Just sharing this podcast episode from the Amos Madra Show which features me talking about Twenty-four Plus Six and why I wrote the book. Have a listen to find out my thoughts on how we can work together to improve neonatal care in the UK. Head to http://www.brettbooks.co.uk to buy your copy of Twenty-four PlusContinue reading “Compassion in care makes all the difference”
Tag Archives: Mental Health
Fighting the stigma of perinatal mental health
I wanted to share this great article from Bromley, Lewisham, Greenwich Mind, an organisation who’s there for anyone struggling with their mental health. Project Worker, Laura Corrigan, shares her views about how my new book, Twenty-four Plus Six, has great potential to improve experiences for parents and families. In particular, she feels it will beContinue reading “Fighting the stigma of perinatal mental health”
Making room for Mental Health on the Neonatal Unit
The birth of a baby is often celebrated as a joyous occasion, but when your little one is born sick or premature and placed in neonatal care, the experience can be rather different. There’s no triumphant homecoming. No “Welcome New Baby” balloons. No fussing aunts cooing over the newborn. Instead there are tubes, wires andContinue reading “Making room for Mental Health on the Neonatal Unit”
Medicalising motherhood
“I sighed deeply, exhausted and defeated by the realisation that feeding my child, the most primal and natural role that a mother can try to fulfil for her baby, would, of course, be yet another clinical event.” Excerpt from my upcoming memoir.
How can having a baby in neonatal care affect your mental health?
Families with babies in neonatal care can struggle with their mental health. Parents with a premature baby are 50% more likely to experience psychological distress compared with parents who do not spend time on a neonatal unit.
Miracle girl
It was my little girl’s birthday this week. She technically turned 2, though if she hadn’t been born 15 weeks early, she wouldn’t have been celebrating her second birthday until October. It seems odd that she will forevermore have a summer birthday when she could easily have had an autumn one.
Ugly thoughts
Why do we hide our jealousy away? Why do we pretend we’re happy about other people’s successes or situations when we’re not? Why do we keep the ugly thoughts to ourselves? I guess because we’re ashamed. Because we’re not meant to feel jealous…
Playing down the trauma
As a parent of a preemie or sick baby in NICU (neonatal intensive care), you get to hear of a lot of stories. Some are amazing stories about babies making miracle recoveries, nurses going above and beyond, and acts of kindness from other parents on the ward.
Life of a Preemie Mum 