get time FOR YOURSELF and support mums with postnatal depression
Where: Telethon SPEECH and Hearing CENTRE
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WHY WE CREATED ThIS event to nurture mummas
WATCH THE VIDEO TO SEE WHY WE ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT CARING FOR MUMS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING POST NATAL DEPRESSION
According to PANDA - (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia), 1 in 7 Mums experience postnatal depression. Lets come together and acknowledge and face this challenge with more awareness and sharing
READ MORE ABOUT MY STory here...
HOW I OVERCAME POSTNATAL DEPRESSION WITH MY SECOND BABY (HOW TO ENJOY YOUR MOTHERHOOD SECOND TIME AROUND)
Last month as we celebrated my daughter’s 4th birthday I looked back at 4 years ago myself embarking on my motherhood journey for the first time – so exciting, full of surprises, never-ending squishy cuddles, beautiful baby smell, or at least that’s how I had dreamed about it before I had my first baby. The birth was beautiful and natural, although a bit long, we had her at home as we intended and breastfeeding started off really well. Everything seemed perfectly fine, I couldn’t be happier….or could I?
I did so much preparation for birth during pregnancy, I really wanted to have natural birth and the best start into my daughter’s life and I did all my research and homework to have the best birth possible. But what I wasn’t prepared for was what came after birth. People always tell you that those moments are the most precious and happiest and remind you to enjoy every stage as it goes so fast. And they were right in every sense. And I wish I was wiser and more open to that advice back then. But for some reason I just kept fighting against how my daughter was and what she wanted instead of listening to her, letting go and going with the flow. I have learnt that ‘What we resist, persists’ is really true.
When my daughter Jasmine was born, she cried for a few seconds until she looked into my husband’s and my eyes. She gazed into our eyes, recognised our voices from when she was my womb and stopped crying instantly. She had this intense look in her eyes, look of recognition, alertness and deep wisdom. Almost as if she wanted to tell us I am going to be a very bright, spirited and alert baby, are you ready to accept me that way? I thought I was, but looking back in time, I really wasn’t prepared to accept her that way. I had heard so many times before about how newborn babies sleep all the time and ‘sleeping like a baby’ sayings which all us Mums know it is not true. Jasmine was very aware of human touch and closeness and she would wake up within 5 minutes after we put her down. At nights, she would never sleep in her basinet and her crying (or better say screaming) was so persistent, so ear-piercing, so full-on, that you tried to do everything possible to comfort her and keep her happy. She would fall asleep in our arms but as soon as we tried to move her down to put her in bed, she was so sensitive to the downward movement that she woke up straight away.
She wanted to breastfeed all the time, she had that safe place on my breast where she felt loved and safe and so I ended up feeding her most of the evening and when the nights got really tough and I was exhausted beyond anything, I decided to feed her laying down to get some sleep. As she grew up, her sleep wasn’t much better (at least not in my eyes), doing mostly short naps during the day and waking up frequently at night. Sometimes it took me an hour to get her to sleep and she would only sleep for 30 mins and I felt I was constantly putting her to sleep. I needed a break. I grew more and more frustrated and wanted to fix her more and more. I should have understood then that there wasn’t anything wrong with her and I should have just let it go and accept her the way she was. I understand she probably was like most of other babies and I know it was the way I responded to her completely normal baby behaviour that made it so hard.
I had certain expectations and her behaviour was nothing like what I had expected. People always say you must be so happy having this beautiful little baby finally with you’ and as much as I loved her, her little hands, her cutest smile, her cheekiness as she grew older, her playfulness, I missed how my life used to be, I missed the freedom I had before we had children, I missed my old life and I wanted it back, although I knew it wasn’t possible. All I used to hear from the Mums in my mother’s group or friends who had babies in similar age was how their babies slept better or how they sleep trained them or how they weaned them off the breast so that they would sleep better. Jasmine refused the bottle, refused when we tried to give her a bit of formula at least for some feeds so that I could get a bigger stretch of sleep and so I grew more and more exhausted and frustrated.
I started to spiral down that downward spiral of worrying whether it would ever get easier. We had a sleep consultant, we tried gentle sleep training, we introduced solids in hope that her sleep would get better, but nothing really worked. And I kept worrying and worrying and was so much in my worry that I couldn’t see any silver lining. Many days I woke up feeling very unhappy as I knew how the day would unfold – more rocking to sleep, more waking ups, it was all about sleep, sleep and sleep and the lack of it on my side. I did not feel happy and I wasn’t enjoying my baby and I felt very bad and guilty about it. I felt like the worst Mum. I was depressed. And my daughter was affected. The more I unconsciously pushed her away trying to assert my freedom, the more she demanded me and the less freedom I had.
All this went for the first 18 months until I finally realised and until I finally heard the advice or better say wisdom from my husband, the words he had sad so many times but for some reason I just wasn’t ready to listen. I was always so scared that my little one would establish ‘bad habits’. All he asked for was to show her lots of love when she woke up at night so that she could feel safe and loved to fall back to sleep. I started doing that instead of being frustrated that she woke up again as if she was some robot rather than a normal healthy toddler and it really worked and she started to sleep through some nights and gradually sleeping very well at nights. She was developmentally ready and I was emotionally and mentally ready, we were both ready for this step and her sleep has become so stable, so deep, so much better. And so did my motherhood, I gradually recovered from postnatal depression with changing my attitude from resistance to acceptance.
When I was pregnant with my son last year, I was worried how I would cope the sleep deprivation and the constant demands of a little baby the second time around. I was worried about spiralling down then getting frustrated and gradually depressed again. However, my experience the second time around was so much different. I am enjoying my little son Noah so much more. He wakes up at nights, he feeds often, he does all those things my daughter used to do when she was a baby, albeit he is a very different personality and much calmer baby. I have accepted him and my daughter the way they are. I accepted the fact that he will most likely be waking up at nights for quite some time and made adjustments in my life to make it easier. I respond to all his needs, I pick him up and cuddle him when he wakes up crying at night, I don’t worry about bad habits or feeding to sleep anymore. I know he will grow out of this in his own time, when he is ready. I don’t worry about how long he naps during the day or how many naps he does and whether he is overtired or any of that. I want to make sure that my children feel loved and cared for and safe, knowing that I always love them whether they are happy or sad, whether they play up and scream. I LOVE THEM UNCONDITIONALLY. And I that I accept them the way they are, with all the giggles, jumping, full-on personalities and high-pitched screams. I have learnt to take things one step at a time and adopt go with the flow parenting without worrying that things will always be this way. Because they won’t, babies grow and change all the time and what happened one night might change the next night, or the next week or the next month.
Some of the things that helped me were asking for support. Ask your your husband, friends, relatives, Mums from your mother’s group, ask for as much as you need, we are wired to help and support each other and be kind to each other, helping someone else and spreading kindness fills our hearts with joy. My heart feels so joyful when I let my husband sleep in in the morning when I know he really needs it and so does his when I need my sleep. We support each other as much as we can.
Having been through it, one of the pieces of advice I would offer others is to accept your children the way they are and accept this stage of your life. It won’t last forever, in fact it will go so fast and change into something new and so will your tiny little babies.
One of the biggest shifts I would advise is to go with the flow, do not worry about how many times you pick up your little one from his cot, think about how much love they feel from you instead. There is no such thing as bad habits, there is only how much love you have shown.
And lastly, enjoy small things of ‘me time’ in your days. Have a 15 minute bath, go for a 10 minute walk, enjoy some time just for yourself. Start the change now, there is no better time like today.
Last month as we celebrated my daughter’s 4th birthday I looked back at 4 years ago myself embarking on my motherhood journey for the first time – so exciting, full of surprises, never-ending squishy cuddles, beautiful baby smell, or at least that’s how I had dreamed about it before I had my first baby. The birth was beautiful and natural, although a bit long, we had her at home as we intended and breastfeeding started off really well. Everything seemed perfectly fine, I couldn’t be happier….or could I?
I did so much preparation for birth during pregnancy, I really wanted to have natural birth and the best start into my daughter’s life and I did all my research and homework to have the best birth possible. But what I wasn’t prepared for was what came after birth. People always tell you that those moments are the most precious and happiest and remind you to enjoy every stage as it goes so fast. And they were right in every sense. And I wish I was wiser and more open to that advice back then. But for some reason I just kept fighting against how my daughter was and what she wanted instead of listening to her, letting go and going with the flow. I have learnt that ‘What we resist, persists’ is really true.
When my daughter Jasmine was born, she cried for a few seconds until she looked into my husband’s and my eyes. She gazed into our eyes, recognised our voices from when she was my womb and stopped crying instantly. She had this intense look in her eyes, look of recognition, alertness and deep wisdom. Almost as if she wanted to tell us I am going to be a very bright, spirited and alert baby, are you ready to accept me that way? I thought I was, but looking back in time, I really wasn’t prepared to accept her that way. I had heard so many times before about how newborn babies sleep all the time and ‘sleeping like a baby’ sayings which all us Mums know it is not true. Jasmine was very aware of human touch and closeness and she would wake up within 5 minutes after we put her down. At nights, she would never sleep in her basinet and her crying (or better say screaming) was so persistent, so ear-piercing, so full-on, that you tried to do everything possible to comfort her and keep her happy. She would fall asleep in our arms but as soon as we tried to move her down to put her in bed, she was so sensitive to the downward movement that she woke up straight away.
She wanted to breastfeed all the time, she had that safe place on my breast where she felt loved and safe and so I ended up feeding her most of the evening and when the nights got really tough and I was exhausted beyond anything, I decided to feed her laying down to get some sleep. As she grew up, her sleep wasn’t much better (at least not in my eyes), doing mostly short naps during the day and waking up frequently at night. Sometimes it took me an hour to get her to sleep and she would only sleep for 30 mins and I felt I was constantly putting her to sleep. I needed a break. I grew more and more frustrated and wanted to fix her more and more. I should have understood then that there wasn’t anything wrong with her and I should have just let it go and accept her the way she was. I understand she probably was like most of other babies and I know it was the way I responded to her completely normal baby behaviour that made it so hard.
I had certain expectations and her behaviour was nothing like what I had expected. People always say you must be so happy having this beautiful little baby finally with you’ and as much as I loved her, her little hands, her cutest smile, her cheekiness as she grew older, her playfulness, I missed how my life used to be, I missed the freedom I had before we had children, I missed my old life and I wanted it back, although I knew it wasn’t possible. All I used to hear from the Mums in my mother’s group or friends who had babies in similar age was how their babies slept better or how they sleep trained them or how they weaned them off the breast so that they would sleep better. Jasmine refused the bottle, refused when we tried to give her a bit of formula at least for some feeds so that I could get a bigger stretch of sleep and so I grew more and more exhausted and frustrated.
I started to spiral down that downward spiral of worrying whether it would ever get easier. We had a sleep consultant, we tried gentle sleep training, we introduced solids in hope that her sleep would get better, but nothing really worked. And I kept worrying and worrying and was so much in my worry that I couldn’t see any silver lining. Many days I woke up feeling very unhappy as I knew how the day would unfold – more rocking to sleep, more waking ups, it was all about sleep, sleep and sleep and the lack of it on my side. I did not feel happy and I wasn’t enjoying my baby and I felt very bad and guilty about it. I felt like the worst Mum. I was depressed. And my daughter was affected. The more I unconsciously pushed her away trying to assert my freedom, the more she demanded me and the less freedom I had.
All this went for the first 18 months until I finally realised and until I finally heard the advice or better say wisdom from my husband, the words he had sad so many times but for some reason I just wasn’t ready to listen. I was always so scared that my little one would establish ‘bad habits’. All he asked for was to show her lots of love when she woke up at night so that she could feel safe and loved to fall back to sleep. I started doing that instead of being frustrated that she woke up again as if she was some robot rather than a normal healthy toddler and it really worked and she started to sleep through some nights and gradually sleeping very well at nights. She was developmentally ready and I was emotionally and mentally ready, we were both ready for this step and her sleep has become so stable, so deep, so much better. And so did my motherhood, I gradually recovered from postnatal depression with changing my attitude from resistance to acceptance.
When I was pregnant with my son last year, I was worried how I would cope the sleep deprivation and the constant demands of a little baby the second time around. I was worried about spiralling down then getting frustrated and gradually depressed again. However, my experience the second time around was so much different. I am enjoying my little son Noah so much more. He wakes up at nights, he feeds often, he does all those things my daughter used to do when she was a baby, albeit he is a very different personality and much calmer baby. I have accepted him and my daughter the way they are. I accepted the fact that he will most likely be waking up at nights for quite some time and made adjustments in my life to make it easier. I respond to all his needs, I pick him up and cuddle him when he wakes up crying at night, I don’t worry about bad habits or feeding to sleep anymore. I know he will grow out of this in his own time, when he is ready. I don’t worry about how long he naps during the day or how many naps he does and whether he is overtired or any of that. I want to make sure that my children feel loved and cared for and safe, knowing that I always love them whether they are happy or sad, whether they play up and scream. I LOVE THEM UNCONDITIONALLY. And I that I accept them the way they are, with all the giggles, jumping, full-on personalities and high-pitched screams. I have learnt to take things one step at a time and adopt go with the flow parenting without worrying that things will always be this way. Because they won’t, babies grow and change all the time and what happened one night might change the next night, or the next week or the next month.
Some of the things that helped me were asking for support. Ask your your husband, friends, relatives, Mums from your mother’s group, ask for as much as you need, we are wired to help and support each other and be kind to each other, helping someone else and spreading kindness fills our hearts with joy. My heart feels so joyful when I let my husband sleep in in the morning when I know he really needs it and so does his when I need my sleep. We support each other as much as we can.
Having been through it, one of the pieces of advice I would offer others is to accept your children the way they are and accept this stage of your life. It won’t last forever, in fact it will go so fast and change into something new and so will your tiny little babies.
One of the biggest shifts I would advise is to go with the flow, do not worry about how many times you pick up your little one from his cot, think about how much love they feel from you instead. There is no such thing as bad habits, there is only how much love you have shown.
And lastly, enjoy small things of ‘me time’ in your days. Have a 15 minute bath, go for a 10 minute walk, enjoy some time just for yourself. Start the change now, there is no better time like today.
WHAT iS THERE FOR YOU ON THE DAY?
1. POPUP EVENT
We have bought some of Perths best massage and beauty therapists together PLUS a pop up creche for your baby. And thrown in some yoga, sound relaxation.... and delicious nurturing food in the cafe. All for you and your friends to enjoy. |
2. GET YOUR TREATMENT
Make sure you get your spot and share it with your mumma friends. There are only limited places for this exclusive first event supporting Mums with post-natal depression so reserve your treatment ASAP. |
3. RELAXXXX
With your little one nearby and safely cared for in the creche by professional nannies, finally you have a few minutes to relax, drift off in your own world, knowing you are supporting an amazing cause. After indulge in cake, coffee and chat with your besties, and try yoga or relax even more deeply with sound relaxation . |
5 reasons to Come along and care for others
1. Support Mums with post-natal depression so they feel special and cared for. At this event we are sponsoring several lovely Mums who have been struggling, so they can enjoy some pampering and nurturing to lift their spirits and let them feel they are not alone.
2. Share a new self-care experience and precious time with friends so you feel better yourself
3. Finally relax and enjoy your massage knowing bub is nearby safe and cared for.
4. Oh did we mention creche? That's right, so you can stay relaxed after your blissful pampering, chilling with your Mumma besties just a little longer
5. Being a mum is hard work and can be isolating, spend precious time in a supportive, nurturing, caring atmosphere
And its even better when you share the experience, because you and friends save 15% when you both book
Use Coupon Code at check out: "BESTIES")
book now | or see the details below...
2. Share a new self-care experience and precious time with friends so you feel better yourself
3. Finally relax and enjoy your massage knowing bub is nearby safe and cared for.
4. Oh did we mention creche? That's right, so you can stay relaxed after your blissful pampering, chilling with your Mumma besties just a little longer
5. Being a mum is hard work and can be isolating, spend precious time in a supportive, nurturing, caring atmosphere
And its even better when you share the experience, because you and friends save 15% when you both book
Use Coupon Code at check out: "BESTIES")
book now | or see the details below...
What Will it look Like on the day?
We've hired an amazing venue overlooking Lake Monger, just for one morning, so you can have your massage and beauty treatments in an inspiring and deeply relaxing environment. Note that some of the activities shown are coming soon, planned for the future (like education hub or baby chiro).
YOUR Nurturing pampering team
You've cared for everyone else, now it's your turn to be the centre of the universe with TLC just for you, from the amazing pamper team we have bought together just for your deep relaxation and rejuvenation. Meet some of the team below
CARLACarla has more than 10 years experience in remedial massage, reflexology and Australian Bushflower essences. Her years of experience allows her to tailor the massage just for you and your needs.
You can enjoy her massage at: Nort Beach Flora Wellbeing Clinic or Nedlands Osteopathic and Acupuncture Clinic |
VERONIKAVeronika has a psssion to help people feel relaxed and cared for using Deep Tissue and Relaxation Massage. She is also a Reiki practitioner and yoga teacher who loves to combine the healing energy with her massage techniques, leaving clients feeling completely rejuvenated and renewed.
You can enjoy her massage at: Elysium Day Spa or mobile to your home. |
YVETTEYvette's warm presence immediately leaves you feeling safe and her intuititive caring massage melts you into the table with relaxation. Yvette was one of the first therapists we were excited to invite to care for Mummas after experiecing her massage ourselves.
You can enjoy her massage at: Mobile at home and as a Naturopath at Goodlife Health in Dog Swamp. |
JUlieJulie gives the most amazing flowing lomi-lomi Hawaiian huna massage. She has 20 years of experience massaging and is so nurturing and compassionate we love her treatments
You can enjoy her massage at: Woodvale Natural Health Centre or at home |
CarlYCarly is from Limon Spa where they bring a passion and natural approach to your favourite spa treatments, using pure, natural, non-toxic and organic prodcuts
You can enjoy her massage at: Limon Spa Leederville |
THIThi operates the wonderful Pamper at Home service looking after Mums. She has over 5 years experience in salons and now has loyal following of happy customers enjoying treatments at home
You can enjoy her beauty treatments: Mobile at home |
What treatments can I have?
Choose from massage or beauty, or both!
CHECK TIMES and book your TREATMENTS
Get time just for you, and care for a good cause. We've gone all out to care for Mums, just have a look below to see everything that is included.
Mum Time 30 |
Mum Time 60 |
47 (39.95 with 15% off) |
89 (75.65 with 15% off) |
30 minute massage or beauty treatment |
60 minute massage or beauty treatment |
INCLUDES CRECHE FOR BUB |
INCLUDES CRECHE FOR BUB |
Free yoga session (10am and 11am) |
Free yoga session (10:30am and 11:30am) |
Free sound relaxation group session |
Free sound relaxation group session |
Complimentary tea, coffee and healthy dessert |
Complimentary tea, coffee and healthy dessert |
Pampered by nurturing and caring therapists |
Pampered by nurturing and caring therapists |
Free parking and easy pram access |
Free parking and easy pram access |
Choose whether you want massage or beauty for your pampering experience. Each massage session is 30 minutes. Thats time enough to enjoy a
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With 1 hour of pampering, choose how you would like to enjoy it. Do you want 30 minutes of massage and 30 minutes of beauty treatments? Or would you like to dedicate the full hour to a wonderful full body massage, or do you prefer to use it all for beauty pampering? choose
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ALL AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT TIMES ARE GIVEN BELOW
CLICK ON THE TREATMENT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TO CHECK THE SCHEDULE AND RESERVE YOUR SPOT....
USE CODE "BESTIES" at checkout for 15% saving EACH WHEN YOU BOTH BOOK
Want more details?
MASSAGEWe know what it's like to carry your little one around all day - they are heavy! Get professional massage from talented caring therapists. Choose neck and shoulders, back, hands, feet. Its your time.
Massage treatments will run in 30 mins blocks from 9.30am - 12.30pm. |
bEAUTYNow you have the chance, you can get the facial, or manicure/pedicure that you have been wanting to "pop out for".
Beauty treatments will run in 30 mins blocks from 9.30am - 12.30pm. |
CRECHEWe've teamed up with the best nannies in Perth to make sure your little ones are well looked after while you enjoy your time for yourself.
You baby/ child will have access to unlimited creche during your time at the pop up event. |
Sound relaxation
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Yoga
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CHILLIN' at the cafeMeet with the Mummas and enjoy complimentary guilt-free healthy and raw food in our pop up cafe, delicious and nutricious it will leave you feeling fresh and nurtured.
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Who's looking after my baby?
Just like you, we are parents, and we won't just leave our baby with anyone. We want to know they are experienced, caring, and understand our little one. Thats why when we thought of the creche we thought of AJ Nannies. The lovely ladies from AJ Nannies looked after our daughter Jazzy in the past and she loved it! Plus we know we can trust them and feel safe.
Amy who runs AJ Nannies is passionate about The AJ Nannies Difference. She explains "At AJ Nannies we only recruit nannies who genuinely love being with children and have great pride in what they do. Our nannies all hold experience in working with children, state and federal police clearances, hold first aid certificates and are put through a strict screening process before being offered a position." If you would like to know more about what makes AJ Nannies special visit their website http://www.ajnannies.com.au |
just some of the comments from Ladies who have been pampered in the past by our pampering team
The girls were absolutely wonderful, both were so professional, we couldn't fault them at all it was all done so well, with music, and beautiful oils |
My therapist was very caring, she made me feel very special and pampered, Veronika, Balcatta. |
I cant tell you how wonderful our treatment was, they had such a relaxing effect on all of us ladies, Marie, Baldivis |
GOT QUESTIONS ?
Telethon speech and hearing centre
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