My Story
Hi, I’m Nancy. A wife, daughter, friend, and mom of two little ones. In order to understand Anamav, you need to know more about me. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, a bit of an overachiever, and I’ve got a whole lot of passion.
My motherhood journey started on February 3, 2020 – the day I found out I was pregnant. I had just gotten married and we had several travel plans that year (although we wouldn’t be the only ones to have our travels disrupted in 2020…). It came as a complete shock, but once it settled in, I had a happy and healthy pregnancy.
Like many of us, my labour and birth experience was nowhere near what I had planned or expected, but my daughter Amaya arrived, beautiful and healthy.
The period that followed changed everything. I returned to the hospital a week later and was admitted to the psychiatric ward. I was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis, which was followed by a long journey of guilt, anger, confusion, sadness, and eventually recovery.
I wanted another child (being an only child myself), and in May 2023 my son Maverick was born. This time was different and I did a lot of work to manage my anxiety around reoccurrence, including making sure I had a strong support system in place. Thankfully, I had a much more positive experience this time around (with the help of my doulas and some of the resources noted in our Free Resources section)!
Click the image below to watch a 5-minute video of my story, which I shared on Postpartum Psychosis Awareness Day. My intention is not to scare anyone, but rather to increase awareness and also provide some perspective of why I felt the need to start Anamav.
After going through a roller coaster of experiences over the past four years, I am now determined to support new mothers and parents to ensure that they have a much better start to parenthood than the one I had. I truly enjoy meeting expecting and new parents, so if you’d like to chat, I would love to hear from you!
About Anamav
Anamav was created to help fill the gaps in postnatal care that so many mothers experience in Canada. We offer some of the most essential services that a new mother needs: an extra set of hands, someone to offer words of comfort or just listen, and lactation support for those who choose to and are able to breastfeed.
We want to take a moment to recognize that a new baby doesn’t just impact the birthing person – it affects the entire family. Having a new baby is a big life change for both parents and their relationship can change significantly as well. Our goal at Anamav is to support the entire family and understand each family’s individual needs.
Our vision:
A world where mothers and families feel seen and supported after going through a major life-changing event, and feel confident in their role of raising the next generation.
Our mission:
To provide a safe, nourishing environment for parents who have just had a baby, and to provide support and education so that they have a stronger foundation.
Testimonial
“My dear friend Nancy has been a beacon of strength and support since we connected through a postpartum support group in 2020, after having traumatic births and postpartum experiences. Her dedication to raising awareness for maternal mental health during the postpartum period is truly inspiring, and I'm grateful for her tireless efforts to support mothers like us."
Stephanie, mother of two
Where we are headed
Exciting things to come
Anamav will begin by offering in-home services, but our dreams are much bigger!
We plan to open a safe and welcoming Centre which will provide new mothers and parents an opportunity to rest, recover, and feel supported in numerous ways. The Centre will be staffed with experienced practitioners, and will provide the services we offer in-home, and much more. As we grow, our plan is to expand across the GTA and nationally, and become affiliated with one or more hospitals.
Why We Are Needed
It is no secret that having a baby is a major life-changing event, however, the supports and resources available for new parents do not match what is actually needed.
As a society, we also still have a lot of work to do in raising awareness around perinatal mental health and removing harmful stigmas that prevent mothers from reaching out for help.
Consider these statistics:
- Approximately 1 in 5 women experience perinatal mental health disorders in Canada1
- This has increased to 1 in 3 women for depression and 1 in 2 women for anxiety after the COVID-19 pandemic2
- Maternal depression and anxiety are stronger risk factors for child behaviour problems than smoking, binge drinking, and emotional or physical domestic abuse3
However, here’s another statistic that we should be talking about:
- A recent study (2023) found that doulas decrease rates of postpartum depression and anxiety by 57.5%4
So many of the negative outcomes can be prevented or minimized with the right supports in place and having the basic needs met. An Anamav we want to help you meet these needs and provide the level of support that every new parent deserves.
For families that already have adequate support in place, we are so happy for you. But for those who may not have friends or family nearby, or if they’re unable to help, we want to be there for you and help you tackle your first baby bath, diaper blowout, blocked duct, and so much more.
- Statistics Canada. Maternal Mental Health in Canada, 2018/2019. The Daily. 2019 June 24 [cited 2022 Jul 10]. Available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/190624/dq190624b-eng.htm
- Lebel C, MacKinnon A, Bagshawe M, Tomfohr-Madsen L, Giesbrecht G. Elevated depression and anxiety symptoms among pregnant individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Affect Disord. (2020) 277:5–13. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.07.126)
- Letourneau, N. L., Dennis, C. L., Cosic, N., & Linder, J. (2017). The effect of perinatal depression treatment for mothers on parenting and child development: A systematic review. Depression and anxiety, 34(10), 928-966.
- Sobczak A, Taylor L, Solomon S, Ho J, Kemper S, Phillips B, Jacobson K, Castellano C, Ring A, Castellano B, Jacobs RJ. The Effect of Doulas on Maternal and Birth Outcomes: A Scoping Review. Cureus. 2023 May 24;15(5):e39451. doi: 10.7759/cureus.39451. PMID: 37378162; PMCID: PMC10292163.
Testimonial
“I have known Nancy for 4 years and witnessed her struggles and triumph through a beautiful first pregnancy and an unexpectedly very difficult postpartum experience. This ignited a passion in her to help other expectant moms and families navigate the often poorly supported realm of women who suffer with postpartum challenges. Nancy is smart, empathetic and fully committed to creating a supportive postpartum environment for other women based on her own experiences and the journey of research and discovery she has been on for the last 4 years." Continue reading
Michelle, Chiropractor and mother of two (adult) children
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