Parenthood is more than a new role

Becoming a parent isn't simply about adding another responsibility to your life. It can involve a profound change in how you see yourself and your place in the world.

Your routines change. Your relationships can change. Your body may change. Your priorities change. Your freedom can feel different. Sleep becomes unpredictable, and the responsibility of caring for another human being can feel enormous.

For some parents, there can also be a sense of grief for the person they were before having a baby.

This doesn't mean they don't love their child.

It means that love and loss can exist alongside one another.

Today's parents are surrounded by advice.

What to feed your baby. How to get them to sleep. How to respond to crying. What milestones they should be reaching. How much screen time they should have. How to return to work. How to create the perfect routine.

Social media can add another layer, with carefully curated images of seemingly effortless parenting.

BACP research found that 69% of new mums surveyed said advice about bringing up their baby had added to, rather than alleviated, the pressures of motherhood.

It can become incredibly difficult to hear your own instincts underneath all that noise.

Parents may begin to ask themselves:

Am I doing enough?

Why am I finding this so difficult?

Shouldn't I be happier?

Why does everyone else seem to be coping?

What is wrong with me?

One of the most valuable aspects of BACP's campaign is its attempt to challenge the idea that counselling is only necessary when someone has reached crisis point or you feel broken .

You don't need to have everything falling apart before you are allowed to ask for support.

BACP's research has found that many new parents struggle with their mental wellbeing, while some hesitate to access counselling because they believe their difficulties aren't "serious enough".

But counselling can offer something incredibly simple and powerful: a place where the parent gets to be heard.

A space where they don't have to put the baby first for an hour.