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In this week’s episode of The Playful Psychologist, I am joined by Emma Gray to talk about postpartum mental health. Emma is a mum of two who is really passionate about sharing the highs and lows of parenting. Emma is also the founder of a community organisation called The Nurtured Village. Together with twelve other mums across the east coast of Australia, she organises meals and gifts for new mums and young families in an effort to advocate for maternal mental health. Emma is also the host of a podcast called The Nurtured Village.

I wanted Emma to join us today to talk about this topic, because  I personally found the fourth trimester extremely challenging. Absolutely nothing went to plan for me, I had pregnancy complications, a serious car accident while pregnant,  difficulties breast feeding, family stuck interstate during COVID and so on. I felt like every time I reached out to friends who had kids, they would tell me how great everything was.  And when I would say something like ‘oh I’ve actually had a crap day, I’ve found it really hard’ they would say ‘oh same’ and I’d feel frustrated that they didn’t tell me that to begin with, and that I had to be the one to say ‘this is hard, this sucks.’  I wanted to do this episode to let other mums know they are not alone in feeling overwhelmed. I want this episode to help mums feel heard, but also for everyone else to give them an idea of how they can support new mums too and for psychologists who may not have children of their own, to understand the toll that the fourth trimester can take on the mental health of the mum. 

In this episode,  Emma answers the following questions:

• What was the hardest thing about the fourth trimester?
• How did your body react to the lack of sleep?
• What were some of the things you did for yourself in those early days or, looking back, what were some of the things you wish you did for yourself?
• I personally have a really supportive husband who is so hands on but I still felt like I needed even MORE support than he could offer me. Is this something you experienced?
• Looking back, what sort of support did you need from friends and family? Did they give you the right kind of support or did you need something different? What can people do to support new mums?
• What kinds of pressures did you get from ‘the outside’ about your parenting? 

To learn more about Emma, you can follow her on Instagram @emmagray____

You can also check out her podcast The Nurtured Village.

To follow along with my own parenting journey, you can follow me on Instagram @emahly

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