 

Today Zoe speaks to specialist midwife Tessa Van Der Vord, also known as ‘The Mental Health Midwife’. Tessa opens up about suffering with severe anxiety when pregnant with her son, as those who work in mental health are not immune to experiencing their own difficulties.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS
Tessa wasn’t too sure on what she wanted to do when she ‘grew up’ and became a midwife almost by fluke! She had a friend whose mum was a midwife and it was listening to her stories that inspired her to go into midwifery.
Tessa is a specialist midwife in mental health. Which means she has experience of working with different disciplines, teams and supports women with a history of or with current mental health needs.
Because Tessa has been surrounded by friends and family that have had issues with fertility and pregnancy she always had a worry that she would too have problems.
Tessa became pregnant just after she got married, she found out very early in the pregnancy but at her 7 week scan was told to ‘prepare for the worst’. Tessa knew logically the pregnancy was early so she shouldn’t have ‘got her hopes up’ but what mother doesn’t think, plan and dream about their baby when they find out they are pregnant?
After a week wait she found out that the embryo was fine and doing brilliantly. She felt great at first but then the anxiety started to creep back in.
At 9 weeks Tessa had a bleed, the embryo was ok but she kept having bleeds and all of these things kept adding layers and layers to her anxiety.
Often when we suffer from mental health issues, especially for the first time, it’s hard to know when and if you need help and support.
Being a midwife, Tessa convinced herself that all the things she had seen and dealt with would happen to her. She had so much anxiety around all aspects of pregnancy and birth. It also affected her being able to bond with her baby at the start.
If any of Tessa’s friends listen to this episode she says they would be surprised to hear how severe her anxiety was. In the future if Tessa suffers again she has vowed to be more open and transparent about how she is feeling with others.
Tessa’s top mum hack for others is to accept any kind of help you can in the early weeks, create strong relationships with other mothers and be kind.

BEST MOMENTS

 

“Many of her closest friends still do not know the extent of what she went through”

 

“Wow those hands have delivered babies, what an amazing thing to do”

 

“As a midwife, you know about all these things that can happen and I just wanted to check”

 

“Doing all the things I tell women not to do, going on google, to find things”

 

“I was in awe of my body”

 

“It takes a village to raise a mother to raise a child”

 

VALUABLE RESOURCES

 

 

www.petalscharity.org

www.tommys.org

www.arc-uk.org

www.sands.org.uk

 

 

ABOUT THE GUEST

 

Tessa Van Der Vord

@mentalhealth_midwife

 

 

ABOUT THE HOST

Zoe Cresswell

Devoted mother of two (and a big hairy dog), UK trained midwife, doula and personal trainer, specialising in pre and postnatal fitness.

Zoe was born in the UK and before moving to Dubai in 2013 and worked as a midwife in central London, both in a birth centre and a very busy NHS hospital.

Although late to the scene, Zoe is an aspiring athlete having won numerous triathlons and representing Great Britain where she placed within the top 10 on the world stage.

With her husband James, the couple will soon be launching their cloth nappy company, Bop & Bee, where they hope to inspire families to swap a few disposable nappies a day for the more planet friendly option of cloth.

Zoe’s goal is to share her knowledge and experience, tell real life stories, manage expectations and open up those often difficult conversations.

Zoe’s own motherhood journey has been full of twists and turns as she put everything on hold and went through numerous miscarriages and rounds of IVF.

 

CONTACT DETAILS

Instagram : @zoecresswell_me

Facebook: Zoe Cresswell

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-cresswell

&nbsp;
Today Zoe speaks to specialist midwife Tessa Van Der Vord, also known as &lsquo;The Mental Health Midwife&rsquo;. Tessa opens up about suffering with severe anxiety when pregnant with her son, as those who work in mental health are not immune to experiencing their own difficulties.
&nbsp;
KEY TAKEAWAYS
<ul>
<li>Tessa wasn&rsquo;t too sure on what she wanted to do when she &lsquo;grew up&rsquo; and became a midwife almost by fluke! She had a friend whose mum was a midwife and it was listening to her stories that inspired her to go into midwifery.</li>
<li>Tessa is a specialist midwife in mental health. Which means she has experience of working with different disciplines, teams and supports women with a history of or with current mental health needs.</li>
<li>Because Tessa has been surrounded by friends and family that have had issues with fertility and pregnancy she always had a worry that she would too have problems.</li>
<li>Tessa became pregnant just after she got married, she found out very early in the pregnancy but at her 7 week scan was told to &lsquo;prepare for the worst&rsquo;. Tessa knew logically the pregnancy was early so she shouldn&rsquo;t have &lsquo;got her hopes up&rsquo; but what mother doesn&rsquo;t think, plan and dream about their baby when they find out they are pregnant?</li>
<li>After a week wait she found out that the embryo was fine and doing brilliantly. She felt great at first but then the anxiety started to creep back in.</li>
<li>At 9 weeks Tessa had a bleed, the embryo was ok but she kept having bleeds and all of these things kept adding layers and layers to her anxiety.</li>
<li>Often when we suffer from mental health issues, especially for the first time, it&rsquo;s hard to know when and if you need help and support.</li>
<li>Being a midwife, Tessa convinced herself that all the things she had seen and dealt with would happen to her. She had so much anxiety around all aspects of pregnancy and birth. It also affected her being able to bond with her baby at the start.</li>
<li>If any of Tessa&rsquo;s friends listen to this episode she says they would be surprised to hear how severe her anxiety was. In the future if Tessa suffers again she has vowed to be more open and transparent about how she is feeling with others.</li>
<li>Tessa&rsquo;s top mum hack for others is to accept any kind of help you can in the early weeks, create strong relationships with other mothers and be kind.</li>
</ul>
BEST MOMENTS
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Many of her closest friends still do not know the extent of what she went through&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Wow those hands have delivered babies, what an amazing thing to do&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;As a midwife, you know about all these things that can happen and I just wanted to check&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Doing all the things I tell women not to do, going on google, to find things&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was in awe of my body&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;It takes a village to raise a mother to raise a child&rdquo;
&nbsp;
VALUABLE RESOURCES
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.petalscharity.org/">www.petalscharity.org</a>
<a href="http://www.tommys.org/">www.tommys.org</a>
<a href="http://www.arc-uk.org/">www.arc-uk.org</a>
<a href="http://www.sands.org.uk/">www.sands.org.uk</a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
ABOUT THE GUEST
&nbsp;
Tessa Van Der Vord
@mentalhealth_midwife
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
ABOUT THE HOST
Zoe Cresswell
Devoted mother of two (and a big hairy dog), UK trained midwife, doula and personal trainer, specialising in pre and postnatal fitness.
Zoe was born in the UK and before moving to Dubai in 2013 and worked as a midwife in central London, both in a birth centre and a very busy NHS hospital.
Although late to the scene, Zoe is an aspiring athlete having won numerous triathlons and representing Great Britain where she placed within the top 10 on the world stage.
With her husband James, the couple will soon be launching their cloth nappy company, Bop &amp; Bee, where they hope to inspire families to swap a few disposable nappies a day for the more planet friendly option of cloth.
Zoe&rsquo;s goal is to share her knowledge and experience, tell real life stories, manage expectations and open up those often difficult conversations.
Zoe&rsquo;s own motherhood journey has been full of twists and turns as she put everything on hold and went through numerous miscarriages and rounds of IVF.
&nbsp;
CONTACT DETAILS
Instagram : @zoecresswell_me
Facebook: Zoe Cresswell
LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-cresswell">www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-cresswell</a>

Welcome to Motherhood Exposed. Join me, Zoe Cresswell, mum of two and a UK trained midwife and doula, as I meet with an array of amazing women navigating life and motherhood.

 

Since becoming a mum for the second time, after my own complex journey, i have become more and more aware that motherhood is so unique. There is no one story the same and women need support now, more than ever. i hope by allowing mothers to openly speak we can help to break the silence around many topics. We need to shout out that there is no normal and that is something we need to embrace. Motherhood isn't always picture perfect, so lets bust some myths, realign expectations and share the journey together.

 

Podcast Description:

Join Zoe, mum of two, a UK trained midwife, doula and pregnancy personal trainer as she meets with an array of empowering women navigating motherhood.

Whether you’re trying to conceive, pregnant or have your own children or grandchildren, Motherhood Exposed busts myths, re-aligns expectations and shares stories of real women we can all relate to.

Grab a coffee as Zoe and her guests have honest, frank and often funny conversations, showing that birth and motherhood isn’t always picture perfect. From the downright heart-breaking and messy times, to the beautiful joyous moments which make your heart melt, being a mum is a journey, so lets learn, laugh and cry as we go on it together.

 

About Zoe

Devoted mother of two (and a big hairy dog), UK trained midwife, doula and personal trainer, specialising in pre and postnatal fitness.

Zoe was born in the UK and before moving to Dubai in 2013 and worked as a midwife in central London, both in a birth centre and a very busy NHS hospital.

Although late to the scene, Zoe is an aspiring athlete having won numerous triathlons and representing Great Britain where she placed within the top 10 on the world stage.

With her husband James, the couple will soon be launching their cloth nappy company, Bop & Bee, where they hope to inspire families to swap a few disposable nappies a day for the more planet friendly option of cloth.

Zoe’s goal is to share her knowledge and experience, tell real life stories, manage expectations and open up those often difficult conversations.

Zoe’s own motherhood journey has been full of twists and turns as she put everything on hold and went through numerous miscarriages and rounds of IVF.

Welcome to Motherhood Exposed. Join me, Zoe Cresswell, mum of two and a UK trained midwife and doula, as I meet with an array of amazing women navigating life and motherhood.
&nbsp;
Since becoming a mum for the second time, after my own complex journey, i have become more and more aware that motherhood is so unique. There is no one story the same and women need support now, more than ever. i hope by allowing mothers to openly speak we can help to break the silence around many topics. We need to shout out that there is no normal and that is something we need to embrace. Motherhood isn't always picture perfect, so lets bust some myths, realign expectations and share the journey together.
&nbsp;
Podcast Description:
Join Zoe, mum of two, a UK trained midwife, doula and pregnancy personal trainer as she meets with an array of empowering women navigating motherhood.
Whether you&rsquo;re trying to conceive, pregnant or have your own children or grandchildren, Motherhood Exposed busts myths, re-aligns expectations and shares stories of real women we can all relate to.
Grab a coffee as Zoe and her guests have honest, frank and often funny conversations, showing that birth and motherhood isn&rsquo;t always picture perfect. From the downright heart-breaking and messy times, to the beautiful joyous moments which make your heart melt, being a mum is a journey, so lets learn, laugh and cry as we go on it together.
&nbsp;
About Zoe
Devoted mother of two (and a big hairy dog), UK trained midwife, doula and personal trainer, specialising in pre and postnatal fitness.
Zoe was born in the UK and before moving to Dubai in 2013 and worked as a midwife in central London, both in a birth centre and a very busy NHS hospital.
Although late to the scene, Zoe is an aspiring athlete having won numerous triathlons and representing Great Britain where she placed within the top 10 on the world stage.
With her husband James, the couple will soon be launching their cloth nappy company, Bop &amp; Bee, where they hope to inspire families to swap a few disposable nappies a day for the more planet friendly option of cloth.
Zoe&rsquo;s goal is to share her knowledge and experience, tell real life stories, manage expectations and open up those often difficult conversations.
Zoe&rsquo;s own motherhood journey has been full of twists and turns as she put everything on hold and went through numerous miscarriages and rounds of IVF.

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