MY BLACK MOTHERHOOD written and read by Sandra Igwe - audiobook extract
b"A passionate first-hand account of what it is like being a Black mother coping with postnatal anxiety and depression\\u2014and how Black women are let down when they are most vulnerable.\\n\\nJoyful. Graceful. Blessed. Strong. Anxious. Depressed. Stigmatised. Stereotyped. \\n\\nWhat happens when motherhood isn't what you expected\\u2014and when you reach out for support, you are met with judgment and prejudice? \\n\\nSandra Igwe shares her journey as a young Black mother, coping with sleepless nights, anxiety and loneliness after the birth of her first daughter. Burdened by cultural expectations of the 'good mother' and the 'strong Black woman' trope, her mental health struggles became an uphill battle.\\n\\nBlack women are at higher risk of developing postnatal depression but are the least likely to be identified as depressed. Sharing the voices of other mothers, Sandra examines how culture, racism, stigma and a lack of trust in services prevent women getting the help they need. Breaking open the conversation on motherhood, race, and mental health, she demands that Black women are listened to, believed and understood."