Victoria Hewitt, a 30-year-old art teacher from Cambuslang, Scotland, recently shared her story about battling postnatal depression (PND) after the birth of her first child, Hall Cassidy Hewitt. Despite her excitement about becoming a mother, Victoria found herself unable to bond with her newborn following a traumatic birth experience.
Victoria described feeling like she was “trapped in a nightmare” and having “nothing to do” with her baby due to the overwhelming effects of PND. She felt detached, leading to suicidal thoughts, severe low moods, and panic attacks. Victoria’s struggles escalated to the point where she couldn’t even take a bath without someone checking on her wellbeing, and her husband had to hide painkillers from her.
Postnatal depression affects over one in ten women within a year of giving birth, with potential triggers including stressful life events or psychological trauma. Victoria believes her challenging birth, which required an emergency C-section and led to her baby being taken away immediately after delivery, contributed to her PND.
After reaching a breaking point, Victoria was hospitalised and received support to improve her mental health and bond with her baby. With the help of her family and healthcare professionals, Victoria gradually started feeling like herself again and now enjoys being a mother to Hall.
Reflecting on her journey, Victoria expressed gratitude for the support she received and the positive changes she experienced. She is now looking forward to welcoming her second child and hopes that by sharing her story, she can help other parents facing similar challenges and break the stigma surrounding postnatal depression.
Victoria’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health support for new parents and the impact of postnatal depression on families. By raising awareness and encouraging open conversations, individuals like Victoria are paving the way for destigmatising PND and ensuring that parents feel supported in their journey to parenthood.