Maternal Mental Health Charity Spreading Christmas Spirit at Mother & Baby Unit Perinatal mental illness affects 10-15% of new mothers within the first 12 months of birth.
One of the most special experiences in that first year is the baby’s first Christmas. Sadly, many new mothers will spend their baby’s first Christmas apart from their families and some, away from their babies due to their mental health.
The Kingfisher Mother & Baby Unit, based at Hellesdon Hospital in Norwich, provides outstanding care & support for inpatients who have been experiencing mental illness since the birth of their baby. Mothers could be experiencing conditions such as severe Postnatal Depression, Psychosis and other perinatal mental health conditions which cause them to be away from their families. The Kingfisher MBU offers 8 bedrooms which can facilitate mothers along with their babies, supporting the bond between mother and baby and allowing Mum to keep baby with her throughout her recovery.
This Christmas, with the current pandemic, visitors to the unit will be limited, leaving mothers cut off from family and friends.
East Anglian maternal mental health Charity “Get Me Out The Four Walls” wishes to help the inpatients of Kingfisher MBU by giving them something special to enjoy over the Christmas period. The Mother and Baby Christmas Box campaign was launched at the end of October and will be providing 30 boxes to the MBU throughout December for inpatients on the ward.
The boxes will be filled with little treats for both Mum & Baby to ensure that their first Christmas together can be memorable.
Contents:
A Pair of Fluffy Socks for Mum Toiletries/Beauty products
Gnaw Hot Choc Shot
Festive Story Book for Baby
Festive Cuddly Toy/Rattle for Baby
Adult Colouring Book & Felt Tip Pens for Mum Christmas Memento
The Charity are calling for the public to donate whatever they can afford to the cause. The cost of one box (£15) is an alternative to sending Christmas cards to family and friends. All donors will instead receive an E-Card which they can forward to their Christmas card list not only wishing them a Merry Christmas but also sharing news of the good cause they have donated to. The campaign has already received over 1⁄3 of the target and some donations from local chocolatiers Gnaw Chocolate based at Hall Road in Norwich and North Walsham based Mother Goose Books. GNAW have made a generous donation of 30 delicious Hot Choc Shots for the mothers to enjoy whilst Mother Goose Books have kindly donated some children’s books. The campaign welcomes any other additional donations from local businesses who wish to get involved. They can do this by contacting carrie@getmeout.org.uk
GMOTFW Publicity & Recruitment Coordinator Carrie Dagraca says: “The first year of your baby’s life is supposed to be full of so many happy moments, including your first Christmas as a family. Sadly, due to mental illness, so many new mums don’t remember those early days due to their illness so it was really important for us to do what we can to make their first Christmas together memorable and special. We have a very close working relationship with Kingfisher MBU and the work they do at the unit is amazing. We are so happy to have developed this campaign for their patients.”
Get Me Out The Four Walls is a maternal mental health Charity based in East Anglia which offers peer support to parents who may be experiencing social isolation or a maternal mental illness. The charity aims to help them connect with other parents and seek mental health support when required. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Charity has taken their social meets and support online and are continuing to host virtual meets, quizzes, games, and their popular Mental Health Mondays organised by Virtual Ambassador Laura Thorpe.
To donate to the campaign, please head to virginmoneygiving.com/fund/mbuxmasbox For more information on Kingfisher Mother & Baby Unit see here
www.nsft.nhs.uk/Our-services/pages/Kingfisher-mother-and-baby-unit.aspx
For more information on GMOTFW – www.getmeout.org.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/gmotfw
Twitter: @gmotfw
Instagram: @gmotfw
Links to donors:
Gnaw Chocolate – https://www.gnawchocolate.co.uk/
Mother Goose Books – https://org.usbornebooksathome.co.uk/MotherGooseKelly END
Contact Email – carrie@getmeout.org.uk or admin@getmeout.org.uk Carrie Dagraca – 07506 292574