Learning to hold Lily: Emma’s Story.

Emma’s birth experience was nothing like she imagined – it was long, overwhelming, and ended with a blur of bright lights and urgent voices as doctors stepped in. In the quiet after, Emma lay on the stiff hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, her body heavy and her mind far away. She felt hollow, as if she were watching her life from a distance.

At home with her husband and tiny Lily, Emma moved through the days in a fog. She watched Lily’s chest rise and fall and her heart pounded at every sound. Worry crept in – what if something happened to her baby?

Soon, Emma was back in hospital. The days blurred: the sterile smell, the ache of missing Lily’s soft skin. When she finally returned home, she clung to a new thread of hope, but anxiety still washed over her in waves.

Then, Emma found Luma and joined a group program. Each week, she arrived with her husband and Lily, her hands clenched, her voice small. She listened to other mothers, their words echoing her own fears. Slowly, her walls began to soften.

One day, Emma found the courage to speak. Her voice trembled as she admitted how lost she felt, how she doubted herself. The room was silent, then filled with gentle nods. For the first time, Emma didn’t feel so alone.

With support from our therapists, Emma set three goals: to feel close to Lily, to feel confident alone with her, and to drive with Lily in the car without fear.

Emma was also beginning to untangle the knots inside, using mindfulness and art therapy. She let herself grieve the birth she’d hoped for and noticed small moments of peace, like feeding Lily early in the morning before the world wakes up. She learned to listen to her body, to breathe through anxiety, and gently return to the present.

We watched Emma reach her milestones again and again – her first solo drive to Luma, Lily gurgling in the backseat, Emma’s hands steady on the wheel. When she shares her new feelings with us, her eyes shine with pride, and Lily is nestled into her arms, content.

Emma’s journey is still unfolding. Step by step, she’s learning to trust herself and find calm. With your support, we can walk alongside more mothers like Emma. Please consider making an end of financial year donation to help another woman rediscover hope.

[Names and identifying details have been changed to protect our client’s anonymity]