Postpartum depression, often shrouded in misunderstanding and stigma, is a silent struggle faced by many new mothers. With World Mental Health Day approaching, it’s important for us to inform ourselves about mothers’ mental and emotional well-being as opposed to passing judgment or looking the other way.

South Africa (09 October 2024) – It is Mental Health Awareness Month, and while the term “mental health” has come to be widely used, it is still a subject that is wildly misunderstood due to its complexities.

That is why we are so grateful for educational platforms such as the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) and experts who shed light on relevant mental health topics that can help us better understand our emotions, challenges, stresses and how we show up for our loved ones.

One of many important mental health topics is Postpartum Depression (PPD), which can so easily be considered as bad parenting or a lack of love or maternal instinct from a new mom.

A mother’s silent struggle

Motherhood is a beautiful journey for both the mum and her little one, but it is also a demanding, life-altering one that comes with a rollercoaster of other emotions, physical and hormonal changes, as well as unexpected challenges.

While trying to nurture a new baby, oftentimes, the mom is still required to show up for the different areas of her life as if she hasn’t undergone a major life change. Many can feel like being too tired, struggling or being overstimulated is a bad thing due to the pressures of being “a great mother” or failing to show up as one.

Touching on the topic of new moms navigating mental health challenges and the stigma attached to it, SADAG shared a Glamour article on insights into PPD by Dr Bavi Vythilingum, a psychiatrist specialising in women’s Mental Health at Netcare Akeso Kenilworth.

According to Vythilingum, the most common features of PPD are feeling down or low, feeling bad about yourself, not being able to bond with the baby, or not being interested in the baby.

“Women with postpartum depression are often seen as being bad mothers or not grateful enough for their new baby.

“It’s important to note that this is not true and the hallmarks of clinical depression, including feelings of apathy, helplessness and hopelessness, affect the mother’s ability to mother. Once perinatal or post-partum depression is identified, there are highly effective treatment options,” the psychiatrist says.

Vythilingum also states that PPD can cause a lot of anxiety for mothers regarding their babies. It can lead to difficulty sleeping, even when the baby is asleep. They may feel low and apathetic, and this often hinders their ability to care for themselves and their child.

Breaking the stigma surrounding PPD

Many of us have heard about “childhood traumas” and Vythilingum also touches on how PPD can severely affect the mother’s children, particularly as they become young adults. So it is important to address the mother’s well-being to avoid a cycle of mental health issues in her family.

Love and care are key! The healthcare expert stresses the importance of loved ones supporting new moms experiencing PPD. This can look like seeking professional help from your obstetrician/gynaecologist or mental health professional.

They can provide a proper assessment and start treatment, helping mothers overcome this challenge and begin a journey of healing and resilience!

Sources: SADAG / Glamour

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If you’ve ever wondered how deep a mother’s love and resilience runs, Sibongile’s story is a great place to start. Faced with raising a child with osteogenesis imperfecta, she not only overcame challenges in finding adequate support, but she also drew inner strength from her hardships.

Cape Town, South Africa (09 October 2024) – The prospect of becoming a mother and the thrill of welcoming a new life into the world is an indescribable experience.

However, when that little life arrives with unexpected challenges, it can be a deeply daunting adjustment. Something that Sibongile knows all too well.

The resilient mother to a precious little girl named Leona chose to turn the anxiety of raising a child with osteogenesis imperfecta into strength and courage.

Osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, is a genetic or heritable disease in which bones fracture (break) easily, often with no obvious cause or minimal injury.

According to The Chaeli Campaign, Sibongile experienced challenges in caring for Leona, including a long search for support. However, she grew stronger and found hope.

“My perspective of life changed. I became a strong, bold, and courageous woman,” she reflects.

Thanks to The Chaeli Campaign, Leona received a wheelchair, giving her the freedom to attend check-ups and participate in family activities.

Sibongile continues to pay this forward by facilitating workshops and encouraging people with disabilities to live full, active lives.

“My advice to other parents is to advocate for your child and surround yourself with supportive communities.”

Her inspiring story and those of many other parents of children with disabilities have been shared in the Chaeli Campaign’s book, Champions of Inclusion.

The book, created for the organisation’s 20th birthday, hopes to inspire individuals to embrace inclusivity and celebrate the unique qualities of every person.

For more information visit https://www.chaelicampaign.org/product/champions-of-inclusion-commemorative-collection/ 

Sources: The Chaeli Campaign

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By providing parents in Nkomazi with culturally relevant books and training, The Do More Foundation’s Read and Play at Home programme has fostered a deep bond between families, empowering parents to become active participants in their children’s education.

Nkomazi, South Africa (25 September 2024) – For young children, storytime is a magical adventure, whether they’re at school or home. However, the experience becomes even more special when they get to explore fictional worlds with Mom and Dad in their language and through culturally relevant narratives.

With work, responsibilities and the ups and downs of life, parents have a lot on their plates, but for the many moms and dads in Nkomazi, their children’s literacy and education take centre stage!

This heritage month, The Do More Foundation is shining a spotlight on the parents of Nkomazi, who are sparking a lifelong love of reading in their young children using proudly South African books that provide stories that resonate with their own culture and heritage.

At the core of this initiative lies the Read and Play at Home programme, a collaborative effort that emphasises the importance of local languages and cultural contexts in early literacy development.

Jabu Mthembu-Dlamini, the Foundation’s Community Programmes Lead based in Nkomazi, said that parents have a profound impact on their child’s early development by dedicating time each day to read with them.

“The Read and Play at Home programme supports this by incorporating the family’s primary and secondary languages and culturally relevant stories.

“This approach not only promotes cognitive and linguistic development but also strengthens identity, empathy, and academic success. Through such initiatives, parents can help their children flourish in a diverse and interconnected world.”

Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioner in Nkomazi, Eden Mabila, has observed a remarkable transformation among parents, noting that through the programme they get to see the value of being actively involved in their children’s education from an early age.

“They also understand their role in supporting literacy and learning at home, which has led to better engagement in classroom activities and more enthusiasm from children towards reading. This shift in parental involvement is laying a stronger foundation for children’s literacy development.”

With this initiative, parents are not just spectators; they are active participants in their child’s learning journey.

Parents receive hands-on training about the value of reading and interactive play and carefully selected Book Dash books (two in their home language and one wordless book) that allow them to practice this at home with their child.

The books have been kindly sponsored by MySchool who gave Book Dash a three-year grant to print books for distribution through the Do More Foundation.

The love for reading starts in a child’s early years and is cultivated through playful engagement with books at their ECD centre and at home, the foundation explains.

Since its inception in 2022, Read and Play at Home has empowered over 2,200 parents in Nkomazi with training, resources, and a treasure trove of books.

The goal for 2024/25 is to reach even more families, with plans to support an additional 1,574 parents.

By embracing our rich cultural narratives and engaging in storytelling, parents can empower their children to thrive in all areas – academically, socially and emotionally – in a dynamic and diverse country!

Sources: The Do More Foundation

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‘Loadshedding’ and ‘helpful’ in the same sentence? Local parents shared how ‘lights out’ gave them the ultimate parenting hack, and anyone with a restless child will understand.

South Africa (20 July, 2023) — It’s not often that we see ‘loadshedding’ and ‘helpful’ in the same sentence. At least, not in direct relation to one another. However, local parents have found the silver lining to a lifestyle led by loadshedding, and the result is the ultimate parenting hack.

Taking to South African Reddit, user u/ToastCPT started a conversation. ‘Loadshedding has helped me parent,’ they began, and all ears immediately perked up.

Despite having an inverter, this user explained that they step into Eskom’s shoes and take on the role of enforcing ‘lights out’ to combat temper tantrums before bed. Switching off the TV and turning off the lights secretly, this parent blames the dark on loadshedding so that their toddlers have no choice but to go to bed.

Diabolical? A mastermind? Soon other parents confessed that they do the same thing.

“I confess. I use this method without shame,” wrote another parent.

“I’ve always wondered what it’s like for kids growing up and thinking that load shedding is normal. Now I know,” another laughed.

Another user shared that in their house, lights and devices off help their toddler accept bedtime because of the lack of stimulation and FOMO.

Another day, another way 21st-century parents in South Africa are life-hacking their way through the system hilariously.

Sources: Reddit

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Never mind Springbok player, Franco Mostert is giving dad goals after he dressed up as a tiger and a lollypop for his little girls.

Global (18 April, 2023) — If your daughter wants you to play dress up for her birthday, you play dress up for her birthday. Springbok superstar Franco Mostert understood the assignment not once, but twice this year for both his daughters’ birthdays, and it’s nothing short of wholesome parenting.

Going above and beyond the general dress-up assignment, Franco Mostert channelled played the part, adorning a giant lollypop look and rocking a tiger-skin suit to make his daughters’ days extra special.

From Lock to Lollypop and Springbok to Tiger

In late March, Franco pulled out all the stops to become a lollypop for 6-year-old Joia-Belle’s kaleidoscopic birthday bash.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Franco Mostert (@franco_mostert)

Committing to the cause again, he exchanged springbok for tiger in celebration of Jemi-Milja 4th birthday upcoming in May, where both he and Juan-ri whipped out matching tiger suits in light of their daughter’s love of the animal.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Juan-Ri (@juanrimostert5)

Taking to Instagram, Juan-ri shared the snaps of the tiger-enthused party on the shores of Japan, where the family were able to spend time together before she and the kids ventured back to South Africa.

Given that Franco won’t be with his daughter on her actual birthday, locals agree that he definitely made up for it!

Loving the energy, social media users commended the couple’s commitment to their children’s happiness. As for Franco, many also give him the nod-of-approval, sharing that he wins dad of the year for his efforts.

Source: Instagram

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Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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