BEYOND THE BABY BLUES

With maternal suicide remaining one of the leading causes of death in new mums, we investigate why so many are suffering in silence

- WORDS: EIMEAR O'HAGAN

Life with a newborn isn't easy.

The sleepless nights, constant feeds and nappy changes, all while dealing with a drop in hormones and your body changing. Despite the dreamy newborn cuddles and bonding time, for some new mums, it's more challenging than they ever might have anticipated.

It's estimated that 1 in 4 new and expectant UK mums can be affected by mental illness according to the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and only around one third of women seek medical help for perinatal mental health issues, which include anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Maternal suicide remains as one of the leading causes of death among women between six weeks and a year postpartum, yet earlier this year it was reported that postnatal mental health services were closing across the country due to a lack of funding.

We speak to a mum about her own experiences after giving birth and why support for new mums is vital...

‘I felt trapped in a nightmare’

Fiona Hobbs, 30, lives with her husband Ryan, 26, and their two children, Jude, two, and Edie, one.

Helping my daughter blow out the candles on her first birthday cake, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. During the previous 12 months, I’d planned more than once to end my life, and had even attempted it, believing she would be better off without me. Within weeks of giving birth to Edie, in May 2024, my mental health had plummeted so badly that I was sectioned.