Having a baby - Our Stories

Kerrie - Roundhay

"I did manage to get a place on the Baby Steps program. It helped because it was a small intimate group of women. I felt safe to explore and share and never felt judged. "

Lily - Middleton

"I felt that there was no way I could be honest with anyone about how I felt. People would tell me that it was just hormones and it is normal and that I should shake it off."

Rebecca - Leeds city centre

"The company of someone who knows exactly what you are going through just makes you believe that everything will be OK"

Shannan - Thorpe Park

"When you have ill mental health you judge yourself enough, you don't need the professionals judging you as well."

Rihana - Harehills

"The first time I fell pregnant I was living as an asylum seeker and I hadn’t received my paperwork yet. I was living on the streets."

Sarah - Roundhay

"I believed that as I suffered from depression, I was automatically deemed an unsuitable mother. I now know that this is not the case"

Seneit

"I found the support of my health visitor helpful- she helped me understand my feelings and become comfortable talking about them"

Stefanie - Guisley

"be kind to yourself”; pregnancy and motherhood is tough and remember, nothing lasts forever"

Jen - Chapel Allerton

"I think we have a culture of sugar-coating the experience so as not to scare women, but that makes it hard to cope when things don’t go to plan."

Minnia - Chapeltown

"During my second pregnancy I feel constantly fatigued and tired and found it hard to care for my first born without getting angry and frustrated at him."

Amy

"After experiencing such a terrible loss, I found it difficult to allow myself to believe there would be a positive outcome with my second pregnancy."