No matter how independent you may have been before you had a baby, becoming a mother is when many women need their mum the most, new data shows.
The absence of a supportive mother figure significantly increases distress for new mum's suffering perinatal anxiety or depression, according to Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Austral ia.
The free National PANDA Helpline aims to fill the gap for the thousands of new mothers who contact the organisation each year.
Almost a quarter of all callers to the helpline report the absence of their own mother as contributing to their distress.
This figure would balloon, PANDA says, if it were to include mums whose own mothers are physically around but not willing or able to offer emotional support.
PANDA CEO Terri Smith says new parenthood is often a time of enormous vulnerability for women as they navigate their new life as a mother.
"Of all the times in life, the birth of a baby is a time when mothers might need to be mothered, preferably by their own mothers or close family members or friends who are willing and able to support them," Ms Smith said.
"At PANDA, we often speak with mothers whose own mothers are either physically or emotionally unavailable to support them.This can be deeply saddening and disappointing.
"We are very aware of the need for new parents, particularly mothers, to feel loved, appreciated and practically supported at a time when they are giving enormous amounts of time,energy and love to their baby
No matter how independent you may have been before you had a baby, becoming a mother is when many women need their mum the most, new data shows.
The absence of a supportive mother figure significantly increases distress for new mum's suffering perinatal anxiety or depression, according to Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Austral ia.
The free National PANDA Helpline aims to fill the gap for the thousands of new mothers who contact the organisation each year.
Almost a quarter of all callers to the helpline report the absence of their own mother as contributing to their distress.
This figure would balloon, PANDA says, if it were to include mums whose own mothers are physically around but not willing or able to offer emotional support.
PANDA CEO Terri Smith says new parenthood is often a time of enormous vulnerability for women as they navigate their new life as a mother.
"Of all the times in life, the birth of a baby is a time when mothers might need to be mothered, preferably by their own mothers or close family members or friends who are willing and able to support them," Ms Smith said.
"At PANDA, we often speak with mothers whose own mothers are either physically or emotionally unavailable to support them.This can be deeply saddening and disappointing.
"We are very aware of the need for new parents, particularly mothers, to feel loved, appreciated and practically supported at a time when they are giving enormous amounts of time,energy and love to their baby.