A MOTHER has spoken about her experience after fearing she may never bond with her baby following a series of traumatic pregnancy losses.
Michaela, from Wigan, shared her story during Infant Mental Health Awareness Week in 2026 to help break the silence around infant-parent mental health struggles.
She said: "My story begins with desperation.
"In 2015, I got married, full of hope for a family.
"But in 2017, I had my first miscarriage."
After a stillbirth at five months, Michaela was diagnosed with PTSD.
She later gave birth to her daughter Amelie in 2020, but said ongoing anxiety and guilt clouded her early months of motherhood.
She went on to experience three more miscarriages before becoming pregnant with her son, Nico.
Michaela said she felt disconnected and unable to bond with him even after birth.
She said: "I smiled for visitors, nodded when people said ‘you must be so happy,’ and inside, I was silently screaming.
"I felt like a terrible mother."
It wasn’t until a feeding worker raised concerns that Michaela realised she was unwell.
She was diagnosed with postnatal depression by her GP and referred to the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust’s Mother and Baby Unit (MBU), where she and Nico stayed for around four months.
Following discharge, she received help from the Building Attachments and Bonds Support (BABS) service, which works with families to build strong, attuned relationships with their children from pregnancy to age three.
Michaela said: "The BABS team didn’t just tell me what to do, they walked with me.
"They reminded me that attachment isn’t instant, it’s built, moment by moment."
Catherine Corker, clinical psychologist at Wigan BABS, highlighted the emotional challenges many parents face.
She said: "Parents can feel overwhelmed, isolated and experience feelings of guilt and hopelessness, as well as thoughts of ‘I’m not a good enough parent’ or ‘my baby doesn’t like me.’
"This can contribute to difficulties in parent-infant relationships, unintentionally.
"It takes courage to ask for help, and at BABS we work alongside families to understand and build their relationships."
Michaela now speaks publicly about her journey to raise awareness and reduce stigma around maternal and infant mental health.
A special session at the Coffee and Connections group will take place on Wednesday, June 10, during Infant Mental Health Awareness Week.
For more details or support, call the BABS team on (01942) 764448.
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