Sunshine after the storm 🌞

[Emilyr123]

I just wanted to share my positive experience with you all 😊

I posted on here a few months ago about my experience of having late onset PP last year after stopping breastfeeding my little girl. After a few months in hospital thankfully the psychotic symptoms subsided but I suffered with depression and anxiety following this. During this time I became unexpectedly pregnant which to begin with was terrifying but with the right medication and therapy over the months I was able to work through my depression and anxiety to find myself again and feel like I was a good mum and have another baby. My second baby, a little boy, is 2 months old now and we're both doing well, I feel happy and healthy which I'm so grateful for.

This picture is of my little boy at 5 days old sleeping in his cot at home decorated with pom poms that I made while poorly in a general psychiatric hospital last year. My reminder that there's always sunshine after the storm ❤

[Jocelyn_at_APP Partner APP]

So lovely to hear this!! Really glad to hear everything is going well!😀😍

[Zebunisa_at_APP Moderator]

Glad to hear you are feeling healthy and happy...and yes indeed there is sunshine after every storm. I love that you made the pom poms whilst you were ill and have made use of them. What a beautiful reminder too that there is sunshine after the storm.

Here's some frames I created with some paints whilst ill during my time at the MBU last year. It felt so therapeutic, thought i'd share. I've placed these in my kitchen 🙂

Photo

[Emilyr123 in reply to Zebunisa_at_APP]

These are beautiful! It's lovely that you chose to do something with them and display them

[Pikorua Volunteer in reply to Zebunisa_at_APP]

They are beautiful, - creativity is so therapeutic and still part of my routine. Happy day dearest Zebunisa!

[HelenMW Volunteer]

thank you for posting such an encouraging message and beautiful picture x

[Maria_at_APP Moderator]

Hi Emilyr123,

Congratulations, he is gorgeous!! So lovely to hear that you and him are doing so well. Take really good care

[Emilyr123 in reply to Maria_at_APP]

Thanks so much EmiMum, hope you're well

[Pikorua Volunteer]

Such wonderful news Emily! Thank you for your uplifting words and gorgeous picture of your little boy. Positive messages are important for all the mums on this forum. Take good care. x

[Emilyr123 in reply to Pikorua]

Thank you so much

[The_Wes_Anderson_Fan Volunteer]

There really is sunshine after the storm. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am sure it will give some hope to others who need it. 💗

[Lilybeth Volunteer]

So happy for you Emilyr123 ..... a girl and now a boy ... two bundles of joy to treasure. Take good care of yourself too. 🌹

[Emilyr123 in reply to Lilybeth]

Thank you so much ❤

[resilient_mama1982 Volunteer]

This is so lovely to read 🥰 Your little boy is so gorgeous. Congratulations it's so good to hear your doing so good. I love how you made those pom poms and put them on his wee crib. Your one strong woman for sure 💝

[Emilyr123 in reply to resilient_mama1982]

Aww thank you so much ❤ All the best to you

[Jlou84]

Hi I'm soo glad to see that things went well for you. I don't know if you'll see this but I found your post as I am now in a similar situation to you, expecting my second child, hoping for a home birth as I also found hospitals too triggering after visiting. I just wondered how your home birth went and if you have any tips for managing nerves leading up to the birth? Thanks Jx

[Emilyr123 in reply to Jlou84]

Hi J! Congratulations ❤

So my planned home birth didn't happen. I was 42 weeks when I went into labour and I had meconium in my waters when they broke so I decided to go into hospital. Had baby boy within 45 minutes of getting there no issues!

But that's me and there's nothing to say you won't have the home birth you want. It's always good to prepare for plan B, I had a hospital bag ready etc. But I'm still happy I focussed positively on readying for a home birth, it really helped to centre me and keep me busy. Hopefully you have someone to advocate for you and support you in what you want, that's really important.

I don't know if you've had any therapy but I had anxiety management therapy while I was pregnant and the tools I was taught and just talking about my traumatic memories associated with hospital really helped. I did the online course with Positive Birth Company but there's also a book associated with them called Hypnobirthing by Siobhan Miller. I found those invaluable and really boosted my confidence. Long term I'd highly recommend EMDR but it's not suitable while pregnant I don't think, my psychologist wouldn't do it anyway.

Sorry if I waffled 😅

Good luck, you've got this mama!

[Kat_at_APP Volunteer]

huge congratulations Emilyr123, he’s so beautiful and I *love* your Pom poms! How awesome that you can use them to decorate his cot - so so special.

Very best wishes

Kat x

[Emilyr123 in reply to Kat_at_APP]

Thank you Kat, that's so lovely ❤He's a year old now, can hardly believe it!