Sometimes New Mummies Get Tired

Written by Amanda Walsh

Illustrations by Charlotte Walsh

My Mum brought home my new baby brother. He was

cute and cuddly.

Bath time was fun. Our new baby loved the bath. He

splashed and laughed. Because he was so little and very

slippery, we needed to be really careful.

Our new baby liked to get up in the middle of the night. Because he was so little he did not know when it was day

and when was night. My Mum had to get up to feed him in the night and put

him back to sleep. Daddy helped too.

We introduced our new baby to all our family and

friends. They were happy to meet him.

We were happy he was ours.

My Mum loved being a Mummy, but sometimes she got

tired and cranky. My Dad was a good helper and he

helped Mum when he wasn’t at his work.

One night my Mum was really tired and worried. My Daddy was at work. My Mum rang her Mum and Dad. They visited and could see Mum needed some help but

they did not know what to do.

The next day my Daddy went to work. My Mum dressed us and got herself ready too. Throughout the day my

Mum didn’t feel well. She even forgot to have a drink of water. She was extra tired.

My Mum rang my Grandma and told her that she was feeling and very worried. Mummy was anxious

(pronounced angshus). My Grandma came to our house with my two big cousins.

She tried to help my Mum but my Mum’s head was filled

with worries. My Mum needed to go to the doctor but she

didn’t want to. She was worried about leaving us.

My big cousin rang an ambulance for my Mum. The ambulance came immediately. There were two lovely

ambulance officers, a man and a lady. They helped my Mum. She got into the ambulance and rested on the bed. We got in too. I sat in the front seat and my

brother sat with Mum.

The ambulance man and lady drove us to the hospital.

A special doctor came to see my Mum in emergency. He could see that my Mum was sick, tired and

worried. He told the nurses that my Mum needed to have a rest. I think he knew that new Mummies

sometimes get really tired and sick.

My Dad, Grandma & Grandpa looked after us while

Mummy was in hospital. We visited Mummy in hospital.

I even got to sleep at my Grandma’s when my

Mum was in hospital.

My Mum stayed in hospital for five days. She got to have some rest and realised how tired and unwell she had been. When she came home my Mum decided she

needed to care for herself better. She found out that if you aren’t a well Mum, well… you can’t be a fun Mum!

The nurses came to check on Mum when she got home

from hospital. They reminded her that she needed to

take her medicine and look after herself.

The doctors, nurses, a special worker in our community called a psychologist (pronounced si-col-lo-gist), family

and friends all helped my Mummy get better.

Post Natal Depression is an illness. It can happen after a Mummy has a baby. This illness can make a

new Mum feel worried and anxious. Sometimes Mums with Post Natal Depression need to have a

stay in hospital.

Once new Mums get the right help, they go on to be happy and fun Mums.

New Dads can also get worried, depressed and anxious when a new baby is born. If this happens, it is also very important that they get the right help.

Where do go to for information and help on

Post Natal Depression

www.gidgetfoundation.com.au

www.panda.org.au (Ph: 1300 726 306)

www.howisDadgoing.org.au

www.beyondblue.org.au (Ph: 1300 224 636)

www.blackdoginstitute.org.au

www.lifeline.org.au (Ph: 13 11 14)

www.mentalhealth.asn.au (Ph: 1300 794 991)

www.ivebeenthere.org.au

www.copmi.net.au

Parentline NSW Ph: 1300 130 052

Disclaimer This is one person’s story…. my story. All events and

characters are real. This book is not intended as a

substitute for the medical advice of Doctors and/or

Psychologists. The reader should regularly consult a

physician in matters relating to his or her mental

and physical health.