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Mental Health

Perinatal Mental Health #PNDAW16: It’s Okay Not To Be Okay

Posted on September 11, 2016

A faded photograph of a young woman looking wistful as the sun sets in a tropical setting behind her - Includes the title "Perinatal mental health #PNDAW16 - It's okay not to be okay" - Mrs H's favourite things

Today marks the end of the first ever Pre & Post Natal Depression Awareness Week #PNDAW16 run by PANDAS (the UK's leading pre and post natal depression charity). In light of this, I wanted to share my story of perinatal mental health. My experience of perinatal mental illnesses may be slightly unusual as I have suffered from depression for almost 17 year; most of my adult life. At times, my mental health has been terrible. At other times it has been…

When pregnancy is a struggle

Posted on June 15, 2016

It is difficult to admit that something you have yearned for desperately has been a struggle. Ever since Little Miss H has been a few months old, I have wanted a second baby. The miscarriages that followed just made my desperation for that child more intense. Each loss took us further away from our longed for second child. But each loss made me more determined that we needed to become a family of four.…

Health & Welfare Mental Health

To Sleep, Perchance To Dream

Posted on April 13, 2016

Sleep is such an essential part of our lives. It is crucial to staying healthy and happy. I know that when I have a depressive episode sleep is the greatest of healers. Yet, I am embarrassed to admit that I have a toxic relationship with sleep.…

Baby Loss Mental Health Motherhood

How To Survive Pregnancy After Baby Loss

Posted on March 10, 2016

A photograph of a sunset in the background with a dandelion in the foreground and its seeds blowing in the wind- How To Survive Pregnancy After Baby Loss - Mrs H's favourite things

Pregnancy after baby loss is a time of mixed emotions. There are many moments of happiness and joy. But there’s also anxiety and fear. For any woman, who is pregnant after a miscarriage or stillbirth, there is one thing that she wants to know. How to survive pregnancy after baby loss. Back in November 2015, I discovered that I was pregnant for the sixth time in 3 years. We’re lucky to have a beautiful little girl. But we’ve also experienced…

Baby Loss Mental Health Motherhood

Pregnancy after miscarriage: Our first trimester

Posted on February 22, 2016

I am now 18 weeks pregnant. This is my sixth pregnancy. And it is my fourth pregnancy after miscarriage. It is only now, at 18 weeks pregnant that I am beginning to relax a little and enjoy the pregnancy. I know that I will not be able to stop worrying until we have our baby at home. I wish that I could say that I breezed through the first trimester. That I was ecstatic when I saw that I was pregnant and…

Baby Loss Mental Health Motherhood

Girls, get out of the storm!

Posted on January 16, 2016

Back in April 2015, when I was pregnant for the fifth time, Mr H had a dream. He dreamt that he parked the car up outside a house. In the back of the car, were Little Miss H and her younger sister. Overhead, a menacing storm was brewing. …

Baby Loss Mental Health

Getting Through November

Posted on November 12, 2015

I have to say it. I hate November. In my opinion, it is the hardest month of the year. And it is the month where I always struggle with my depression. I didn't always feel this way. As a child and a teenager I was indifferent to November. Nothing exciting happened. I spent the days waiting for December and the count down to Christmas. That all changed on Saturday, 23rd November 2002. That was the day that I made serious plans to take my life…

Baby Loss Mental Health

Miscarriage: Where Do I Go From Here?

Posted on September 20, 2015

On Friday, I had a hysteroscopy. It was the final test that the NHS will offer us in our investigations into the recurrent miscarriages. It didn't give any answers. My miscarriages remain unexplained. It could be bad luck. It could be a chromosomal issue. We might never know. And that for me is the worst development. I know, it is ridiculous to want something to be wrong. But I wanted there to be something wrong with me so that there was a…