Maternal Mental Health Week

Dear Mums

It's Maternal Mental Health week this week. Obviously this is a subject very close to my heart (as a mum and someone who works so closely with other mums), and the majority of my work is centred around our wellbeing.

My work comes under the (rather vague and innocuous) umbrella of yoga, coaching, and treatments. But there's so much potential and depth there, I am blown away by my clients, often.  It fills up my own wellbeing cup for sure!

Yoga incorporates not just physical preparing for/recovering from birth and ongoing wellbeing as our but also meditation, relaxation, mindfulness, breathing and energy practices that benefit us greatly, mentally. 

Also, many of my groups include time for a women's circle style sharing time over tea.  Sometimes it can be seen as something of an add-on to the pre and postnatal classes.  And that may be because some (not all), other classes treat it as such, a nice cup of tea and general chat.  Which is...well, nice.  Mums can become friends, and that in itself can be really supportive.

However, in our classes at The Mama Space, the chat over tea time is where much of the learning, sharing, connection and support happens.  It's part of the class experience.  I feel rather old with the realisation that I now have 20 years experience of being part of this kind of safe, sharing space, and more than 15 of introducing and holding space for others.  For many, it's the first experience they have of being held in a safe, sharing circle with other women. And it is powerful!

It's not for everyone.  For the vast majority though, who are here for support through. and enhancing their transformative experience of becoming, and being a mum, it's incredibly important.   There is an openness and honesty which always touches me.  There are often tears, and laughter, many nods of empathy, non judgemental sharing of experience.  

There is vulnerability, and there is such a power in that! 

I often receive feedback from people - sometimes even years after they attended the classes and their children are growing up - about how the classes helped them feel so supported, or helped them find themselves journey into the kind of mother they wanted to be (but didn't know yet), and most commonly, that they made amazing friendships with others at the time. The kind of friendships that are like-minded, genuinely supportive, and of a deep connection.

I was filled with gratitude this week with how wonderful the mums are in my postnatal yoga class. They are really using their voice.  This is even more pertinent as this year's theme for Maternal Mental Health Week is YOUR VOICE, YOUR POWER.

They share in this safe space around so many important issues, such as recovery from birth, how much energy it takes being a mum, sleep issues, language we use around our babies/children. Relationships with partners and their families, planning on moving through different phases, such as going back to work, weaning their babies, being a mum to a toddler as well as a baby. And more.

Using your voice is powerful. Whether in a group or one to one, face to face or online. How?

🗣️ It express your needs and wishes.

🗣️ For your birth and early parenting preferences.

🗣️ To help you process a difficult birth experience, or share your story of a positive, empowering one.

🗣️ To express your breastfeeding challenges, or concerns over your baby's health, to enable you to access support.

🗣️ For your relationships (co-parent and wider family).

🗣️ Supports you and others.

🗣️ Helps you feel heard, loved and cared for thereby increasing feel good and bonding hormones.

🗣️ Reduces things like postnatal depression,. anxiety, resentment, trauma, feeling undermined or overwhelmed, things being tabo

🗣️ Improves mental health, wellbeing, confidence, sleep, autonomy, clarity, positivity, feeling empowered.

🗣️ Healthy emotional regulation, nervous system, immune system and many body system functions.

🗣️ It can also help others to speak their truth, ask for help, share experiences, drive for change, highlight problems in our systems, help partners and others understand, improve employment policies etc...

🗣️ Help you feel you are being yourself.

What else can you add? Let me know what you think, how you feel about this.  Let's spread the ripple affect of using our voice.

Pippa x