“I do remember crying every day” – Megan Gale’s postnatal depression battle
Model mum Megan Gale and her fiancé Shaun Hampson have had a really rough trot over the last few years.
Loss and mental ill health
When she chatted to podcast Tales From The Fourth Trimester, Megan noted that there was even more to the story and that the early days with now five-year-old River were particularly tough. (Megan and Shaun are also parents to nearly two-year-old Rosie.)
When River was just four weeks old, Shaun’s father Thomas very sadly passed away. The now mum-of-two was really up against it emotionally at the time, trying to support Shaun as well as care for her newborn son.
Circumstances understandably began taking a toll on her mental and physical wellbeing at this point.
“Looking back, I think I may have had postnatal depression,” Megan said. “I felt like I was failing. I felt like the worst mum.”
Loaded up with responsibilities and trying to grieve the family’s loss as they celebrated baby River’s arrival, Megan says she felt overwhelmed and confused.
“There’s an immense amount of grief and sadness and loss yet you’re welcoming new life at the same time which is cause for celebration and it’s such a weird gamut of emotions to navigate through,” Megan explained.
“I do remember crying every day”
Just a couple of months later, when River was 14 weeks old, Meghan’s dad Alan also passed away. It was all too much for the new mum.
“I do remember crying every day, but I don’t think it was because of dad, I feel like it was because of feeling like I was not coping, feeling like I wasn’t getting by,” she said.
“It’s really hard to distinguish between, am I just tired and emotional?” Megan admitted. “Or is it hormones or am I a little bit depressed?”
A new normal
Thankfully things are much brighter in Megan’s world now as the family settle into their new normal.
Obviously, she and Shaun are still living with the loss of their dads, but she says she’s now learning to prioritise self-care – and to reach out when things are tough.
“You got to look after yourself so you can look after your baby. It’s OK to ask for help. It’s OK to say you’re not coping,” Megan advised other mums.
