Tegan Clark
Tegan's fundraiser for APP
Fundraising for APP
Story
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.
My story:
I gave birth to my second beautiful boy the 18th of June 2023( father's day). I had a normal pregnancy.. this was completely unexpected what was about to happen 5 weeks later.
The 25th of July 2023 I was admitted to the mother and baby unit in Swansea. I had severe postpartum psychosis and severe depression. I hadn't slept for days or eaten, and paranoid.. I don't remember a lot I was very unwell.
For 4.5months I stayed and received treatment in the MBU Swansea away from my family and 4 year old, it broke me but I needed help so bad.
The medication wasn't working so I had ECT (electric convulsive treatment) and it literally saved my life! I am forever greatful for the staff and specialists at the MBU they also saved my life. Big shout out to Fran for convincing me to go ahead with the treatment I was so scared. There is so much sigma around ect.
After recieving Ect at a mental health hospital twice a week for 6 weeks at the end of my stay at the MBU, it worked and I was discharged in December just in time for Christmas with my family.
Thank god for mother and baby units. I'm so glad my baby got to stay with me at the MBU while I was unwell. So I am going to challenge myself to walk maybe run 50 miles in May to rise money and awareness for APP and keep mothers and babies together! And maybe be able to open up more MBU. Thanks for reading x