Brief
Mother shares how she explained post‑natal depression to her young sons
The parent describes her experience of post‑natal depression, related medical issues and the conversation she had with her sons.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A mother of two sons, George (born 2015) and William (born 2018), wrote about her struggle with post‑natal depression, the medical complications she faced, and how she finally explained the condition to her children.
What happened
She gave birth to her first child, George, at age 27 in 2015. During pregnancy doctors identified a protein S deficiency and lupus anticoagulant, conditions that increase the risk of blood clots. After delivery she experienced severe post‑natal depression, feeling unable to function, guilty when family helped, and fearing that her home would be judged. She also developed vasculitis, causing blood‑vessel ruptures in her legs and limiting her mobility.
When her second son, William, was born in 2018, the mother continued to feel overwhelmed. By the time George was three and a half, he began asking why the family stayed home more than other families. The COVID‑19 lockdown in 2020 intensified the isolation, and the child associated his mother’s sadness with his own actions.
What the reports add
The Independent article provides a first‑person account of the mother’s attempts to conceal her depression in baby groups, her reliance on a friend for bottle‑feeding supplies, and her engagement with Facebook support groups that did not deliver adequate help. It also notes that doctors at the hospital reassured her after discharge, yet her symptoms persisted.
What was said
The mother quoted a friend, Sophie Harris, who said: “They want to help. They want to be there. They've learned that it’s okay to do hard things. You don’t have to be strong all the time.” (Independent). She also described the explanation she gave to George: “Having a baby is hard, adults can struggle, and sometimes you can love your child enormously while still feeling you aren’t good enough.” (Independent).
How it came about
The mother’s narrative follows earlier Felo coverage of children’s mental‑health risk factors, such as the September 30 study linking attention to sad faces with depression risk in children. Her experience illustrates how parental depression can affect family dynamics and child perception, echoing the concerns raised in that research.
Key facts
- The mother was diagnosed with protein S deficiency and lupus anticoagulant during pregnancy. (independent.co.uk)
- She suffered vasculitis that caused leg blood‑vessel ruptures. (independent.co.uk)
- She explained post‑natal depression to her three‑year‑old son using simple language. (independent.co.uk)
- She sought help from doctors, GPs and Facebook groups but found limited support. (independent.co.uk)
- COVID‑19 lockdown in 2020 increased the family’s isolation. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Why I chose to be honest with my young sons about my depression”
