Whether you’re a new parent, expectant parent, partner, friend, or professional, this is a must-listen conversation about antenatal and postnatal mental health and the power of sharing, supporting, and showing up for one another. 

In this special Mental Health Awareness week episode, we sit down with Ellie—mum of two, perinatal mental health advocate, and volunteer for the PANDAS Foundation—to share her honest story.

Ellie opens up about her mental health journey before becoming a mum, the challenges she faced during pregnancy, and the emotional upheaval that followed the birth of her first child. With vulnerability, and courage, she walks us through the realities of perinatal mental health—discussing everything from intrusive thoughts and perinatal OCD to the importance of community support and creating a personalised postnatal care plan.

This episode sheds light on the often-unspoken struggles parents face during the antenatal and postnatal periods. Ellie’s lived experience, paired with her work as a peer supporter, group facilitator for Bromley Pandas, and advocate with the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, offers valuable insight and hope for those walking a similar path.

We talk about mindful motherhood, the role of partners, how to prepare for a perinatal mental health crisis, and why we need to shift how we talk about "maternity leave"—or as Emma Barnett calls it, “maternity service.” Ellie also shares her uplifting home birth experience, her work in peer-led support spaces, and her passion for helping parents feel heard, seen, and supported.

💛 You are not alone

(01:00) Introduction to Ellie

(03:00) Mental health midwife 

(04:00) Intrusive thoughts

(08:00) Perinatal OCD

(09:00) what is perinatal, postnatal and post-partum?

(14:00) Perinatal crisis and support and care of the Bromley perinatal team (perinatal Oxleas NHS Trust)

(18:00) Mindful mums 

(20:00) support from husband, partner and wider family. Support for Partners 

(24:00) can you prepare for a perinatal mental health crisis

26:00) How Ellie prepared for her second child. Ellie created a post-natal care plan, physical, emotional, mental wellbeing. Creating boundaries 

(30:00) Professionals should talk more about what could happen postnatal stage and suggest who to speak to and contact. Important of checking in on new mums and asking how they are doing emotionally, physically and mentally 

(32:00) Doing your own research during labour and knowing what you want from a position of knowledge 

(34:00) Ellie's positive Home Birth experience.  Better Birth Hypnobirthing and Podcast

(35:00) The Y Project with Lucy Amusan - yoga for emotional wellbeing for pregnant mums 

(39:00) Clip of Ellie introducing Bromley Pandas on the Pandas Instagram page 

(40:00) what is Pandas Foundation & peer support: support services include WhatsApp, email, zoom, closed facebook groups, in person support, phone call. 

(44:00) How Ellie became a group facilitator 

(45:00) What is Bromley Pandas and what is Ellie's role as a Group Leader 

(47:00) What happens in a group session? Group agreement, introductions, check-in, open discussion, embracing silences 

(52:00) What is Matrescence and Patrescence?

(54:00) Maternity Leave/Service. Book by Emma Barnett

(53:00) what's next for Ellie and Bromley Pandas?

(01:03:00) Ellie guest speaker at Mother Cuppa Beckenham 

(01:05:00) How to volunteer with Pandas Foundation & Bromley Pandas 

(01:07:00) When was the last time Ellie Pulled an all nighter?

(01:08:00) Quick fire questions. Get to know Ellie 

#perinatalmentalhealth #mentalhealthawarenessweek #bromleypandas #pullinganallnighterpodcast #MaternalMentalHealth #AntenatalSupport

#PostnatalWellbeing #NewMumSupport #PregnancyMentalHealth

#MentalHealthAwareness #YouAreNotAlone

#MumLifeMatters

#MentalHealthMatters

#PNDawareness (Postnatal Depression Awareness)