I’m running the Brighton 10K in November (my first run since 2018!) with a team of mums and, together, we are raising money for a women’s charity, Release Counselling and Therapy for Women. The Charity which founded and runs Mummyshock (now Mother Nurtured) in Brighton & Hove, is passionate about helping new mums build mental health resilience in a supportive community of other mums.

I went along to one of their second and third+ time Mummy Shock courses 2 weeks after Freya was born. In all honesty, I felt like I was on Cloud-9 after her arrival but I was in search of a community of second-time mums. During the 8-week-course, I realised that I needed (and would need) the group more than I had initially thought. It opened my eyes to the complicated journey to motherhood that I had been on and gave me the opportunity to appreciate that.

The group wasn’t just discussions about sleeping, feeding and nappies (although of course there was that occasionally too!) but each week we unpicked fundamental issues facing all mums and carers. Plus the counsellors and facilitators just wanted to look after us. It felt so comforting to be in that safe environment and feel mentally ‘held’ each week. I had no idea how much I needed it.

Since Covid-19, demand for Mummyshock support groups has grown by 300%. The need is bigger than ever before, so that is why a team of us are running the Brighton 10k in November, to raise crucial funds to provide more support groups for more mums in the year ahead.

This is what some mums have said about their experience of Mummyshock:

"This course should be available to every new mum- there is nothing like it."

"I dont think I would be the mum I am now without this group. It almost saved me in those early days."

"This was a lifeline for me."