Jasmine
I felt like I was out in the middle of a storm, drowning — until Gidget Foundation Australia threw me a lifebuoy.
At 18, I was diagnosed with endometriosis and told by my doctor, "If you want to be a mum, don't wait." At 25, after nearly a year of monthly heartbreak, we were relieved to finally fall pregnant.
At 36 weeks I was induced, and almost everything went wrong. After a delivery by emergency caesarean, my son was taken straight to NICU. I watched them take him as I lay helpless on the table. I didn't hold him for nearly 30 hours, we didn't do skin to skin, I couldn't breastfeed - we missed every experience we'd been promised.
I became a shell of myself just trying to stay afloat. From the outside we looked like a beautiful young family. On the inside I was drowning and I didn’t feel good enough to be my son’s mum. I felt alone and ashamed but put on a mask to shield my despair.
I genuinely don't know if I'd be here without the support from my Gidget Clinician. My appointments were the only place I felt completely safe and understood. During my time with Gidget Foundation Australia, I was diagnosed with Postnatal Depression and Anxiety, Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Complex PTSD.
I felt like I was drowning in a storm — until Gidget Foundation Australia threw me a lifebuoy. I will always be grateful for that lifebuoy.