Oh Mumma, you can...

With a supportive family, safe home, my incredible husband and my brand new precious baby boy I was living my dream - except I wasn't. I was 1 of the 15% of women who have experienced Postnatal Depression and Anxiety after the birth of my gorgeous first born son, and before my beautiful second born.

To feel like you didn't want to be here, yet have everything you could have ever wanted, is one of the most devastating feelings in the world. A time which was incredibly hard - not just for me, but for my family.

It's not a matter of just being grateful and get on with it (something I'm hopeful many New Zealanders are learning more about), there is help and Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa (PADA) are one beautiful charity to offer that support, to educate and resource others. It's a challenging time bringing another human into the world and to be living with depression and/or anxiety adds even more.

I am now incredibly healthy and absolutely thriving - this fight is to push me outside of that comfort zone. To remind myself how loving, powerful and strong I am as a woman and to remind YOU that you are too!

My desire is to offer women who may be where I was that there is hope, that they can get well, they can thrive, and to raise funds for PADA ensuring the education, resources and support for these beautiful women is easily accessible.