After watching a thought provoking documentary about postpartum psychosis, mum-of-four
Rachel Burgess was so inspired, she set up ‘Marching Mums‘ to raise money to help the mother and baby unit at Melbury Lodge (run by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust).
In May this year, Marching Mums took on its first fundraising challenge, which saw Rachel and seven other mums complete a 24-mile walk along the Clarendon Way. Together, the mums raised over £3,000 for the unit, which residential care for mothers with postpartum psychosis and their babies.
Rachel said: “I watched a programme called My Baby, Psychosis and Me. It was following two women who sadly developed postpartum psychosis (an horrific form of depression following childbirth) who were being cared for at the Mother and Baby Unit at Melbury Lodge in Winchester.
“It is one of the very few units in the country who can offer recovery and care to those new mums whilst keeping their newborn babies with them.
“After watching the programme, I was deeply saddened by what happens to some women following childbirth when it is meant to be a magical time, but at the same time felt so very fortunate to have had four beautiful children of my own and not suffered any form of depression. I wanted to do something to make a difference to these mums’ lives.”
