Anji's 'Mama Bear energy'

When Anji was first referred to the Parent-Baby Service, she was feeling low, anxious and overwhelmed. On top of becoming a new parent, she was also juggling lots of appointments, as well as caring responsibilities for her own mum. She told us it often felt like her to-do list was never-ending, and when her mood dipped, baby seemed to pick up on it. This left her feeling guilty and sometimes pulling away – which only made her feel worse. 

Together with the team, Anji started to notice this cycle and worked hard to gently change it. One of the big shifts for her was finding what she called her 'Mama Bear energy'. Tapping into that protective, caring part of herself gave her the strength to be present with baby, soothing her when she was upset and enjoying those moments of connection. At first this felt difficult, as she said she sometimes felt more like an older sister than a mum, but with time she grew into that role with confidence.

Anji also shared that she sometimes experienced feelings of disconnection or 'switching off', something she’d used as a coping strategy during past stressful experiences, including witnessing and experiencing domestic abuse with her parents and then in her own life. Together, she and the team explored these feelings in a safe and supportive way, helping her to understand that she wasn’t alone in what she'd experienced. She learned grounding techniques to use when she noticed those feelings coming up, which gave her a greater sense of control and helped her to stay more present. 

Once Anji’s support came to an end, she told us she really felt the emotional bond between her and baby, something she knew was always there but hadn’t always been able to connect with. Now, she was not only feeling it but enjoying it too. She even shared with her own mum how the work had helped both her and baby, which felt like a huge step forward. 

Anji left the service with the tools, confidence and sense of connection she needed. The changes in how she was feeling, and in her relationship with baby, were clear to see. From feeling stuck in cycles of guilt and disconnection, Anji has stepped into her Mama Bear energy, and she and baby are now building a warm, loving relationship together.