For months, Mum and her children rarely left the house, Mum’s anxiety and fear for her daughter’s health keeping them isolated from the outside world. With support from Home-Start Norfolk, that began to change.
Overcoming Isolation After Birth
Mum was referred to Home-Start Norfolk by her midwife after the premature birth of her first daughter, who remains medically vulnerable. Following this, Mum developed severe anxiety about leaving the house, worried her child could become unwell.
She later welcomed a second baby girl, but her anxiety continued, making it difficult to leave the house or build a routine outside of the family home.
Over time, this led to increasing isolation and a decline in her mental health. Once outgoing and sociable, Mum lost contact with friends and family and found it difficult to take her children out, despite wanting to.
Building Confidence with Volunteer Support
While waiting to be matched with a volunteer, Mum began baby massage sessions at home, an important first step in building trust and confidence.
Once matched, her Home-Start Norfolk volunteer provided weekly visits, offering emotional support, reassurance, and practical tools to help manage anxiety and PTSD. Having someone who listened without judgement gave Mum a safe space to talk openly about her feelings.
Small Steps Towards Independence
With growing confidence, Mum started exploring nurseries and planning outings with her children. She had also taken a significant step forward by enrolling on a university course to train as a midwife.
Together with her volunteer, she developed coping strategies to manage her anxiety and gradually build independence outside the home.
The Impact of Family Support
At the start of Home-Start Norfolk’s volunteer-led support, Mum felt she had very few people she could talk to. Now that support has come to an end, Mum is in a much stronger position, equipped with the tools and confidence to continue making progress, reduce isolation, and build a more positive future for herself and her children.
Get Support or Get Involved
If you or someone you know could benefit from family support in Norfolk, or if you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, Home-Start Norfolk is here to help.
👉 Find out more about our family support services
👉 Learn how to become a Home-Start volunteer