The Motherload: Mental health and the pressure on new mums

This week, I was invited by the BACP to take part in their Positive Steps campaign – all about mental health for new mums.

As a counsellor who specialises in supporting women, this is something I feel deeply passionate about. Because when we talk about motherhood, it’s not just about becoming a mum. It’s about the mothering we received – or didn’t receive. It’s about the joy or grief we might carry around having children, or not having children. It's about the way that motherhood, pregnancy and parenting can trigger old feelings that we might have forgotten. And it’s about how we support our friends and family through these life transitions.

The campaign highlights what new mums are really experiencing, and some of the figures are striking:

• 69% of new mums feel overwhelmed by the constant flood of advice.

• 66% say social media creates an unrealistic pressure to ‘succeed’ at parenting.

• One in two say their mental wellbeing has been affected since having a baby – yet many still feel unsure whether they “deserve” to seek support.

  
  

And perhaps most importantly, many don’t realise that counselling and psychotherapy aren’t regulated in the UK – so it’s vital to find a registered therapist you can trust.

In our conversations for the campaign we discussed how common it is to feel guilty or self-indulgent for wanting help. But seeking support isn’t selfish – it’s a really important act of self-care. If you'd like to listen to some of the interviews, here are the links to them on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour and BBC Radio London.

I know how overwhelming this period of life can feel. Whether you're a new mum, someone longing to be one, or simply navigating the echoes of your own early experiences, you deserve to be supported and heard.

If you’d like to watch the campaign video (I'm the one in the blue dress), or read the stories of other mums, you’ll find them at BACP’s Positive Steps page.

And if something doesn’t feel right, please know this: You are not alone.

Book a free chat to explore how counselling could support you.