MUM’S THE WORD

An absolute godsend, that’s the only way I can describe what BABS means to me. We’ve been through the worst time but we’re out the other side now. We’re all together and it’s because of the help I got from them. Life was good, I was settled with my partner and my two children. But after 15 years of being together, we split up. Just after that my mum died, which absolutely floored me. I moved to Huyton with the kids and met someone else, but looking back I was still grieving and quite vulnerable. The second relationship wasn’t right and we didn’t stay together. By this time, I was pregnant with CeCe but I love being a mum and I knew I could do this on my own.

Julie lives in Prescot with her three children. She now volunteers for BABS to help other parents who are dealing with tough times.

I’d been struggling with depression and anxiety for 15 years and I’d been on medication which didn’t seem to work but I always put my kids first.

My GP prescribed different medication, but I was very up and down and in what they call ‘fight or flight’ mode. I was determined to get well but there were some really difficult days. I was having a mental health crisis and I just needed help.

Social services got involved and I was told that CeCe would be going into foster care as soon as she was born. There was even talk of adoption. When she was six days old, they picked her up and my tiny baby was taken to live with foster carers. I couldn’t believe what was happening.

I’d been referred to BABS by my health visitor while I was pregnant. With their help I fought to get CeCe back home with me. They gave me the support and confidence to carry on. Even more than that – I feel that BABS gave me the chance to be called ‘mum’ again. CeCe was in care for nine months and I fought to see her every day she was away from me. We’re all back together now, just as we should be. They’ve helped my older children to get through what was a really difficult timefor them too. They trust the people who work there. BABS carried on working with CeCe’s dad as well to help build the bond between them.

Everyone who meets CeCe falls in love with her immediately! She’s so clever and funny – a little ray of sunshine who never stops chattering. Everything has fallen back into place and I’m grateful that BABS exists. The things that happened to me could happen to anyone. I needed help but I would never have known they were there if my health visitor hadn’t told me. This is why I want to tell my story in case other people need help too. They’ve changed my life and they’ve changed Cece’s life. I’m not sure where we’d be without them.”

For More Information

You can be supported by BABS if you are pregnant, or a parent with children up to the age of six months. If you are struggling with bonding with your baby, please contact your midwife, health visitor, social worker or mental health practitioner who can refer you. The service covers Sefton, Halton, Knowsley, Warrington and St Helens. merseycare.nhs.uk/babs