Monkey Chatter

This week is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK, a weeklong campaign dedicated to talking about mental illness during pregnancy or after having a baby.

Having a baby should be an exciting life changing event, but for some this is not always the case for a range of reasons.

According to the National Childbirth Trust, perinatal mental health problems can affect up to one in five women during pregnancy and up to one year after birth. The effect of mental ill health in the perinatal period does not only impact on the woman or birthing person, but also affects their children, partners, family, and friends (Howard & Khalifeh 2020).

So with this in mind, we’ve put together some self-care tips that may help support new parents struggling with their mental health.

1. Talk about how you feel - Talking to a friend, family member or a health professional can really help, as sharing your thoughts and feelings can help make them feel less powerful.

2. Peer support - Getting together regularly with a a group of people with shared experiences is a great way to support each other.  Going out and meeting other new parents, will help you feel less isolated and allow you a safe, non-judgmental space to talk.

3. Stress management - Taking regular time out for yourself can be tricky, particularly if you have a busy family life but is an important way to help manage your stress levels so be sure to ask people for help and support if you need it.

4. Practice relaxation techniques - Try to set aside some time each day to practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation as this is a great way to help with stress management and anxiety and help you look after your wellbeing.

5. Prioritise sleep - easier said than done with a young baby, but try to rest when your baby sleeps. Go to bed early & if you can't sleep when you go to bed, do something relaxing beforehand, such as soaking in a hot bath.

At Monkey Music, we understand the anxieties new parents experience and our classes offer a safe, supportive and nurturing environment where you can share precious time together with your little one and other new parents and escape the stress of daily life.

If you are finding things difficult, don’t be afraid to ask for help or support if you need it.