5 and a half year ago we had our baby boy Arthur. Sadly not long after he was born I became very unwell and was admitted to the Mother and Baby Unit in Yorkshire where I was an in-patient for nearly a year. A Mother and Baby Unit is a place that provides a specialist in-patient service for women who develop severe mental health problems after the birth of their child.

I didn't believe I would ever get well again. I had the most incredible support from my husband Chris, my dear family and friends and the amazing NHS team. I have now made a full recovery! We're running the Hampton Court half marathon to raise money & awareness for the charity that supported us and does so much for post natal mental health.

Myself, Chris and Arthur will be running (Chris pushing Arthur in the running buggy) and want to share our story and hope to support other women who suffer from this cruel illness. Love Always Em x

For anyone wanting to come down & support:

🗓: Sunday March 24th

📍: Hampton Court Palace

⏰: Starts at 9am

🏁: We'll hopefully cross the finish line around 11am ish

🎉🎉🎉

Me, Chris & Arthur at the MBU, Feb 25th 2019

Chris & Arthur at the MBU, Feb 19th 2019

Me and Arthur at the MBU, April 2019

Me, Chris & Arthur at the MBU, July 2019

Me, Chris & Arthur on the beach in Norfolk, Easter 2023

For more info about the amazing work of APP:

Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) is a UK charity. APP 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.

APP offer information and peer support, facilitate ground breaking research, raise awareness and campaign for improved services.

APP's life changing peer support network helps women and families affected by postpartum psychosis feel understood, supported and less isolated.