Una Healy’s secret battle with postnatal depression

Una Healy battled with postnatal depression (PND) after the birth of her second child.
The Saturdays singer Una and her rugby union star husband Ben Foden welcomed son Tadhg in 2015, three years after the birth of daughter Aoife.
While Una was prepared for motherhood the second time around, she admits she didn’t plan for the depression she felt following Tadhg’s arrival.
“I thought I knew what to expect but second time around was a bit different. I already had Aoife, who wasn’t long out of nappies. It was quite a juggling act,” she told the Daily Express.
“It’s a huge shock when you bring a new baby home. When you’re pregnant everyone’s excited for you. Then when the baby comes they want to visit but you’re exhausted. So people come, have a little hold of the baby and then they’re gone again and you’re on your own.
“I stayed in a dressing gown for a month and didn’t leave the house. I didn’t want to bother getting dressed. I isolated myself.”
During her low time, Una chose not to tell Ben what was going on. She also didn’t let her mother know how she was feeling, but is now speaking out in the hope it will help others.
“It was overwhelming. I felt very low and I was worried about Tadhg all the time. It’s such a horrible way to feel when you have a new baby because you should be looking forward to the future,” she sighed.
“I didn’t confide in Ben or my mum, even though normally I tell my mum everything. I felt embarrassed about it, as if there was something wrong with me.”
Una is also speaking up in support of charity Tommy’s, after the organisation found that two thirds of mothers with children under three experience loneliness on a daily basis, while one in 10 feel they lack support.
“As mums, it’s important we speak up more about how we’re feeling. Feeling sad, lonely or isolated shouldn’t be taboo,” Una stated.