I was incredibly strict.

176

:

I'd have a set breakfast, set snack,

lunch, and dinner, and I wouldn't

177

:

deviate from that plan because I was

so scared that anytime I ate something,

178

:

it was harming my child, which is

daft now that I look back, six years

179

:

and three years for both of them.

180

:

But at the time when you're in it,

and there's no information because

181

:

there really isn't anything around

gestational diabetes and understanding

182

:

that if I was to eat Indian food,

that's actually really bad for me.

183

:

But it's not because

I've grown up with it.

184

:

So one minute I'm eating food that I've

been told is really bad for me, but it,

185

:

but it isn't, it's just the way it is.

186

:

But it is a good lifestyle change.

187

:

I lost a stone during my pregnancies

for both of them, and I wish I'd

188

:

carried on some of the habits!

189

:

VIKKI: There's so much to unpick

there, because A, like you were saying

190

:

about how everybody's got opinion,

and it's something that I've talked

191

:

about, like, with Sarah Edge in

the last couple of episodes, and

192

:

we were talking about how everybody

comments on your body when you're

193

:

pregnant, and the size of your bump,

and yeah, everybody's got an opinion.

194

:

So, did you feel like a sense of

judgement if you were telling people

195

:

you had gestational diabetes, even though

it was nothing that you could control?

196

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Oh gosh, absolutely!

197

:

I said it, didn't, like, the fact that I

was like, it's not because I was eating

198

:

chocolates and biscuits and cakes, like,

because I wasn't actually, during the

199

:

first one, second one I did, because I

got to the point where I was like, "I'm

200

:

gonna get it anyway, I might as well enjoy

it now before I get told I've got it!"

201

:

(laughs).

202

:

VIKKI: I think even if you're not going

through something like gestational

203

:

diabetes, that the feeling of

responsibility when you're pregnant,

204

:

especially as a first time mum, you don't

want to do anything at all that could

205

:

jeopardise your baby or harm your baby.

206

:

So that must have been a

big weight on your mind.

207

:

KAVITA TREVENA: It was.

208

:

I got tired of explaining to

people "I don't have diabetes".

209

:

And, even now, with my two babies, so

both of them, I had gestational diabetes

210

:

with both my babies, and, They are more

likely to get diabetes when they're grown

211

:

ups and I'm more likely to get type 2

diabetes now, as well, because of it.

212

:

Yeah.

213

:

VIKKI: Really?

214

:

So I thought it was something that just

affected you when you were pregnant.

215

:

KAVITA TREVENA: It is while

you're pregnant, but you're more

216

:

likely to get type 2 diabetes if

you've had gestational diabetes.

217

:

VIKKI: Ah, right

218

:

KAVITA TREVENA: But a lot of

women don't get told this.

219

:

Around my daughter's birthday,

I'll go get a blood test done.

220

:

So you just aim it around

someone's birthday.

221

:

So, um, I'm on the borderline, so

I'm pre-diabetic at the moment, and

222

:

I've been fighting and fighting to

get help and referrals and resources

223

:

to help me not be pre-diabetic.

224

:

But with that, and the polycystic ovarian

syndrome, my body's just going nuts.

225

:

So I need to, spend some

time working on that.

226

:

But that's resulted as a pregnancy thing.

227

:

And it just blows my mind.

228

:

It's been going on for six years

and there's no real support.

229

:

VIKKI: Yeah.

230

:

KAVITA TREVENA: There needs

to be more support for mums.

231

:

And partners, because my husband used

to watch me crying, because I didn't

232

:

know what to eat, and he'd go and get

books and options for me, just so I

233

:

could eat, because it was hard for him

to watch me struggle, because of all the

234

:

guilt I was feeling, that every time I

ate something I was potentially harming

235

:

whatever child was inside me at the time.

236

:

And it's hard for your

partner to see you that way?

237

:

VIKKI: Yeah definitely.

238

:

Myself, I'm going through the process

of discovering that I'm neurodivergent,

239

:

and my sort of thinking, and it makes

me look back at early motherhood and

240

:

how difficult I found it was because

I think I have like this quite rigid

241

:

thinking that I want to be doing

the right thing, the 'proper' thing.

242

:

And so if there's, like, a

whole permutation of different

243

:

options, I get overwhelmed.

244

:

Because I'm like, well, "Which

is the right thing to do?"

245

:

So I can totally understand

that, it's like, tell me what...

246

:

KAVITA TREVENA: ....to do.

247

:

VIKKI: Yeah, you almost need a dietician

to say, " Avoid this, eat this, this sort

248

:

of portion size", and then happy days,

you know what you're doing, don't you?

249

:

So interesting pregnancy then.

250

:

My God, you had a going on!

251

:

You and your husband were just getting

into the rhythm of living together.

252

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Gosh yeah.

253

:

... VIKKI: How about the birth?

254

:

Are you sort of happy talking

about that experience?

255

:

KAVITA TREVENA: I am now.

256

:

Had you asked me five years ago it

probably would have been a 'no'.

257

:

It was quite a nice start to the birth.

258

:

I do think the mum that screams

the loudest is the one that

259

:

gets the room the quickest.

260

:

Which is quite sad, actually, because

I did that with my second child and I

261

:

got in a Birthing Suite quite quickly.

262

:

The first time they induced me.

263

:

Which, if anyone's had an induction,

it slows you down completely and I

264

:

kind of wish I hadn't done it now.

265

:

But then you don't know at the time,

because you're a first time mum and you

266

:

go with what the experts tell you to do.

267

:

So I was induced, and it took a very long

time, I think it was like the hottest

268

:

May in 2018, when we had a heatwave!

269

:

And I was in this hospital, and

it was just, oh, it was grim.

270

:

Not the hospital wasn't grim,

it's just the situation was grim!

271

:

I did try for a natural birth, we

were pushing for what felt like 12

272

:

hours, I think it was 10 in the end.

273

:

VIKKI: You were pushing for 10 hours?!

274

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Well, I was in

the whole process for that long.

275

:

VIKKI: Yeah, yeah, oh my god.

276

:

KAVITA TREVENA: It felt like, probably

wasn't, you know what, it probably looked

277

:

like 20 minutes, but it felt like forever!

278

:

And then I remember we had a changeover

of midwives, and um, I had this midwife

279

:

come in, and she was lovely, actually,

she was, I only had her for a little

280

:

while, but oh my gosh, she was the best.

281

:

And I was getting so overwhelmed, so

I had an epidural put in, and I was

282

:

having contractions with the epidural

going in, and it's interesting because

283

:

when the anaesthetist comes in, they

just want to do it and get in, get

284

:

out, and go, but actually you're

contracting while it's happening, and

285

:

the midwives really do advocate for you.

286

:

And I really thank them for that, that

was lovely when she was fighting for

287

:

him to stop, and it was so painful.

288

:

I got to a point, I think it was like

10 o'clock at night, and a load of

289

:

them kept coming in and coming out, I

almost just stopped in the process.

290

:

They kept talking at me, and I couldn't

process what they were saying, and they

291

:

kept saying, "If we don't get your

child out, either you or him will die.

292

:

Sign this piece of paper, you

need to do this, and you need

293

:

to do an emergency section."

294

:

And, I know I'm talking really

quickly, but that's how quick it felt.

295

:

So I, I looked at my husband

and said, "What do I do?"

296

:

And the consultant person went, "It's

not his decision, it's your decision.

297

:

You need to decide."

298

:

I was like, " but I don't know what to do.

299

:

"So the midwife was lovely.

300

:

She just stopped everyone.

301

:

She almost, like, stopped the noise

and said, "If you don't sign the

302

:

piece of paper, there's a high

chance that you could both die.

303

:

We just need to make sure you're both

happy and healthy and all the rest of it."

304

:

I was like, "Thank you.

305

:

In that case, give me the piece

of paper and I'll sign it."

306

:

I just needed someone to slow it

down, and explain my options to

307

:

me, and the only option I had was,

"you need to get the kid out".

308

:

So we got rushed to the emergency

room, and within, I think it was as

309

:

quick as like nine minutes, he was

in my arms, I had a little baby boy.

310

:

So they lifted him up, I remember the

lady behind me, she was lovely, the

311

:

anesthetist woman, goes, "Dad, Dad, Dad!"

312

:

My husband wasn't answering, because

he's not a dad, is he, at that point?!

313

:

We were just two people, Kavita and

Roger, like, we're not mum and dad yet!

314

:

" Go get your camera ready, come

on, get your camera ready!"

315

:

So as they pulled Rohan up

and out, he weed, like...

316

:

(laughs) he weed all over the

consultant that like, did the section!

317

:

But, um, we've got pictures

of that, it's amazing.

318

:

So we just held him, and you know

when the world just stops, and it was

319

:

silent, in a very busy, loud room,

it was silent for me and him, and

320

:

we just held him and we just cried.

321

:

I was like, "I've got myself a baby boy."

322

:

And he was still wrinkly, and then

he started crying, and then they took

323

:

him away, But unfortunately, where

I was in so much pain from the section.

324

:

I couldn't really move.

325

:

The hospital, they're helpful,

but they're not helpful, are they?

326

:

Because they've got loads

of other mums to look after.

327

:

And you're given, as a first time

mum, given this tiny, tiny baby.

328

:

"There you go!"

329

:

And you're like, well, what

am I meant to do with it?

330

:

But no one you how to breastfeed.

331

:

No one teaches you how to change a nappy.

332

:

No one teaches you how to

put clothes on the baby.

333

:

And you're like, "well, what do I do now?

334

:

Like, it's crying.

335

:

How do I comfort it?

336

:

Like, what, what do you do?"

337

:

So I think for me, it was I couldn't have

a baby to having a baby, having a section.

338

:

My husband going back after work five

days after having my section, because he

339

:

was having his own stuff going on with

his career and his work and whatever.

340

:

And I was at home on my own and

I just didn't know what to do.

341

:

So I just, just kept crying every day.

342

:

Like every day I cried and

I couldn't process having a

343

:

baby, like it was really hard.

344

:

(Gets emotional).

345

:

Oh gosh, I speak about it all

the time, but I guess, um, oh

346

:

wow, maybe I will make you cry!

347

:

(Laughs)

348

:

VIKKI: With things like this,

Kavita, you think you've gotten over

349

:

something, and then it will just pop

up out of nowhere, and that's trauma.

350

:

That's yeah.

351

:

know.

352

:

KAVITA TREVENA: But you know what the

thing is with, He is the best thing

353

:

that's ever happened to me, that little

boy, He made me a mum, and I feel for

354

:

him sometimes, because I've learned

how to be a mum with him, but I feel

355

:

like I'm a better mum for my daughter,

because he's taught me everything.

356

:

He got the worst of me, and

she's got the best of me.

357

:

And it's just, that guilt, isn't it?

358

:

I feel like, if I could do it

again, it'd be so much better.

359

:

Yeah.

360

:

VIKKI: God, you've really set me off!

361

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Oh god, I'm so sorry!

362

:

What I the hell?

363

:

Hmm.

364

:

VIKKI: No, but it's so true.

365

:

I mean, my God, you know, with

the, the benefit of hindsight.

366

:

But the thing is as well, like, I

remember when I, I told my, son Stan

367

:

do you know why I'm doing this podcast?

368

:

And he was like, "well,

to help other people."

369

:

And I said, "yeah, but do you

know why I'm doing this podcast?

370

:

Did you realise that I

had postnatal depression?

371

:

And his words were, and, my God, I

really burst into tears, he was just

372

:

like, "but you always seem so joyful".

373

:

And the thing is, like, that's his

perception of me, and it's like, we

374

:

know, as, mums, and parents what we've

been through, but actually the kids...

375

:

KAVITA TREVENA: no, we mask

it everywhere, don't we?

376

:

VIKKI: But yeah, we mask it well.

377

:

But also, we have shown them

love, we have had these wonderful

378

:

moments with each other.

379

:

And it's, it's like, I can't remember

whether it was with you online

380

:

or somebody on Instagram, I was

having a discussion about birthdays

381

:

and how triggering I find them.

382

:

KAVITA TREVENA: That was me, yes!

383

:

VIKKI: Yeah I thought it was!

384

:

KAVITA TREVENA: It was me yeah.

385

:

VIKKI: And about how I always find

Stanley's birthday triggering,

386

:

because I get this feeling of regret

of what should have been, like

387

:

especially from that first year.

388

:

And I don't know I, yeah, it sort

of taps into that feeling of sort

389

:

of regret and grief and guilt.

390

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah, it's hard isn't it?

391

:

It's hard to process.

392

:

VIKKI: So Roger went back to work after

five days, which is like no time for him

393

:

to process, let alone you in terms of

recovering from a C -section, and also

394

:

your hormones are all over the place.

395

:

Hormones is a whole another

episode, and there's a really great

396

:

conversation I had with Dr Hannah

Short, so I'll put that in the show

397

:

notes, which is all about hormones.

398

:

So what sort of support did

you have around from family?

399

:

KAVITA TREVENA: So, this is my

eline, so we got married July:

400

:

Rohan was born May, 2018.

401

:

This is my timeline of

how quick things happened.

402

:

So the June, 2017, my mum was

diagnosed with breast cancer.

403

:

So in the the June, which

has also impacted everything.

404

:

And I never really unpicked

it till like two years ago.

405

:

And this was like seven years ago now.

406

:

So she had her operation.

407

:

And she's all clear now, she's

absolutely fine, she's got all the

408

:

medicines helped, all the therapies have

happened, and she's got the all clear.

409

:

So she had her operation and we got

married like a month later, so she was

410

:

still at home, or doing a phased return

back to work, but also recovering, so

411

:

she was at my house like every day.

412

:

Popping in, in our half days,

coming around, but not to look

413

:

after Rohan, but to look after me.

414

:

So she would come in, like,

give me a cuddle, cook me

415

:

dinner, and then see to Rohan.

416

:

And I loved that.

417

:

She doesn't do it now though!

418

:

VIKKI: My God, that's the biggest

gift as a new mum to have that.

419

:

KAVITA TREVENA: So she

would come round, yeah.

420

:

VIKKI: And yeah, big shout

out to your incredible mum.

421

:

What's her name?

422

:

Jyoti, what an amazing woman you are.

423

:

yeah, my, my mum had breast

cancer, like gosh, it was about

424

:

26 years ago, but she's fine.

425

:

But yeah, shout out to the mums!

426

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah.

427

:

VIKKI: What an incredible woman she

clearly is, to give that to you.

428

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Oh she's strong.

429

:

Yeah.

430

:

And like my dad came round

in between his working days.

431

:

I had some really lovely

friends, like, friends popped

432

:

over and, um, food deliveries.

433

:

My best friend sent me a food

shop of ready meals and I had a

434

:

really nice network of friends.

435

:

But, you know, they come and

then they go again and that's it.

436

:

Or they'll come and it's, like, so

exhausting when people come and visit you.

437

:

I had someone come to visit me and

said, "Oh, you know what, you look

438

:

really tired, you should rest."

439

:

I was like, "I'd love to,

but you've overstayed your

440

:

welcome and you're still here.

441

:

And I used to get really ratty afterwards.

442

:

And I was so exhausted from entertaining

when all you want to do is recover.

443

:

And that was tough.

444

:

But, um, I had a little support network,

of one or two friends that I would ring

445

:

up, we would message, but not a lot of

my friends had babies at this point.

446

:

VIKKI: Mmm.

447

:

KAVITA TREVENA: So I would go to

friends that have already got babies

448

:

and they would give me advice.

449

:

So that's how The Unlikely Mummy was born!

450

:

So I created this platform to moan

about parenting, and how hard it

451

:

is, and how I was trapped in a 'nap

trap', or whatever you call it.

452

:

And Rohan, every time he got to a new

stage, I'm like, "why is he waving at

453

:

his food and throwing it on the floor?

454

:

Like, why can't he eat this food?"

455

:

And everyone's like, "oh,

my child used to do this.

456

:

And...

457

:

VIKKI: Oh gosh, yeah.

458

:

There's so many phases, isn't it?

459

:

Like the 'refusing to get in

the buggy and car seat' phase.

460

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Screaming

uncontrollably, oh yeah...

461

:

VIKKI: ...the shit fits

in the supermarket!

462

:

But like all these things are

phases and you will get through it.

463

:

So that's the joy of speaking

to people who've maybe, you

464

:

know, a couple of years...

465

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Gone through it.

466

:

VIKKI: ...down the line, and they'll

say, "don't worry, it won't be forever."

467

:

KAVITA TREVENA: And do you find

now, you can pay it forward?

468

:

So I'm like, "you know

what, you'll be fine.

469

:

Like, just get over this hurdle, and then

you'll get the next one, and then you'll

470

:

wish you were back at that first hurdle.

471

:

Because that was a nice hurdle to be at,

because actually that was the easy one!"

472

:

But, um, Yeah, it was, I wished a lot

of his first year away, because I just

473

:

didn't, I didn't enjoy it, because

they don't do anything, do they?

474

:

Between 0 and 1, like, it's a bit boring!

475

:

But actually, it wasn't.

476

:

It was the best time, and I really

wish I'd made the most of it.

477

:

So with her, I definitely made

the most of her first year.

478

:

Way more than I ever did with him.

479

:

But I thought, to be a good mum, you had

to sign up to all the classes, so, I would

480

:

just fill my day with all these classes

and it practically made me bankrupt.

481

:

Because I didn't need to do them, I could

have just been with him and gone to the

482

:

local library, but I thought, "that's

beneath me, I should be paying for these

483

:

classes, because that's what all the

484

:

yummy mummies do", and I'm like, yeah...

485

:

VIKKI: That's what you

see on social media.

486

:

And that's, don't know, do you

think there's a part of us that,

487

:

feels you need to compensate for

what you feel you're lacking?

488

:

Like, "if I don't get Freddy

Firefly, I'm not a good mum."

489

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah yeah precisely.

490

:

If I get a different bottle,

will I get judged for it?

491

:

If I put him in supermarket

clothing instead of a branding

492

:

set of clothing, am I a poor mum?

493

:

Yeah, absolutely.

494

:

I think there's unnecessary pressure

for you to give more than you can.

495

:

Because just being you,

for your child, is enough.

496

:

Just putting them in the push chair,

getting a bit of fresh air and

497

:

chatting to them, is more than enough.

498

:

And I don't know why we don't know this.

499

:

VIKKI: You don't need all these things.

500

:

I remember looking stupidly at

Instagram for like, packed lunch ideas.

501

:

You know, literally you see these

incredible bento boxes with...

502

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Oh don't!

503

:

VIKKI: ...like fruit kebabs and...

504

:

KAVITA TREVENA: I've

not got time for that.

505

:

Yeah, don't go down the bento hole

because those women are god knows what,

506

:

they're just a breed of their own!

507

:

Like, I don't understand, who has

time to do star shaped sandwiches

508

:

like it's, no, that's a no from me!

509

:

VIKKI: Yeah.

510

:

Oh god, I wish I'd met

you when I had a baby!

511

:

KAVITA TREVENA: I say this to

so many people, like it's...

512

:

if you could do a do over, you would

do it so differently, but you would

513

:

attract different people to your circle,

because you just don't have time for

514

:

people's BS, and I did get some lovely

friends from him, some of them I do

515

:

still keep in touch with, actually.

516

:

But, every time Rohan moved to a new

stage, I desperately seeked friendship.

517

:

So I've got some lovely friends when

he went to nursery, but I always

518

:

feel like it's me making the effort.

519

:

And then I've got some lovely

friends in school, so we're now

520

:

at the school era now, aren't we?

521

:

Love Taylor Swift, in our school era!

522

:

So I've got quite a few mum friends,

but there's one particular mum

523

:

friend, who lives down the road,

and she has literally been my rock.

524

:

And I think if it wasn't for her, I

would struggle this parenting phase.

525

:

And I quite often text her going, "oh

my god, why is he just telling me he

526

:

hates me and like shouting in my face".

527

:

She goes, "because you're his safe place",

and I think I always remember that.

528

:

Some children react in a way,

because you are their comfort.

529

:

And I always say to other people whose

kid's tantrum, I was like, "would

530

:

you rather they tantrum with you,

or in public, or with other people?"

531

:

And I always say "I'd rather he

do it with me, because he knows

532

:

I'm safe and I'll protect him."

533

:

I can't guarantee a teacher, or a nursery

worker, or a childminder will protect

534

:

him the way that I would as a mum.

535

:

And I always say this to my husband

as well, like, "would you rather he

536

:

scream and shout here, or scream and

shout in the middle of a supermarket?"

537

:

Like I'd rather he do it at home.

538

:

I've got that from the strength of

the friendships that I've built.

539

:

VIKKI: Would you like

to give her a shout out?

540

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Oh, Jo, she's Jo.

541

:

Yeah, I always call her Jo down the road.

542

:

So Jo, who lives down

the road, she's lovely.

543

:

She has literally become my rock.

544

:

She found me through Instagram

when we had a conversation.

545

:

And, she's that type of mum that

would organise me and always

546

:

check in, and make sure I'm okay.

547

:

And I always check in,

make sure she's okay.

548

:

Definitely someone I want in my

life, for the rest of my life,

549

:

and I will fight to keep her in

my life for the rest of my life.

550

:

And she knows that.

551

:

VIKKI: It's so important to have somebody

that you don't have to have a facade with.

552

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Oh definitely.

553

:

VIKKI: I wish I could prescribe a

'Jo down the road' for everybody!

554

:

KAVITA TREVENA: You just find someone

who gets it, yeah, it's important.

555

:

VIKKI: With your son, did you have P.N.D.

556

:

(postnatal depression),

was that diagnosed?

557

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah, so,

my health visitor came to

558

:

visit me before I had Rohan.

559

:

They come and do like a welfare check

before the baby's born, and so I met her.

560

:

And then she came and visited me after

Rohan was born, like I struggled with

561

:

my midwives, I had a terrible time

with my midwives, I kept fighting with

562

:

them, like, "can you give me this?

563

:

Can I have this?

564

:

Why are you not giving me this?"

565

:

And in the end I just gave up.

566

:

She came took one look at me,

and went, " Are you okay?"

567

:

And I was like, "No, I'm really not okay".

568

:

And it all just came out, and

she went, "Look, there's this

569

:

pilot scheme with C.A.M.H.S.

570

:

(Child and Adolescent

Mental Health Services)."

571

:

And Rohan was referred to a psychiatrist,

but I was the one who had the therapy.

572

:

So I would go once a week to the

hospital with a psychiatrist who

573

:

gave me one-on-one therapy for...

574

:

I think it was 12 weeks.

575

:

VIKKI: That's incredible.

576

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah, because my health

visitor noticed I needed something, And

577

:

she spotted those signs and she got me

fast tracked onto this pilot scheme.

578

:

VIKKI: That is so lucky!

579

:

KAVITA TREVENA: I was incredibly lucky,

yeah, and I, I thank her every day.

580

:

All the time, like, literally, she is the

woman who quite frankly saved my life.

581

:

And that is not an exaggeration.

582

:

So then, towards the end of the therapy,

I had to bring Rohan with me so they

583

:

could see what my bonding was like.

584

:

And it was fine, like, there was no

issues with my ability to care for my son.

585

:

It was the way I was feeling

that was the struggle to process.

586

:

So we went through all the therapy,

it worked well, and then I was

587

:

struggling to return back to work.

588

:

So I got six bonus sessions

with the therapist.

589

:

And she's like, "I don't know what's

wrong - you're an incredible mum.

590

:

Just be a little bit more

confident in yourself."

591

:

And I think we all need that chat.

592

:

So we had a few more sessions and

she's like, "look, these are the

593

:

tools, these are the resources".

594

:

Like "come on, you can do this."

595

:

And then at that point, The Unlikely Mummy

was like in the full swing of things and

596

:

helping people, and I was blogging quite a

lot, and sharing, and I went back to work.

597

:

And I really went downhill after

work, like, returning back to work

598

:

it was a terrible time for me.

599

:

And I was probably very difficult, as

a member of staff to come back with,

600

:

with everything that was going on.

601

:

And I remember I was told, like,

after I came back with my daughter,

602

:

I was told, like, "If you had told

us you had postnatal depression, we

603

:

would have put more things in place."

604

:

And I think I bit back and I was like,

"regardless of whether I had postnatal

605

:

depression, more things should be put in

place for mums that return back to work."

606

:

VIKKI: Full stop.

607

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah, regardless

of whether they've had PND,

608

:

postnatal depression or whatever,

more needs to be done for mums.

609

:

And I think that's the turning point

for me, for The Unlikely Mummy, was to

610

:

start fighting for mums, but I'm just

a one person band, I can't do it all.

611

:

I needed a way to do more with the

Unlikely Mummy - set up sessions,

612

:

set up classes - so I had a

plan to create a directory for

613

:

services in Bexley, where I live.

614

:

But no one would invest in it,

people wouldn't invest in it to

615

:

be part of this mum directory.

616

:

So I thought, you know what, I'm

going to put a marketplace on.

617

:

I invited businesses to come along.

618

:

They paid like £20 to have a market stall.

619

:

And it was really

successful, the first one.

620

:

We actually had an income of around

£600-700 in my first marketplace.

621

:

And I ran raffles, raffle prizes,

and I used that money to pay

622

:

for specialist breastfeeding

support and counselling for mums.

623

:

And I've also written a mindfulness book

that I self published, self printed,

624

:

and I sold copies of at my marketplace.

625

:

And I sold stuff that I've made and all

that money, goes back into the community.

626

:

Like, I've literally not taken

a penny from the community.

627

:

So all of the stuff I do is either from

fundraising, or funding, or I write

628

:

applications for funding pots of money.

629

:

So all the money I get from

that goes into the Unlikely

630

:

Mummy, so I can put classes on.

631

:

Mums get a lot, but they don't get

enough specialist or affordable.

632

:

So I've put on retreats, working with

other people, because I can't do it

633

:

myself, so I work with other people.

634

:

And then I've had, like, weekly wellness

classes, I've put on online sessions.

635

:

I set up my Facebook community, did a

whole mindfulness week, where I had people

636

:

come in and guest for me, all for free,

and they put on mindfulness classes,

637

:

art therapy sessions, they talk about

nutrition, they talked about exercise.

638

:

I had a woman who did three

exercise classes for me,

639

:

all on this Facebook group.

640

:

And I would send little self

care packages that I would sell.

641

:

And all this money comes

back in to give back.

642

:

The community has paid for three

women to have specialist counselling,

643

:

which is anything up to a £1000.

644

:

VIKKI: That in itself, is just huge.

645

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah, it's lovely and

it's specialist and I don't even know who

646

:

the women are, I just say, "this person

needs counselling, can you contact them?"

647

:

I almost don't want to know who the

people are, because that's for them,

648

:

and I know how private things can be.

649

:

I've paid for about five or six people

to have specialist breastfeeding,

650

:

or feeding or sleeping support

from various contacts that I've had.

651

:

contacts

652

:

that I've

653

:

VIKKI: had Again incredible.

654

:

It's like, if anybody's listened to the

first episode of season three, that's all

655

:

about breastfeeding trauma and about how..

656

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Breastfeeding's so hard.

657

:

... VIKKI: really, really, hard.

658

:

So for you to be able to put somebody

in touch with a specialist lactation

659

:

consultant, that's incredible.

660

:

KAVITA TREVENA: And to take the burden

off that cost, like, it's expensive.

661

:

Like it's to take that off of someone.

662

:

I feel like the Unlikely Mummy's got

a lot to still do, and a lot that

663

:

I want to still do with it, and,

um, I've had 20 people run for the

664

:

Unlikely Mummy, me included in that,

and I'm not a runner by any means.

665

:

VIKKI: This is a half marathon?

666

:

KAVITA TREVENA: The Big Half is

the London Marathon backwards.

667

:

So, it starts just by Tower Bridge,

and from Tower Bridge, you run the

668

:

route backwards, back to Greenwich.

669

:

So, where the London Marathon

starts at Greenwich, the half

670

:

marathon point is London Bridge,

you basically do it back to front.

671

:

VIKKI: Wow!

672

:

Were you always a runner?

673

:

KAVITA TREVENA: I'm not a runner.

674

:

Yeah, no, I'm not a runner at all.

675

:

I absolutely hate running!

676

:

VIKKI: (Laughs) That's a big thing!

677

:

KAVITA TREVENA: It's a big feat, yeah.

678

:

I don't even like running 5Ks.

679

:

I've only done two 5Ks in my life.

680

:

When I first signed up, my husband and

I were like, "Should we just you know,

681

:

shits and giggles, let's just try it?

682

:

See what it's like?"

683

:

So we ran from where we are

all the way to the O2 and back

684

:

again is a half marathon route.

685

:

And I did it in about three hours, 50

minutes because we walked, we talked, it

686

:

was nice time for us to spend together.

687

:

And then, yeah, I did the half

marathon on the day it was so hot.

688

:

Like I was pouring water

over my head, it was that hot.

689

:

But I did it.

690

:

And we've raised around £1300 this year.

691

:

VIKKI: That's amazing!

692

:

All for the Unlikely Mummy?

693

:

KAVITA TREVENA: All

for the Unlikely Mummy.

694

:

So this money that I've got is

ring fenced to support a forest

695

:

school with additional funding.

696

:

So it's part funded, I'm gonna top

it up to run a forest school for mums.

697

:

To do monthly mums retreat in a forest

school setting and for SEND (Special

698

:

Educational Needs and Disabilities)

children to support the parents.

699

:

They can them a little bit

of a respite, but also do

700

:

activities with their children.

701

:

VIKKI: God that's amazing!

702

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Getting in the

outdoors for anyone who has complex

703

:

needs is crucial, and I've worked

in a SEND environment, and I know

704

:

how crucial just being outside is.

705

:

And then an after school club, like

the generic side of a forest school.

706

:

So I'm supporting an incredibly lovely

local lady called Woodland Whisperers.

707

:

Um, shout out to Woodland

Whisperers, she's fab.

708

:

And I did forest school with her with

my son and she is literally incredible.

709

:

And then I've ring fenced some of, some

of it to carry on the breastfeeding,

710

:

lactation support and the counselling.

711

:

That's gonna be like an ongoing

underlining thing that will be

712

:

like your 'business as usual' for

the Unlikely Mummy, because that's

713

:

something that means a lot to me.

714

:

Yeah.

715

:

And then the rest of it is gonna

contribute into starting a Mums

716

:

Walking Club, which sounds...

717

:

"Why do you need money

to start a walking club?"

718

:

But you do, you need money to make sure

it's safe, and to make sure people will

719

:

join us, and make it an environment that

people can create a community for them.

720

:

So I want to grow the Unlikely Mummy,

and I think walking community would

721

:

be a really good way to grow that.

722

:

And I'm a qualified walk leader, so I

don't even have to do anything, I just

723

:

need to use what I already know, because

my background's sports, so I can use all

724

:

that and start another whole community.

725

:

And then eventually some of those

walkers might become runners, and run

726

:

other big events, and then draw some

more money into the Unlikely Mummy.

727

:

VIKKI: So for the walking club,

can mums bring their babies

728

:

in buggies, pushchairs, prams?

729

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah, so hopefully,

where I've got a full time job, I'm

730

:

very limited in my time, so I've

already - because I've got amazing

731

:

friends - I've already had four

people signed up to lead walks for me.

732

:

One of them, obviously, being my mum!

733

:

And she's gonna take the older mums.

734

:

And she's gonna do that, and I'll

set her off in the park somewhere.

735

:

I've got another mum who

wants to set up herself.

736

:

I was like, "just give me a

minute and let me plan something.

737

:

And actually, you can run it

and we can run it together."

738

:

And she's called Nicola, who does Tiny

Talks, which is baby sign language.

739

:

And she wants to set one up.

740

:

So that would be my mums and

babies, in the pushchairs.

741

:

Jo Down The Road is obviously

going to do one, and she'll

742

:

do the more advanced walkers.

743

:

VIKKI: Love Jo Down The Road!

744

:

KAVITA TREVENA: We all

love Jo Down The Road.

745

:

So she'll be my quicker, more advanced

walkers, because she's super quick.

746

:

And then I've got a friend of

mine at work, who isn't a mum,

747

:

but she just loves what I do.

748

:

and her boyfriend lives down the

road, and she wants to take a group.

749

:

So we'll have it at different,

various times and dates, and,

750

:

hopefully as it starts growing

more will want to get involved.

751

:

VIKKI: Yeah.

752

:

KAVITA TREVENA: And it will

just grow and grow and grow.

753

:

But I don't want it to cost people money.

754

:

I want it to be free.

755

:

So these walks will be in

Bexley because I'm a Bexley mum.

756

:

So they'll be close to where I can get

to and where everyone will get to, but

757

:

that doesn't mean I can't expand it.

758

:

So there's options to...

759

:

other people can take the model

and use it and work with it.

760

:

And as long as you have my little logo

on it to say that is, it started with me,

761

:

I don't really care what you do with it.

762

:

Like I will help you

nurture it and you can grow.

763

:

And I do get people who stop me

around the community now going, "Are

764

:

you Kavita, the Unlikely Mummy?"

765

:

and I was like, "yeah, that's me, hi!"

766

:

So people are starting to recognise me.

767

:

So if people want to come along

when I launch it, I'm gonna launch,

768

:

a pilot so I can get photos, and

then, really get the momentum going.

769

:

I really want this to grow.

770

:

And if only one person turns

up, I've helped one person.

771

:

VIKKI: That's it.

772

:

I mean, that is exactly

why I did this podcast.

773

:

I just thought if I make one

person feel less alone...

774

:

KAVITA TREVENA: It's amazing, isn't it?

775

:

VIKKI: ...Or offer them, you know,

a sense of hope that you're not

776

:

always going to feel like this.

777

:

You are going to get through it

and you will get to the other side.

778

:

And from my own experience and from

the experience of lots of people that

779

:

I've spoken to, that actually, though

it's horrendous and traumatic to go

780

:

through, you will actually look back

realise there are parts of it that

781

:

have actually grown you as a person.

782

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Oh, God, yeah.

783

:

Did you know what, there's

so many friendships I've made

784

:

out of The Unlikely Mummy.

785

:

You don't realise the impact you're

having, because you're in the thick of

786

:

it, that actually someone's watching you.

787

:

And they find you, amazes me when

people say I'm inspirational,

788

:

like I don't see that at all.

789

:

VIKKI: I think you're fantastic!

790

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Thank you (laughs).

791

:

VIKKI: I'm such a fan of

everything that you're doing.

792

:

Yeah, you can tell

everything's done with heart.

793

:

Did you have like a negative

experience when you had Maya as well?

794

:

KAVITA TREVENA: So, funnily

enough I put things in place,

795

:

as soon as I was pregnant.

796

:

So as soon as I was pregnant,

I told my health visitor, So,

797

:

it was lockdown, wasn't it?

798

:

So, we were in the thick of

the pandemic at this point.

799

:

Just got announced lockdown.

800

:

So, I, to give a bit of backstory to

me, when I had Rohan and the postnatal

801

:

depression, I then, developed psoriasis as

a way of my body completely shutting down.

802

:

So it's an autoimmune disease where

your body kind of attacks itself.

803

:

And I come up in what can

only be described as scabs.

804

:

You scratch you scratch you

scratch, and it's like your skin.

805

:

VIKKI: A bit like eczema?

806

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah.

807

:

But it's not curable.

808

:

Once you have it, you have it for life.

809

:

So my body was covered like 80%

810

:

VIKKI: Oh my God, that

must have been so horrible.

811

:

KAVITA TREVENA: It is

itchy and it's not nice.

812

:

And it was all over my hair

and it was, it was everywhere.

813

:

But it was as a result, because

of the postnatal depression, the

814

:

way my body reacted to everything.

815

:

So I went specialist dermatologist

and I'm on medication.

816

:

So to have Maya, I had to come off of this

medication, which was absolutely grim.

817

:

it was horrible, but if it was in

my system, and I fell pregnant, was

818

:

likely that the baby could be born

with complications and side effects.

819

:

So I had to work with my dermatologist

to get it out of my system for

820

:

a period of three months before

I could even try for a baby.

821

:

So, we came off medication in the January.

822

:

In the March, we went in lockdown.

823

:

I was like, Oh, we're not

going to try for a baby now.

824

:

So we waited to see what

the landscape was like.

825

:

And then we tried and we fell

pregnant with Maya very quickly.

826

:

We were very blessed because

I know lots of families and

827

:

partners and people struggle.

828

:

So we were very blessed, but I also

made some lifestyle changes as well.

829

:

A lot of weight was lost.

830

:

A lot of dietary stuff was changed.

831

:

The minute I fell pregnant,

I said, right, I want to make

832

:

sure my counselling's in place.

833

:

I want to make sure my

health visitor's in place.

834

:

I want to make sure my midwife is the

same midwife who understands and will will

835

:

be there for me, and I see the same one.

836

:

VIKKI: So it's like you had a circuit

breaker, so that before anything

837

:

escalated to the previous level?

838

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah.

839

:

It was all in.

840

:

But I think, also, being a second time

mum, you advocate more for yourself,

841

:

and you don't put up with any BS.

842

:

You don't put up with anyone

telling you, " no, no, no."

843

:

I was like "yes, yes, yes, you can".

844

:

And I fought for it.

845

:

I got the same midwife throughout,

so actually that helps, because

846

:

obviously I'm flagged on my files,

it helps a mum with mental health

847

:

concerns to have that consistency.

848

:

VIKKI: Yeah, my goodness.

849

:

Yeah, that's amazing.

850

:

KAVITA TREVENA: It was fantastic.

851

:

And then obviously, my health visitor

came pre visit, and then the therapy

852

:

that I requested through MIND, because

everyone knows what the waiting

853

:

list is like for MIND, and they're

brilliant, The reason why they

854

:

have a big waiting list is because

people need that service, isn't it?

855

:

So, Maya was born, and I had a phone

call, like, three days later, from

856

:

the site, from that therapist saying,

"your time's come now to be having your

857

:

therapy, blah, blah, blah", and I was

probably quite rude to her, because I

858

:

was in the midst of just having a baby.

859

:

And I was like, "oh, fantastic, can

you call me back tomorrow when I'm

860

:

less busy", basically, and I had

eight weeks of therapy with her.

861

:

VIKKI: Wow, that's amazing.

862

:

KAVITA TREVENA: And that's when

I was diagnosed with PTSD (Post

863

:

Traumatic Stress Disorder) for Rohan.

864

:

VIKKI: Wow!

865

:

This is trauma that had been

with you for a long time then?

866

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah.

867

:

And I think I've had nothing with Maya.

868

:

I had an equally traumatic birth with

her, where, both my babies had their

869

:

cords wrapped around their neck.

870

:

VIKKI: Stan did as well.

871

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah.

872

:

Yeah.

873

:

It's quite common, I think.

874

:

But again, no one talks about it.

875

:

So I pushed, with Rohan, I got

to nine and a half centimeters.

876

:

Then we had the, you know, "you both

need to have emergency, you could die".

877

:

With Maya, I got to 10cm.

878

:

She kept pulling in

while I kept pushing out.

879

:

Turns out the cord was round her.

880

:

She wasn't as an emergency,

but I still had an emergency.

881

:

But I think also, for a second

time mum, you just know.

882

:

You fight more, you understand

it more, you got your boundaries

883

:

more, you say no to visitors.

884

:

But I also think my hospital care was

better because it was covid lockdown and

885

:

no one was allowed in hospitals, really.

886

:

Roger wasn't even allowed to stay with

me outside of visiting hours, so I

887

:

think you had the midwives, you had

the one-on-one care with the midwives,

888

:

so I think I had better postcare.

889

:

And then the therapy helped, so yeah,

the PTSD was diagnosed for Rohan after

890

:

Maya was born, which I, it blows my mind.

891

:

VIKKI: Wow.

892

:

KAVITA TREVENA: And I had to unpick

a lot of trauma, but it didn't

893

:

affect my bonding with Maya at all.

894

:

In fact, we're quite strong, me and her.

895

:

I've got a strong bond with both

my children, and it's not just

896

:

because she's my little girl.

897

:

I think second baby, whether

it was a boy or a girl, would

898

:

have been the same regardless.

899

:

So yeah, I think I fought a lot to get

where I am, and I think I grew confidence

900

:

from having The Unlikely Mummy that I

used my platform to project the positivity

901

:

of pregnancy with Maya, and my page is

more positive than it is negative, like

902

:

I'll look at something, but I'll look

at an answer to it, and I, look to give

903

:

out more resources and support, and I

share more support rather than share a

904

:

lot of the negative side of parenting,

it's more flip it to the positive side.

905

:

Which is a journey for me as well.

906

:

It's three years of doom and

gloom and then she comes along

907

:

and it's brilliant sunshine.

908

:

But Rohan wasn't doom and gloom, it

was my mind that was doom and gloom.

909

:

I think that's it's important for us to

remember it's not the baby, it's you,

910

:

VIKKI: That's the thing, isn't it?

911

:

KAVITA TREVENA: And I think,

therapy should be prescribed.

912

:

Even private therapy, like, I

think it should be prescribed,

913

:

everyone should get, and I...

914

:

this is something I really want

to fight for, actually, is I think

915

:

every mum should automatically given,

like, a month of therapy to unpick.

916

:

VIKKI: Yeah.

917

:

Yeah.

918

:

KAVITA TREVENA: And whether you need

it or not, I think it should be a

919

:

general prescription to everyone.

920

:

VIKKI: Just to sort of talk through

that transition, , like nobody

921

:

told me how hard it was going to

be or how your emotions fluctuate,

922

:

just, you know, even from alone.

923

:

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah,

it's important, isn't it?

924

:

And I think there needs to

be more resources out there.

925

:

I've noticed a lot on social, because of

what I follow, There's this conference,

926

:

and this conference, and now there's like,

conference with this certain demographic,

927

:

and this, and I'm like, "yeah, you can

have a conference, and the same people

928

:

attend it, and the same people that

have got the same interests attend it,

929

:

but you're not addressing the problem".

930

:

If you're addressing the problem,

you wouldn't need the conferences

931

:

to have those conversations, and I

also think sometimes funding goes to

932

:

the people that shout the loudest,

and I think, As much as people talk

933

:

to people on the ground, are they?

934

:

If they did, you would know there's a gap

in understanding gestational diabetes.

935

:

You would know that it's not just,

and they are very important and

936

:

I'm not dismissing it, but it's not

just black mums that are affected.

937

:

Asian mums are affected.

938

:

And I think I had this conversation

with My Maternal Voices saying,

939

:

"Yeah, brilliant, you've got that.

940

:

But what about the Asian mums?"

941

:

We're also at real great risk.

942

:

And there is also a barrier for us, but

yet we're not getting any of the money.

943

:

And we're not getting any of that

funding to support Asian mums.

944

:

So that's why the Unlikely Mummy does

support a lot of cultural work going

945

:

on and I want to make sure everyone's

voices are heard and I think that's

946

:

important, but actually people need

to put money in different places

947

:

to make sure all mums get support.

948

:

we've all suffered trauma and I'm

not saying someone's trauma is more

949

:

than someone else's trauma, but I

think everyone's trauma is valid and

950

:

I think that's important and if we

keep needing to keep the conversations

951

:

open, that makes sense in my head.

952

:

Yeah.

953

:

VIKKI: That sort of brings us on to, you

know, your background and your community.

954

:

Was there a barrier to being able to

talk about your mental health struggles.

955

:

Was your community supportive?

956

:

So my, um, I always feel, Mental

health now is a subject that

957

:

is very well spoken about.

958

:

it's almost like people have jumped

on the mental health bandwagon

959

:

because someone's seen something

and they've pumped money into it.

960

:

But before, six years ago,

no one really spoke about it.

961

:

It was like, "oh, be quiet now."

962

:

Like, "yeah, yeah, yeah, you've got

postnatal, like, you're miserable".

963

:

Like, "enjoy the fact

that you've got a baby".

964

:

Like, "be grateful you've got a baby."

965

:

That's why I think the community

got some, like, traction quite

966

:

quickly because actually more

people were feeling that way.

967

:

But particularly in my culture, there's

no word, really, for mental health.

968

:

And where I've married, a white

person, and I'm in, like, that world,

969

:

I'm fortunate that he understands it.

970

:

But I worry, had I married into an Indian

culture, would I have got that support?

971

:

I can't answer that, but I don't

know, because there's no word for it.

972

:

And I know plenty of Asian mums that

have had postnatal depression that have

973

:

just, "oh yeah, yeah, we had it, and we

just got on with it, because there was no

974

:

support", but I've been reading statistics

around Asian women that have died from

975

:

suicide in the first year because they

were undiagnosed postnatal depression

976

:

because no one would listen to them.

977

:

it's ridiculous, like, I don't get it,

like, I've been fighting and fighting,

978

:

and I went to my GP after Rohan was

born for my 6-8 week check, and I

979

:

said, "oh, I'm having this", I was,

I was really proud of it, like, "I'm

980

:

having this specialist counselling

because I've got postnatal depression"

981

:

goes, "Oh, it's just baby blues.

982

:

I'm sure you'll get over it".

983

:

And I was like, "but

I'm already in therapy!"

984

:

Oh my god.

985

:

KAVITA TREVENA: And, and I've

obviously spoken about this on

986

:

NCT National Childbirth Trust

for the 6-8 week, GP check.

987

:

And even now I'm like, that

is a voice that is in my head.

988

:

"Oh, I'll just get over it".

989

:

And I'm quite strong now.

990

:

I wasn't strong then, but how

many other women From healthcare

991

:

professionals, have been told that, or

from midwives, or from health visitors.

992

:

You get some real amazing ones, and then

you get some other ones that, and I was

993

:

talking to a colleague the other day

saying, you only ever hear the complaints,

994

:

you never hear the compliments.

995

:

So that one complaint would ruin a

service, but actually you've got nine

996

:

other mums that have had a brilliant

experience, but you'll only hear the

997

:

voice of the one mum that didn't, and

that's obviously what we've got to change.

998

:

But mental health isn't something

you just get over, you have to

999

:

have professional intervention.

:

00:50:59,594 --> 00:51:05,574

Or, you've got to have some real strong

belief in yourself that you can get

:

00:51:05,574 --> 00:51:08,734

through it, but you can't do that on

your own, and if anyone has done that

:

00:51:08,744 --> 00:51:12,284

on their own, please contact me, because

I'd love to know how, but I genuinely

:

00:51:12,284 --> 00:51:15,024

think you need support, whether it's

professionally, through friends,

:

00:51:15,034 --> 00:51:20,084

through books, or whatever, because

watching TV shows still trigger me.

:

00:51:20,554 --> 00:51:24,004

There's certain things I can't watch,

because I'm like, I can't do that.

:

00:51:24,994 --> 00:51:29,554

Like, you see things that pop up, like

I have to turn it over, and I feel like

:

00:51:29,554 --> 00:51:34,599

I'm at a good place now, and I've had

enough therapy, But things still trigger.

:

00:51:35,484 --> 00:51:37,354

And I don't think we ever get over it.

:

00:51:37,994 --> 00:51:41,374

if you do ever get over it, let

me know your secret, because I'd

:

00:51:41,374 --> 00:51:42,794

like to bottle it up and sell it.

:

00:51:43,597 --> 00:51:44,927

I don't think there is a fix.

:

00:51:45,374 --> 00:51:46,604

Because we're not broken.

:

00:51:48,021 --> 00:51:49,231

We're not broken people.

:

00:51:49,636 --> 00:51:53,689

We are just finding our way and

There's no cure for it, is there?

:

00:51:53,719 --> 00:51:56,149

There's just, work through it.

:

00:51:57,360 --> 00:52:03,713

VIKKI: How utterly invalidating and

dismissive was that response from your GP.

:

00:52:04,422 --> 00:52:04,812

KAVITA TREVENA: Hmm.

:

00:52:04,948 --> 00:52:10,678

VIKKI: And you just think of all the

people, and especially mums, who are

:

00:52:10,678 --> 00:52:16,348

feeling utterly wretched, utterly

vulnerable, and the bravery it takes to

:

00:52:16,348 --> 00:52:21,048

say, "actually, I'm not okay, and that

I need some help, that I'm struggling",

:

00:52:21,078 --> 00:52:23,518

and then to have that dismissed

:

00:52:23,727 --> 00:52:24,507

KAVITA TREVENA: It's hard, isn't it?

:

00:52:24,788 --> 00:52:28,308

VIKKI: I remember telling a health

visitor, you know, "I've got postnatal

:

00:52:28,328 --> 00:52:32,898

depression, I'm desperate", and

they were just like, "stop crying,

:

00:52:32,948 --> 00:52:34,358

it'll affect your breast milk".

:

00:52:35,342 --> 00:52:36,082

KAVITA TREVENA: I was told that,

:

00:52:36,092 --> 00:52:36,682

actually.

:

00:52:37,572 --> 00:52:39,912

If you're emotional, your breast

milk's emotional, therefore

:

00:52:39,912 --> 00:52:40,762

your baby's emotional."

:

00:52:40,762 --> 00:52:41,062

I was like, "What?

:

00:52:41,322 --> 00:52:41,412

No!"

:

00:52:41,823 --> 00:52:42,033

VIKKI: What?!

:

00:52:42,492 --> 00:52:43,032

KAVITA TREVENA: Probably, but

:

00:52:43,032 --> 00:52:43,412

no.

:

00:52:43,843 --> 00:52:44,703

VIKKI: Oh, God.

:

00:52:45,022 --> 00:52:45,512

"

KAVITA TREVENA: don't tell me that.

:

00:52:45,982 --> 00:52:46,912

It's gonna make me cry more".

:

00:52:47,852 --> 00:52:48,342

Nuts!

:

00:52:48,353 --> 00:52:52,823

VIKKI: Yeah, anyway, but it's wonderful

that you had the help that you did.

:

00:52:53,293 --> 00:52:58,373

And I think it is so important, the

work that you do in being able to sort

:

00:52:58,373 --> 00:53:03,046

of spread that message, that you can

get through it and, basically offering

:

00:53:03,046 --> 00:53:07,466

that hand of help you know, to anybody

that's struggling, that you're not

:

00:53:07,486 --> 00:53:12,211

alone and that actually it's a common

experience that you're going through.

:

00:53:12,269 --> 00:53:13,049

KAVITA TREVENA: Oh gosh, yeah.

:

00:53:14,359 --> 00:53:19,749

If you are alone, then you need to find me

and this community, and your community.

:

00:53:19,799 --> 00:53:21,399

because there's plenty out

there who can help you.

:

00:53:21,399 --> 00:53:21,909

You're never alone.

:

00:53:22,724 --> 00:53:23,134

Never.

:

00:53:24,334 --> 00:53:26,004

And if you are alone, that's

when you need to start reaching

:

00:53:26,004 --> 00:53:27,850

out, because we will help you.

:

00:53:28,578 --> 00:53:32,241

VIKKI: I'm such a fan of everything

that you're doing and you can

:

00:53:32,241 --> 00:53:33,661

tell everything's done with heart.

:

00:53:34,563 --> 00:53:35,473

KAVITA TREVENA: I try to.

:

00:53:35,473 --> 00:53:38,023

VIKKI: how the hell you do

it all on top of, did you say

:

00:53:38,023 --> 00:53:39,193

your working full time as well?

:

00:53:39,223 --> 00:53:40,698

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah so I work full time.

:

00:53:41,263 --> 00:53:42,773

VIKKI: And mum to two kids?

:

00:53:42,803 --> 00:53:43,373

What the hell?

:

00:53:43,423 --> 00:53:47,975

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah, and then I do a lot

of consultancy work on the side, but I

:

00:53:47,975 --> 00:53:50,935

can't do it without the people around me,

so if it wasn't for like my husband being

:

00:53:50,935 --> 00:53:55,585

very hands on, and working very locally

now, and being home for the kids...

:

00:53:55,665 --> 00:53:57,545

and we still have kid time, we

still have our weekends, and we

:

00:53:57,545 --> 00:53:58,515

still spend time with the kids.

:

00:53:58,875 --> 00:54:00,515

My parents do support a lot.

:

00:54:01,195 --> 00:54:03,555

My in laws are amazing.

:

00:54:03,775 --> 00:54:06,215

They do the school pick

ups and they feed my kids.

:

00:54:07,076 --> 00:54:07,476

Do you know what?

:

00:54:07,516 --> 00:54:08,896

I was thinking about this the other day.

:

00:54:08,896 --> 00:54:10,266

I always fell asleep.

:

00:54:10,286 --> 00:54:11,416

I'm linking this, I promise.

:

00:54:11,416 --> 00:54:13,786

I always fell asleep

during Game of Thrones.

:

00:54:14,246 --> 00:54:14,726

Always.

:

00:54:15,076 --> 00:54:19,266

I really like Game of Thrones, but

I think there was so much going

:

00:54:19,266 --> 00:54:22,906

on, and as a mum, we have so much

going on, my brain just used to

:

00:54:22,906 --> 00:54:25,446

shut off, and I'd just go to sleep.

:

00:54:25,446 --> 00:54:27,136

I couldn't process anything.

:

00:54:27,556 --> 00:54:30,726

So now, because I think I take on

too much, and I think we did this pre

:

00:54:30,726 --> 00:54:35,388

chat before we started recording, the

reason why I do so much is because

:

00:54:35,388 --> 00:54:37,760

the minute I stop, I will think.

:

00:54:38,260 --> 00:54:41,770

So when you asked me about my birthing

story and am I okay to talk about it, I'm

:

00:54:41,820 --> 00:54:46,220

absolutely okay to talk about it, but I

think I stopped and thought about it, and

:

00:54:46,220 --> 00:54:50,830

that's why I started to get emotional,

because I gave my brain a moment to stop.

:

00:54:51,326 --> 00:54:52,146

VIKKI: Mm, yeah.

:

00:54:52,146 --> 00:54:55,990

KAVITA TREVENA: And I'm scared that

if I stop, I will stop being the

:

00:54:55,990 --> 00:55:00,750

bubbly me that everyone sees and

I'll be that person who's labelled

:

00:55:00,750 --> 00:55:05,975

as having postnatal depression and

post traumatic stress disorder, and

:

00:55:05,975 --> 00:55:07,505

I don't want to be defined as that.

:

00:55:07,881 --> 00:55:10,441

Because I know when I spoke about

mental health with people before, they

:

00:55:10,441 --> 00:55:14,791

roll their eyes, and I remember an

old manager of mine said, "is that all

:

00:55:14,791 --> 00:55:17,751

you want to be known about, as that

person who had mental health problems?"

:

00:55:17,912 --> 00:55:19,202

VIKKI: Wow, what a thing to say!

:

00:55:19,202 --> 00:55:22,496

KAVITA TREVENA: And I was like, that's

not what I want to be known for.

:

00:55:22,546 --> 00:55:28,306

I want to be known for the woman who had

mental health problems, concerns, issues,

:

00:55:28,306 --> 00:55:30,801

or whatever it's called, and overcome it.

:

00:55:31,531 --> 00:55:33,401

And helped, and advocated.

:

00:55:33,701 --> 00:55:35,421

And that is what The Unlikely Mummy is.

:

00:55:35,851 --> 00:55:42,051

The Unlikely Mummy is there to give

people space, and a voice, and say, "you

:

00:55:42,051 --> 00:55:45,941

know what, I'm not ashamed, like, I'm

not ashamed of what I'm doing, I need

:

00:55:45,941 --> 00:55:48,871

help, and I know I can get it from this,

and it's gonna make me a better person".

:

00:55:49,580 --> 00:55:54,080

I will literally sacrifice everything

if someone comes to me from the

:

00:55:54,080 --> 00:55:55,240

community, I'll put that first.

:

00:55:56,270 --> 00:56:01,030

Because, how lonely is it to be a

mum, especially a first time mum, when

:

00:56:01,030 --> 00:56:02,829

you've not, got a clue, you don't know.

:

00:56:03,679 --> 00:56:05,929

And if someone understands that

and gets that, why shouldn't

:

00:56:05,949 --> 00:56:07,309

they be recognised for it?

:

00:56:07,989 --> 00:56:10,429

So I had someone say, "you just

put yourselves up for all these

:

00:56:10,429 --> 00:56:12,749

awards, it's all about you", and

I was like "this really isn't".

:

00:56:13,259 --> 00:56:18,032

So I stopped promoting or

sharing that I've won awards.

:

00:56:18,032 --> 00:56:21,972

Like, when I won the Coronation

Award, and I've become a Coronation

:

00:56:21,972 --> 00:56:23,752

Champion, that is flipping huge.

:

00:56:24,282 --> 00:56:28,152

500 people in the country got that award.

:

00:56:28,152 --> 00:56:30,642

I still, I still don't know

to this day who nominated me.

:

00:56:31,242 --> 00:56:31,572

I don't know.

:

00:56:32,022 --> 00:56:36,080

And, I got a certificate signed by King

Charles, and I got a little, like, medal.

:

00:56:37,323 --> 00:56:39,023

VIKKI: That's incredible - you

should feel so proud!

:

00:56:39,296 --> 00:56:41,543

KAVITA TREVENA: It's lovely, and

you know what, the other, that goes

:

00:56:41,543 --> 00:56:44,103

in the same level for me as when...

:

00:56:44,638 --> 00:56:46,578

I think you've had Eve Canavan

as a guest on your show.

:

00:56:46,764 --> 00:56:48,514

VIKKI: Oh, I love Eve, I'm such a fan!

:

00:56:48,514 --> 00:56:51,638

KAVITA TREVENA: She is amazing

and I had such amazing banter with

:

00:56:51,638 --> 00:56:55,598

her online and she asked me to do

her Maternal Mental Health Week.

:

00:56:56,008 --> 00:56:59,408

And I did a mindfulness session and

she asked me when I was pregnant with

:

00:56:59,408 --> 00:57:00,328

Maya and I was like, "you know what?

:

00:57:00,358 --> 00:57:01,028

I'd love to."

:

00:57:01,351 --> 00:57:04,891

I sat upstairs in my bedroom, I did this

whole mindfulness session, and I think

:

00:57:04,891 --> 00:57:06,508

it's had something like 10, 000 views.

:

00:57:06,508 --> 00:57:11,281

Maternal Mental Health Week is huge,

isn't it And I did that, and I had

:

00:57:11,281 --> 00:57:16,871

someone contact me from Facebook, like

a year or so later, going, "I found

:

00:57:16,871 --> 00:57:23,604

you because my therapist uses your

mindfulness video as part of our session".

:

00:57:24,686 --> 00:57:25,066

I was like, "what?

:

00:57:25,086 --> 00:57:25,676

What you on about?"

:

00:57:25,686 --> 00:57:26,606

Like, "hang on a minute!"

:

00:57:26,796 --> 00:57:31,026

But that week, the Maternal Mental

Health Week for Eve and her colleagues,

:

00:57:31,636 --> 00:57:33,346

absolutely changed my confidence.

:

00:57:34,151 --> 00:57:35,401

I think that was a turning point for me.

:

00:57:35,401 --> 00:57:38,651

So something like that, and

then winning an award, to me,

:

00:57:38,661 --> 00:57:41,031

is on par, because I'm helping.

:

00:57:41,481 --> 00:57:45,431

I'm helping thousands of

people and it's incredible.

:

00:57:45,481 --> 00:57:48,110

VIKKI: Absolutely and you will

never know the ripple effect...

:

00:57:48,110 --> 00:57:48,680

KAVITA TREVENA: ...Of what that's done.

:

00:57:48,772 --> 00:57:48,842

Yeah.

:

00:57:48,842 --> 00:57:51,172

This is what I mean about social

media can be really, really

:

00:57:51,172 --> 00:57:52,582

good, and really, really bad.

:

00:57:53,022 --> 00:57:56,922

And I've done an interview on

LBC radio about the impacts on

:

00:57:56,932 --> 00:57:59,082

mental health, and I, I love that

little interview, it was great.

:

00:57:59,547 --> 00:58:02,207

And I got lots of people

contacting me as a result of that,

:

00:58:02,237 --> 00:58:03,937

agreeing with what I was saying.

:

00:58:04,417 --> 00:58:08,267

But social media has also been

positive for me, so there's um, a lady

:

00:58:08,267 --> 00:58:10,827

I speak to on Instagram called Dr.

:

00:58:10,827 --> 00:58:11,547

Kimberley.

:

00:58:11,894 --> 00:58:14,804

And she was one of the first people

that donated to the Unlikely Mummy

:

00:58:14,804 --> 00:58:18,269

this year, for the big half marathon.

:

00:58:18,969 --> 00:58:25,239

But I've noticed lately, more strangers

that I don't really know, invest in

:

00:58:25,249 --> 00:58:28,699

the Unlikely Mummy more than people

that are around me on the ground.

:

00:58:30,179 --> 00:58:34,869

And that just, for me, makes me realise

that it's not just about these people near

:

00:58:35,259 --> 00:58:37,539

me, it's about the reach that I've got.

:

00:58:37,739 --> 00:58:39,709

And I might not have thousands

and thousands, and I'm not

:

00:58:39,729 --> 00:58:41,989

like some huge influencer.

:

00:58:42,019 --> 00:58:43,359

VIKKI: Doesn't matter, doesn't matter.

:

00:58:43,579 --> 00:58:44,839

KAVITA TREVENA: That's

not what I want to do.

:

00:58:45,009 --> 00:58:47,039

And that used to really upset me before.

:

00:58:47,599 --> 00:58:51,122

Because then those influencers generate

the money, and then for me I was like

:

00:58:51,162 --> 00:58:52,902

that money becomes Unlikely Mummy money.

:

00:58:52,902 --> 00:58:58,812

And people don't realise that

the money isn't my money, and

:

00:58:58,972 --> 00:59:02,792

I've invested my money, similar

to you, into this community.

:

00:59:02,812 --> 00:59:06,242

And I'm desperate for the community

to work, so when someone attacks it,

:

00:59:06,292 --> 00:59:10,566

I feel it's it's like my, my third

baby, Yeah, I've nurtured it, and I've

:

00:59:10,566 --> 00:59:13,776

grown it, and I, say to my husband,

quite often, like, "should I just

:

00:59:13,776 --> 00:59:15,356

give it up, should I just stop it?

:

00:59:15,951 --> 00:59:18,141

It would save us a lot of money and

a lot of time and a lot of effort".

:

00:59:19,251 --> 00:59:21,421

He's like, "no, because you've

invested six years of your life.

:

00:59:22,231 --> 00:59:22,821

Don't give up.

:

00:59:22,891 --> 00:59:24,941

Let it just run in the background

and you're still doing it".

:

00:59:25,511 --> 00:59:27,811

So, we've invested even

more money into it.

:

00:59:28,151 --> 00:59:30,421

And as a result, we're going

to do even more things.

:

00:59:31,001 --> 00:59:35,558

Because the whole purpose of The Unlikely

Mummy and the reason I started it was

:

00:59:36,218 --> 00:59:37,538

I didn't want anyone to feel alone.

:

00:59:37,538 --> 00:59:39,208

And that still stands.

:

00:59:39,208 --> 00:59:42,088

And I want women to feel empowered.

:

00:59:42,528 --> 00:59:44,638

So I want to start

running women's circles.

:

00:59:45,003 --> 00:59:47,333

But obviously I can't do that, so

I'm going to buy people in to do

:

00:59:47,343 --> 00:59:53,383

it, and that's what the money pays

for, is buying experts in to help

:

00:59:53,693 --> 00:59:55,953

the mums that are identified to me.

:

00:59:56,833 --> 00:59:57,323

Oh my god, it sounds like

a sales pitch (laughs).

:

00:59:58,603 --> 01:00:03,369

VIKKI: If there is there anybody listening

to this who is like moved by what

:

01:00:03,369 --> 01:00:08,273

you're doing and what you're trying to

do - if anybody wanted to donate to the

:

01:00:08,273 --> 01:00:10,153

Unlikely Mummy, how could they do that?

:

01:00:10,923 --> 01:00:14,513

KAVITA TREVENA: At the moment, my Just

Giving page is still open for anyone

:

01:00:15,057 --> 01:00:18,057

who's done the big half marathon, so

I will keep that open until I think

:

01:00:18,247 --> 01:00:21,687

they will kick me out of it, and

say I can't have it open anymore.

:

01:00:21,887 --> 01:00:23,497

So I think it'll be open for

another couple of months.

:

01:00:24,137 --> 01:00:27,897

Or, if anyone wants to, they

can, send money directly to the

:

01:00:27,897 --> 01:00:29,037

Unlikely Mummy bank account.

:

01:00:29,697 --> 01:00:34,037

And it's a community account, it's run by

two people, so it's not just in my name,

:

01:00:34,037 --> 01:00:36,167

it's also in one of my director's names.

:

01:00:36,177 --> 01:00:38,567

So I can share those details.

:

01:00:38,697 --> 01:00:41,107

And it's to the Unlikely Mummy,

so it's not even got my name

:

01:00:41,107 --> 01:00:43,367

on it, it's all above board!

:

01:00:43,367 --> 01:00:46,477

Everything The Unlikely Mummy

does is transparent, and you can

:

01:00:46,477 --> 01:00:48,697

find it all on Companies House.

:

01:00:49,131 --> 01:00:53,484

I want it to be crystal clear that the

money I get in is spent out, and, yeah.

:

01:00:54,066 --> 01:00:55,826

We are definitely above board.

:

01:00:55,976 --> 01:00:58,980

And if anyone has ideas, or they want

to come to me and say like, "I've

:

01:00:58,980 --> 01:01:01,876

got this really good idea and I don't

know what to do, or how to start it",

:

01:01:02,316 --> 01:01:03,786

I'm happy to have that conversation.

:

01:01:03,956 --> 01:01:06,816

And if the Unlikely Mummy can

give you some money to kickstart

:

01:01:06,816 --> 01:01:10,660

you, then we will look at that and

we'll explore that, because we've

:

01:01:10,700 --> 01:01:12,290

got money in the reserves to help.

:

01:01:12,770 --> 01:01:15,620

And it doesn't have to be just where

I live, it could be where you live.

:

01:01:16,790 --> 01:01:20,530

I'm desperately wanting to help more

mums, and how that happens, it's

:

01:01:20,550 --> 01:01:24,760

kind of down to everybody to get

involved in that, which is exciting.

:

01:01:25,090 --> 01:01:28,170

I think the future for The Unlikely

Mummy is going to be amazing and I

:

01:01:28,170 --> 01:01:29,750

think it will keep growing and growing.

:

01:01:30,101 --> 01:01:31,621

VIKKI: What's your Insta handle?

:

01:01:31,621 --> 01:01:34,761

What's the best way for people to

keep in touch with what you're doing?

:

01:01:35,006 --> 01:01:38,102

KAVITA TREVENA: Yeah, it's just 'at

The Unlikely Mummy.' Everything I try

:

01:01:38,112 --> 01:01:40,232

to do is just '@ The Unlikely Mummy'.

:

01:01:41,295 --> 01:01:43,295

Kavita@TheUnlikelyMummy.co.uk to email me.

:

01:01:43,625 --> 01:01:45,305

But they're the best ways to get in touch.

:

01:01:45,494 --> 01:01:48,367

VIKKI: For anybody that's struggling,

and you know, we've both been there.

:

01:01:48,970 --> 01:01:53,770

Where just - yeah - the world feels

like it's a dark, scary, horrible place.

:

01:01:54,204 --> 01:01:58,017

What message can you give to somebody

that's feeling like that right

:

01:01:58,017 --> 01:01:59,207

now and can't see a lot of hope?

:

01:02:00,531 --> 01:02:03,531

KAVITA TREVENA: You know, I always say

you'll wake up tomorrow and it'll feel

:

01:02:03,531 --> 01:02:09,291

a little bit lighter, and I always think

if I've gone to bed, upset, hurt, or

:

01:02:09,291 --> 01:02:10,701

angry, and I've woken up the next morning.

:

01:02:10,701 --> 01:02:13,401

One, I've woken up the next morning,

and that's a gift in itself.

:

01:02:14,811 --> 01:02:20,741

But it gets easier, and you will feel

lighter, and also, the second part

:

01:02:20,741 --> 01:02:25,301

of that is, the more you talk about

it, the more you are able to process

:

01:02:25,301 --> 01:02:27,461

it, and the more people understand.

:

01:02:28,641 --> 01:02:32,191

There's nothing wrong with you, we

all process things in very different

:

01:02:32,191 --> 01:02:36,181

ways, and if someone doesn't want to

listen to your story, it says more

:

01:02:36,181 --> 01:02:37,941

about them than it does about you.

:

01:02:38,931 --> 01:02:41,721

Because if they were a true person

in your life, they will be with you,

:

01:02:42,371 --> 01:02:43,261

the good, the bad, and the ugly.

:

01:02:43,620 --> 01:02:44,680

VIKKI: Yeah, no matter what.

:

01:02:44,950 --> 01:02:48,070

KAVITA TREVENA: If they love you

for you, they will stick with you

:

01:02:48,110 --> 01:02:49,670

no matter what your conversation is.

:

01:02:50,000 --> 01:02:54,580

So tomorrow's a new day, it will

definitely get lighter, and keep talking.

:

01:02:55,680 --> 01:02:57,980

Even if it's to strangers,

I think sometimes strangers

:

01:02:57,980 --> 01:02:58,760

are the best listeners.

:

01:02:59,070 --> 01:03:01,250

Just keep talking, and

there's always help.

:

01:03:01,750 --> 01:03:03,320

Yeah, I wish I knew that.

:

01:03:04,120 --> 01:03:07,204

I wish I believed that when

I was going through it.

:

01:03:07,304 --> 01:03:10,194

I thought there was no light, and there's

always light at the end of that tunnel.

:

01:03:10,194 --> 01:03:11,124

VIKKI: Absolutely.

:

01:03:11,214 --> 01:03:14,184

And what a beautiful way

to end the conversation.

:

01:03:14,184 --> 01:03:17,143

Thank you so much Kavita,

It's been amazing.

:

01:03:17,143 --> 01:03:19,453

I've absolutely loved

chatting with you today.

:

01:03:19,513 --> 01:03:22,743

KAVITA TREVENA: I hope we've helped many,

many mums, people, partners, whoever

:

01:03:22,773 --> 01:03:25,173

needs it, and thank you for inviting me.

:

01:03:25,493 --> 01:03:28,353

It's such an honour to be a

guest on your podcast, and I'm

:

01:03:28,893 --> 01:03:30,253

absolutely privileged, thank you.

:

01:03:30,795 --> 01:03:31,915

VIKKI: Thank you so much.

:

01:03:32,259 --> 01:03:35,049

And every time I have a conversation

like the one that I've had with you

:

01:03:35,049 --> 01:03:38,499

today, I'm just like, this is why it's

so important to get these stories out.

:

01:03:38,499 --> 01:03:39,935

KAVITA TREVENA: That's

why you keep going, yeah.

:

01:03:40,009 --> 01:03:41,089

VIKKI: Keep talking about it.

:

01:03:41,089 --> 01:03:41,479

Thank you.

:

01:03:41,823 --> 01:03:42,603

KAVITA TREVENA: You're welcome.

:

01:03:42,633 --> 01:03:43,013

Thank you.

:

01:03:43,013 --> 01:03:44,553

Thank you for giving me the space.

:

01:03:44,743 --> 01:03:45,323

Bye.

:

01:03:45,876 --> 01:03:49,626

VIKKI: The theme music is 'Sunrise

Expedition' by Joseph MacDade.

:

01:03:49,915 --> 01:03:53,395

New episodes are released the first

Monday of each month, available

:

01:03:53,405 --> 01:03:55,545

on all major podcast platforms.

:

01:03:56,113 --> 01:04:00,713

Hit follow to keep up with all the latest,

and if you enjoy Blue MumDays, please

:

01:04:00,713 --> 01:04:02,833

leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

:

01:04:03,133 --> 01:04:04,993

It helps more people to find us.

:

01:04:05,370 --> 01:04:06,610

Thank you so much.

All Episodes Previous Episode
Show artwork for BLUE MUMDAYS

About the Podcast

BLUE MUMDAYS
The Parental Mental Health Podcast
Blue MumDays is a podcast about perinatal illness, parenting and being kind to yourself. Up to 1 in 7 mums and 1 in 10 dads will suffer with their mental health after the birth of their baby. Having once interviewed the likes of Sir David Attenborough and Hans Zimmer during my BBC career, I’m now speaking to mums, dads and mental health experts each week, in an effort to understand my own experience of postnatal depression. Dispelling myths, smashing stigma & bringing hope to parents having a hard time.

About your host

Profile picture for Vikki Stephenson

Vikki Stephenson

Vikki Stephenson is a Senior Creative, Consultant and Speaker with 20 years’ experience making award-winning campaigns for the BBC’s highest profile brands: Planet Earth II, Panorama, CBeebies, EastEnders, Dracula. Her work has been recognised internationally, winning 35+ industry awards - most since becoming a mum and working part-time.

12 years ago Vikki gave birth to her much-wanted son. Whilst she loved him dearly, she suffered a traumatic birth and felt overwhelmed and ill-equipped with the responsibility of bringing a human being into the world. She very quickly developed PND and anxiety, which left her with feelings of total failure. She worried that she didn't have the right answers, instincts or knowledge to be 'good enough' as his mum. The first year of her son's life was sadly the hardest of Vikki's and she endlessly compared herself to others who seemed to find motherhood easy. However, through the support of the Cedar House Charity and long-term anti-depressants, Vikki slowly recovered.

12 years on, she is now a passionate advocate of perinatal mental health and is on a mission to help parents feel less alone, through her podcast series ‘Blue MumDays’. Its purpose is to help other mums and dads better understand their illness and give them the hope that they will make a full recovery. It gives a voice to the lived experience of real sufferers who have reached the other side, and - through interviews with experts – will signpost mums, dads, their partners and friends to help and support that may be hard to find.