Becoming a parent changes everything.

It’s completely normal to worry about your baby. We all check they’re breathing, wonder if they’re feeding enough, or worry when they’re unwell.

But after my youngest son was born, my worries became much bigger than that.

I would imagine terrible things happening to him.

When we were driving, I would find myself worrying that another car would crash into us on his side of the vehicle.

If someone was holding him, I worried they might drop him.

If the children were playing together, I worried they would accidentally hurt him.

My mind constantly jumped to worst-case scenarios.

I knew these thoughts weren’t logical, but that didn’t stop them appearing.

Looking back now, I can see how much anxiety was controlling my day-to-day life. Instead of simply enjoying those precious moments with my baby, I spent so much time worrying about what might happen.

It’s important to know that some anxiety after birth is completely normal. Becoming responsible for a tiny human being is a huge adjustment.

However, if your worries are:

• Constantly racing through your mind
• Preventing you from sleeping
• Affecting your enjoyment of your baby
• Making you avoid certain situations
• Leaving you feeling overwhelmed most days

it may be worth speaking to your GP or health visitor.

For me, a course of SSRIs helped enormously. They didn’t make me stop caring or worrying about my son, but they helped quieten the constant stream of anxious thoughts so I could enjoy motherhood more.

Ten years later, I’m still protective of him. I still worry because that’s what mums do.

The difference is that those worries no longer dominate my thoughts the way they once did.

If you’re reading this and recognising yourself in these words, please know you’re not alone, and support is available.

If you’re currently expecting a baby, you may also find our maternity photography experience helpful as you prepare for the exciting journey into motherhood.