Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
Entertainment
Abbie Meehan

Lorraine viewers praise Kate Lawler as she opens up on post natal depression

TV personality Kate Lawler appeared on ITV's Lorraine on Thursday morning to discuss the struggles she faced when becoming a mother, and even stated that she had to 'leave' her baby alone at one point as she was so low.

Viewers of the daytime programme came forward to praise Kate for opening up about her post natal depression, as she explains in her brand new book Maybe Baby.

Speaking on the programme on Thursday, the 41-year-old said: "I didn’t necessarily enjoy every aspect of it.

READ MORE - ITV Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid fights back tears in emotional scenes

“Obviously there were moments where my heart would be set on fire when she smiled at me for the first time and she cooed, but there are 24 hours in a day and for a lot of those early newborn days, I was struggling mentally, physically recovering from the birth and I found it overwhelmingly challenging.

“I just want to normalise those feelings that it’s perfectly okay to love your child with every fibre of your being but not necessarily enjoy the day to day experience of parenting.”

Scottish host Lorraine Kelly sympathised with Kate's struggle and said: "It can be very very tough, even if you’ve got a wonderfully understanding partner and you wanted this child so much, it can still be overwhelming."

In one part of the book, Kate recalls a moment where she had to leave her daughter in bed and vacate to a different room in the house, for fear of doing something she may "regret".

Kate continued: “That was the moment I hit rock bottom, when I was in the deepest, darkest depths of postnatal depression.

“I talk a lot about postnatal depression, but you can’t escape these feelings. I had terrible thoughts about what I might do to myself and to Noa.

“You can’t escape those feelings and it’s really hard. I feel awful for even feeling like I might have come close to doing something like that, but I didn’t do it.”

Kate's new book is out this week. (ITV)

She added: "I just feel for all those women in the past who have had those feelings and haven’t been able to share them.

“Social media was a bit of a rock for me during those night feeds where I couldn’t wind her, couldn’t get her to feed. I would open the app and there would be this army of women saying I went through the same.”

Fans flocked to social media to open up about their own troubles, and praised Kate Lawler for talking openly about the common condition.

One Twitter user said: "#lorraine what @katelawler is saying is so true I remember the day I finally broke down in the doctors after struggling for so long, thought I had failed as a mum, honestly couldn't see a light at the end of the dark tunnel, thankfully I opened up and got the help I needed."

Another said: "Wow, this hits close to home... #postnataldepression #Lorraine"

And a third wrote: "Love Kate Lawler. She's one of the most entertaining people to follow on Instagram. Her post natal journey has been incredible. #lorraine"

ITV's Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am onwards.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.