The reason why I strive to be the best person I can be.
The reason why I’ve made the decision to set up my own charity for maternal mental health. I mean why is there no psychiatric mother and baby unit in Wales 🏴? It’s absolutely absurd.
I was transferred to Nottingham mother and baby unit and reunited with my baby boy when he was just 17 days old. Prior to this I was separated from my newborn and placed in a general acute mental health ward where I lived in the most dreadful conditions which still gives me nightmares, makes me shake and makes my heart race even today, one year on. My room (if you can call it that) was a prison cell.
Why should any new mother have to experience this after all they’ve already been through physically? Not to mention emotionally and mentally.
I am going to change this. I have lived in hell and was made to feel a prisoner and for what!? Contracting Post-Partum Psychosis after the birth!? And that’s my fault is it!?
I am going to work so hard to raise money towards funding a psychiatric mother and baby unit in Wales. Yes its going to be hard and yes I’m going to need everyones help but I am going to achieve this.
Today was my last meeting with my psychiatrist, such a positive meeting concluding with removing my anti-psychotic medication completely. Here’s to my new life... I’m finally back on track after the rockiest year of my life.
Watch this space❤️
Thank you to all my family and friends who will continue to make this possible and to my hubby Paul who has stuck with me through thick and thin, I love you so much xxx
Written by
RachelFlynn23
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thank you so much for your bravery and sharing your story with us. Welcome to the group of mums, who are always here to listen and support each other.
I have not much time this morning as I have to get my 7 year old boy ready for school.
Just to let you know that we have been in the same boat,-unfortunately I was not placed in a mother and baby unit in 2010. There was nothing in Somerset, - there had been talks in my medical file about an MBU in Manchester.
Well done for putting all your energy and effort into improving your health with professionals. I have had a lovely Spanish Psychiatrist, who also weaned me off very traditional Anti-Psychotics after one year.
I wish I could hug you, because my life in the mixed Psychiatric gender unit was horrific and I was kept in seclusion for far too many days/weeks throughout quite a few Episodes. It was my partner, who saved me - he was my full time carer and then part time for one year.
I still struggle, but like you have a fighter instinct.
Look after yourself...the picture of your son looks gorgeous.
Thanks so much for sharing your story. I had PP myself in 2011 after the birth of my son, and know how traumatic it is. It is awful that you had to travel so far for a mother and baby unit. It is shocking that there is no mother and baby unit in Wales. Luckily, I didn't experience general psychiatric ward, but I know of so many mum's who did, and how traumatic it was for them to be on a general ward after just having a baby. I think it increases the trauma that mum's experience anyway after having PP.
I don't know if you know that there has been a lot of campaigning and work in Wales recently around perinatal mental health, including a campaign for a mother and baby unit there. I know there is an event happening in June. Perhaps you can try and connect with the group of organisations who are working to improve things in Wales? Information is here: mentalhealth.org.uk/wales/p...
Take care, you will find a lot of support and information on this forum. We PP mum's are all here for each other
Thank you so much for getting in touch and sharing your experience.
I agree, it is absurd that there are no MBUs in Wales.
I live in North Wales and I'm a regional rep for APP. The link in the previous reply is very useful. There has been a lot of research recently about perinatal mental health in Wales.
Also there has been a recent Welsh Government Inquiry into PMH services in Wales. I have attended several meetings and have been pushing for an MBU in North Wales. It's been very frustrating and last year a petition was handed in highlighting the urgent need for MBUs in Wales. If you're on Twitter the hashtag is #MBUWales
I've met with my local MP a couple of times who has been very supportive in highlighting these issues. She recently had a discussion with the Health Minister who agrees that it is not possible for women from North Wales to travel many miles to a MBU. He mentioned there has been some progress by the setting up of the new Perinatal community team in North Wales but he doesn't seem the understand that women with PP need urgent hospital admission and cannot be looked after in the community.
I attended a Perinatal steering group meeting last week in Cardiff and we talked about the findings of the recent inquiry. The recommendations state there should be a MBU in North Wales but putting it into practice is the important thing. It was mentioned that one of the barriers is the cost of running a unit. This makes me really cross as lives are at risk without the right care in the right environment.
I had PP a long time ago, 23 years ago and I too was admitted to a general psychiatric ward and separated from by six day old baby.
If you are interested in going to the launch of the research on 12th June in Cardiff, maybe we can arrange to meet. Where in Wales do you live?
Hope you are ok. What a beautiful photo of your baby,
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