Sarah Brumpton Guest Blog

20th February 2012 - What a difference a year makes. It is my son’s second birthday this Wednesday and we had a small family party to celebrate yesterday. It was so lovely to have my closest family and friends coming together to celebrate particularly as this time last year was in marked contrast as I was suffering severe postnatal depression. My depression was so severe that I had to be admitted to the Mother and Baby Unit at my local hospital in order to receive the correct treatment. During the months leading up to my hospital admission my behaviour was causing concerns to those around me, I was experiencing delusional thoughts and had become very withdrawn from my son. My husband was left to not only care for our one year old but also our eldest son as well. There are approximately 20 Mother and Baby Units around the UK and they offer treatment to women experiencing mental illness prior to or up to one year following the birth of their child. In my case it was decided that my son would not stay on the unit with me full time as he was almost one. By the time I was admitted my relationship with my son was non-existent, in fact I was so withdrawn from him that I kept asking to be admitted to the general psychiatric unit because I knew that he would not be able to stay with me. Most of my time on the unit was spent in bed much to the nurses frustration in fact they once told me I had to get up as decorators were going to be working in my room, how true that was I am not entirely sure! Strangely I do not recall talking to any of the other women on the unit, but I often spoke to the nurses. I will never forget the nurse who told me time and time again that I would get better, but I never believed her I was convinced that I had lost everything my husband, children, job etc. I was treated with a combination of anti depressants, Lithium and anti psychotic medication which after six weeks had the desired effect and I left the hospital a total different person to the one who was admitted. Since my discharge I have gone onto make a complete recovery, returning to work and restoring my relationship with my sons and my husband to whom I will always be thankful for maintaining our family life during one of the most harrowing experiences ever. For the past few months I have been researching support services available to those affected by postnatal depression with a view to establishing a peer support group in Nottingham. My research has led to make some fantastic connections with those around the country who are working to support women and their families and educate and inform others about pre & postnatal mental health conditions. I have been working with Self Help Nottingham which is an organisation which supports around 300 self help groups in Nottingham and the surrounding areas to get the project off the ground and we have organised an information meeting at their offices on 1st March. If anyone reading this thinks they may be able to help please feel free to contact me either via Self Help Nottingham, Face book – “Open House Nottingham” or openhousenotts@gmail.com. Together we can make a difference.