Mum opens play cafe to fight postpartum loneliness

A mum is opening a new social space for parents and children following her own experiences dealing with a lack of postpartum support.

Sarah Elliott, from Kettering, said Elliott's Play Cafe, which opens from 31 August, will provide a network for new parents feeling isolated.

More than 60% of new parents experience loneliness and isolation at least some of the time, according to the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).

The mother-of-three said while becoming a new parent can be "really beautiful and joyful" it can also be "very overwhelming".

When Sarah had her first child, she said there was a lot of support on offer, however, six years later with her second child she found most of the charities were no longer there.

She said that lack of support as well as the unrealistic image of parenthood often posted on social media negatively impacted her mental health

"You get a snapshot of somebody's life. You don't see them crying in the toilets, or crying because their baby wouldn't latch.

"It can be quite damaging," she explained.

The cafe, based at the Yards in Kettering, is not a mental health service but a place for parents to have a friendly chat over a cup of tea while their children play.

Sarah previously found the working mum lifestyle difficult to manage, despite "desperately wanting" to work.

"I don't want to be on benefits, I don't want to do nothing, I want to contribute to society," she said.

She explained that she thinks women are expected to work while simultaneously being there to pickup their children from school every day.

"There's no place for that in society anymore, the world has to change and it hasn't."

Angela McConville, the chief executive of NCT, said: "[Parenthood] is a huge transition and isolation and loneliness is sadly a very common experience."

An NCT report looking into 500 pregnant women showed 59% worry about their mental health and 52% worry they won't be good parents.

"We live in a world where there can be a lot of [media influences] that suggest there are perfect parenting strategies," she said.

Peer support groups are "really important" to show parents their experiences are normal, she explained.

Carla Barker, from Mawsley, suffered postpartum depression after giving birth during the Covid-19 lockdown.

When in-person support groups were reintroduced, Carla said they were "so invaluable".

Carla, who will be attending the play cafe, said: "It's a place about community and belonging and having people around you where you can talk to new people and build that village."

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