Ferntree Gully mum starts blog about mental health and parenting children with disabilities
Bec Boyd suffers from depression. It came on after the traumatic birth of her first son. Nine years later, parenting two sons with intellectual disabilities and dealing with mental illness is what drove her to let others know they’re not alone. Here’s Bec’s story.
Outer East
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When Bec Boyd realised she was going to be a mother for the first time she was naturally over the moon, never giving a thought about any possible complications with her son’s birth.
The then 21-year-old also had no idea that both her boys would be born with intellectual disabilities, and she would battle post natal depression.
But nine years on, the Ferntree Gully mum decided she wanted to share her experience with other parents to let them know they are not alone.
Mrs Boyd’s blog, Parenting-with a side of depression, details her struggles parenting two boys with disabilities while suffering depression.
“I wanted to share my journey parenting kids with special needs and also talk about mental health,” she said.
“It’s raw and honest with a quirky sense of humour.
“I’m doing it to help others realise they don’t need to feel ashamed (about mental health) and it’s better to be honest.”
It was after her first son Kaeden’s traumatic birth that Mrs Boyd said she developed post natal depression.
Mrs Boyd said during Kaeden’s birth, which was complicated, her son was starved of oxygen.
He was rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital and doctors told Mrs Boyd and her husband Josh, their son might have suffered brain damage.
The couple thought his global developmental delay was caused by the lack of oxygen at birth.
However, after the birth of her second son Mason — who is now six — the couple realised he too was born with an intellectual disability.
“He has the same global developmental delay,” she said.
“So we think Kaeden’s brain damage didn’t cause any issues and both our sons were always going to have intellectual disabilities.”
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Mrs Boyd said she wanted to bring awareness to parents who were battling mental illness behind closed doors and trying to keep it all together for the sake of their children.
“I want to help parents with kids that have special needs feel less alone,” she said.
“When we have a problem in life, we always like to know we’re not alone.”