305. Does that sound a lot? I suppose if you're talking about elephants it's a fair number, but if you're talking about grains of sand, it's hardly anything at all.

305 is the number of days I received support from the fantastic perinatal mental health team. This included a stay on the Beadnell Ward Mother and Baby psychiatric unit, outpatient care from the community mental health nurses and support from the volunteers from Action on Postpartum Psychosis. Knowing I wasn't alone during this time was so important and the comforting words of people who had been where I'd been was priceless, both in person and online.

The recurrence rate of severe perinatal mental health problems is conservatively estimated at 50%, so the decision to have more children wasn't an easy one. Knowing that HALF of the women who have had similar experiences to me go through it all again and that I am just as likely as not to end up in the same situation again is terrifying. If it wasn't for the knowledge that I'll be so well supported Arthur might have been an only child! Come what may, I know that my Hillcrest/Northumbria colleagues, perinatal mental health team and support groups will be there to offer both peer and professional support.

For this reason I have decided to fundraise for Action on Postpartum Psychosis. The presence of their volunteers on Beadnell Ward and the brilliant resources they provide are invaluable and I'd love to help. However, as I'm not much of an athlete I'm going to be walking instead of running! My aim is to walk 1 kilometer for every day that I received care by the time the new baby arrives, so 305km in the next few months. I've already made a modest start of 70km so only another 235km to go!

I really hope that some of you can spare a few pennies so help APP continue their fantastic work and supporting families like mine to get through the most difficult period of their lives.

#APP #actiononpostpartumpsychosis #305kmfor305days #postpartumpsychosis #postpartumpsychosisawareness #maternalmentalhealth #perinatalmentalhealth #mentalhealth

Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) is a UK charity. We’re here to make sure mums, parents and families are supported through postpartum psychosis – a severe, but treatable, form of mental illness that occurs after having a baby and affects 1400 new mums in the UK each year.We offer information and peer support, facilitate ground breaking research, raise awareness and campaign for improved services. Our life changing peer support network helps women and families affected by postpartum psychosis feel understood, supported and less isolated.