Your words matter.  If there’s one takeout from our chat with extraordinary mum of 3, Kate Green - it’s that we all have a responsibility to choose our words wisely and with care. Her youngest child is 1 year old...

Emily Smith wants you to know about Peripartum Cardiomyopathy. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s because it’s so uncommon it doesn’t rate a mention unless you have a pre-existing heart condition - something Emily is keen to change. “You don’t think you can go into heart failure from having a baby - but I did,” she says. She wants expectant mums to be told about the disease in their obstetrician appointments as it can be triggered by stress on the body brought on by pregnancy.

The best kept secret is the one that comes after our first born arrives. We prepare so much for the birth, the baby room, the clothes, the pram, but no one can tell us exactly how we are going to feel after the birth. Lack of sleep, cracked nipples and you may never again complete a task from start to finish without interruption! It’s understandable that tiredness can set in due to these physical and psychological adjustments.

Mental health matters is close to our hearts here at mumamoo, especially for new mums and parents. It informs our ‘why’ and gives us purpose to much of what we do. With 1 in 5 new or expecting mums and 1 in 10 new or expecting dads suffering from anxiety and/or depression - it’s little wonder the statistics are reflected close to home in our circle of 4 mums that form mumamoo. You can read more about Belinda’s raw and real journey into parenthood here. But what is perinatal mental illness and how does it differ from postnatal mental illness? More importantly, what are the signs if you or someone close to you is suffering?