Rachel Lalonde starts initiative after learning of the tragic death of local mother
By Agnieszka Krawczynski
Coquitlam resident Rachel Lalonde understands the pain experienced by Florence Leung, a new mom who went missing and died last fall.
Although Lalonde didn’t know Leung, she felt a connection with the woman because both mothers were suffering from post-partum depression at the same time.
“Her son is the same age as my son,” said Lalonde, a member of Holy Family Parish. “We were going through similar things, at the same time, with a new baby.”
Leung, 32, was found dead Nov. 15, two and a half months after giving birth to her first child. Reports say she struggled with post-partum depression.
After hearing Leung’s tragic story, Lalonde decided to help women who face depression and anxiety after having a child and don’t know where to turn.
“If she’d had the support that she needed, she would still be here,” Lalonde said. “I wanted to do something positive and preventative, and bring some hope.”
To honour Leung’s memory Lalonde launched First 40 Days, a resource for new mothers. The project includes free self-care baskets filled with personal care products, a journal, handwritten encouraging notes, and information on post-partum depression.
“After having a baby, it’s a very vulnerable time,” she said. “It’s not just ‘business as usual’ right after having a baby. There are a lot of myths, expectations, and pressures – that you should be bouncing back.”
Lalonde said that just as airplane passengers are instructed to put on their own oxygen masks before helping others, new mothers need to look after themselves.
“Women often put themselves at the bottom when they have babies. They prioritize themselves last or not at all. I wanted to change that with this project.”
The B.C.-based Pacific Post Partum Support Society estimates that one out of every six women experience depression or anxiety after giving birth or adopting a child.
“There’s such a stigma surrounding mental health and maternal mental health. It’s not talked about, but it’s actually so common,” said Lalonde, who struggled 1.5 years after the birth of her first child before realizing she was dealing with post-partum depression and anxiety.
“I went through a period of denial. I didn’t have an understanding of what depression was and that it can involve a whole range of symptoms and vary from woman to woman.”
Now the mother of two sons, she wants to help other women get better connected to resources that will help them take care of themselves and find a supportive community.
“I want these packages to be a way to build community, help a woman to feel less alone, and encourage her,” Lalonde said.
“If I’d had more awareness of these issues after having a baby, I would have been able to receive professional help sooner.”
She hopes to turn First 40 Days into a non-profit organization for moms who are facing post-partum depression and seeking help. At press time, her Gofundme page had raised $1,000, which she plans to use toward putting together the first care packages and launching a website.
“It can be a difficult time after having a baby,” she said. “My goal is to remind mothers that there is a natural and necessary period of recuperation after giving birth.”
