Local mum shares her struggle with post-natal depression for World Mental Health Day
According to a recent study by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, around 15% of women show signs of struggling with their mental health in the days, weeks and months following the birth of their baby1. For many new mums, and the loved ones that support them in the early weeks of a newborns life, it can be an isolating and overwhelming time and, shockingly, there’s often the misconception that it should be dealt with behind closed doors. For local mum, Steph Nathan, this was the sad reality of her first few months as a mum.
“I’m really keen to share my story because I now know just how common postnatal depression (PND) is – when I was going through it myself, I didn’t even know that’s what it was. Five years on, and with two little girls – Evie and Chloe – I’ve come through the other side of my experience with PND and that’s thanks to joining community groups and classes in and around Leighton Buzzard, where we now live. I can’t recommend them enough to other new mums! In particular, it was our weekly swimming classes with Water Babies at Booker Park School that became a lifeline for us. Had it not been for those sessions, I don’t know what I would have done,” explained Steph.
Steph, who was 27 when she gave birth to Evie in the summer of 2017 after an emergency caesarean section at Watford General Hospital, instantly felt isolated and overwhelmed as a new mum.
“We’d just moved to the area, and I don’t think I did a very good job of getting out and about and socialising with other new parents in the beginning,” Steph explained. “I’d been quite poorly after having Evie and ended up back in hospital within a few days of her being born, leaving her at home to be cared for by my husband Elliot and my mother-in-law. Once I was home again, I didn’t feel as though I’d had the same bonding experience as they had, and Evie just felt like a stranger to me. Looking back, that was probably the first sign that I was suffering from PND, but I just didn’t know enough about the condition.
“After opening up to Elliot about how I was feeling, I went to see my GP who referred me for cognitive behavioural therapy. Through those sessions, I was encouraged to join a local class or community group. Water Babies really appealed to me – the classes would teach Evie an all-important life skill but would expose me to new friendship groups at the same time. I was so nervous to start with, but it turned out to be the best thing I ever did.”
Steph soon found comfort and community in attending weekly swimming sessions with Evie. Tamsin Brewis, who has owned Water Babies Bucks and Beds since 2004, was elated to hear all about Steph and Evie’s journey. Like Steph, she hopes it will inspire other new mums who might be struggling with their mental health as they adapt to a new life with a little one.
“Steph’s journey into parenthood started with what sounds to be quite a traumatic birth and I think so many new parents are guilty of just assuming you should go home to recover alone,” said Tamsin. “I’m so pleased that Steph found us – I know we offered a great sense of comfort and reassurance to her when she was really doubting her abilities as a new mum. The moment you meet other parents in the pool, you soon realise you’re all muddling through together. Whilst postpartum exercise doesn’t sound too appealing, swimming is a great low-intensity workout and being in the pool with your little one is fantastic for bonding. It’s great to see Steph thriving. And although Evie is sadly approaching the end of her Water Babies journey, her sister, Chloe, is now coming to weekly classes with us, at the very same pool where Evie first swam!”
For more information about swimming lessons with Water Babies Bucks and Beds, visit
https://www.waterbabies.co.uk/lp/baby-swimming/bucks-and-beds