Information For Her Australia

It was fantastic to see that there is support for new mums after all and it will come from the federal Labor Government. The new funding commitment means that new mums will have access to support that at the moment is very hard to come by because pre-natal and postnatal depression are not often recognised.

It was great to see that Kevin Rudd’s vision for support will see all pregnant women screened before giving birth and after when the baby is approximately 2 months old.

Knowing that all new mums will have that support is comforting. What will make this package more comforting is to ensure no new mum is discriminated against. All new mums include single women, women who have private cover and women who can’t afford or who don’t have private cover.

This is definitely a plus for the health of new mums and their babies and families. A large number of women do suffer from depression during their pregancy or after the birth and knowing they have the support is great comfort to them and to everyone close to them.

I am sure many of us cannot fathom the difficulties some women endure when they live on the streets. And I am sure it happens in every state but this morning the news headline “Sydney homeless women ‘overlooked’ for services” brought home the realisation that many women, from young girls to mature aged women live on the streets.

Of course as the article explained women are overlooked because most people would associate homeless people as men of varying ages. But no one seems to think that a woman or a young girl could possibly live on the streets.

Knowing of young girls that do, I believe it is very true and it highlights the need for more accommodation to be organised through the governments to accommodate the needy.

Sure a lot of us will say that it is the fault of their own that that happens, but let me point out that some do not have an option. Some people are lucky to have a home to go home to, they have a roof over their heads and they don’t have to rely on others to live.

Everyone has noticed the growing need for housing for everyone, but it’s not the rich that go without, they can afford to live their lives the way they want to, while others are not so lucky. Some home life that was reasonable is no more through possibly some fault of their own but in the majority of cases, the breakdown of a family life, the lack of job, the inability to take on employment for one reason or an other or the inability to find affordable accommodation are some of the reasons why people … including women live on the streets.

I know of some girls who have left home because they couldn’t conform to their parent’s way of life and feeling like they don’t belong so they leave that home and live on the streets because they have no where else to go.

It appears that homelessness is becoming a crisis that all governments should be aware of and more funding should be available to help those that cannot help themselves. Mission Australia has provided over the last year beds for about 600 homeless women, but when more than 1000 women have been turned away from one crisis accommodation centre in the inner Sydney suburb of Kings Cross… it makes you wonder how many women have no where to go each year across Australia.

When girls have to live on the streets because they feel they have nowhere to go, no family to turn to or prefer to live their life in the streets there is a major problem that needs help from all governments throughout Australia. The lack of facilities to help combat this issue is truly amazing and until you know someone who has had to endure life on the streets for one reason or another, you will never truly understand why or how it happens.

I know I will never understand why….

Toni Livesey

Ok, so Centrelink know that I am pregnant, they should also know how hard it is for pregnant women to find a new job.

Yes, I left my job in QLD to look for work in NSW, with intentions of going back if I failed to find suitable work. That was before I found out about my pregnancy. I did have confidence that with 19 months bar work experience, my RSA and RCG that I was sure to get something.

I decided not to go back to QLD as there are better facilities here in Newcastle and a much better range of friends that are helping me through this.

Not long after notifying Centrelink of my pregnancy, they handed me a job diary to record 10 jobs per fortnight for 6 fortnights. I am now up to fortnight 5 and I have had no luck. Only a couple of times I have been called back in to see the employer but still nothing.

I really don’t think it is fair that most employers won’t employ pregnant women. I do understand however that you are restricted during pregnancy of what you can do and with only four to five months work in you, are you reliable? How many sick days and hospital trips will you be making?

I didn’t fall pregnant for the money; or to stay out of the workforce, it was accidental but why should any of that matter. I am sure that if a woman falls pregnant and has worked a while before that and can still work at that particular place then why can’t we find jobs just as easy.

I understand why pregnancy has made it hard for me to find work but until I am 7 ½ months Centrelink have no idea and I don’t think they really care.

Terrie

We have heard of the baby blues or postnatal / postpartum depression but not many people discuss prenatal depression. Depression in pregnancy is possible and the awareness is growing.

It makes you wonder sometimes why prenatal discussion is not discussed as openly as postpartum depression and from experience, I believe it is because we are or were told that it is just our hormones playing up while we are pregnant.

In the past 6 months I have now heard of two young women who are suffering from prenatal depression and if caught early, it can be treated and help is there. Ladies, girls, if you feel you are suffering from prenatal depression, if you cry at the drop of a hat or for no reason or you are feeling down, then please talk to someone.

Talk to your midwife or your doctor and let them know how you are feeling. Prenatal depression is a silent form of depression that may affect and have an impact on women and their developing baby / fetus.

Some of the symptoms include, feeling emotional, sluggishness, foggy thinking, irritability and in some women, food cravings. Many women will blame the emotional changes on pregnancy hormones as I mentioned before.

I’ve given birth to 6 live babies and lost a baby through miscarriage and for each pregnancy, the emotions were certainly there. My youngest was born almost 20 years ago and no one ever mentioned prenatal depression during that time. Instead I had to live with those emotions and the feelings of depression.

If you feel you need help, please speak to your support person through your pregnancy. Speak to your doctor, obstetrician or midwife. Help is available for you.

BeyondBlue.org is another place to seek the help you need.

Toni Livesey

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