KATE MIDDLETON ADMITS TO SUFFERING FROM A LACK OF CONFIDENCE AND ADVISES THAT "YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE IT UP AND DO THE BEST YOU CAN"

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton was in London on Thursday to help mark the launch of a series of educational films focusing on maternal mental health. At the event, Kate spoke on the issue of maternal mental health and about her personal experience of motherhood. She admitted to suffering from a lack of confidence as regards her parenting abilities.
She said that being a mother could be tough even for someone who has assistance from nannies and housekeepers.

"'Personally, becoming a mother has been such a rewarding and wonderful experience. However, at times it has also been a huge challenge - even for me, who has support at home that most mothers do not," she said. 

"And yet there is no rule book, no right or wrong - you just have to make it up and do the very best you can to care for your family. For many mothers, myself included, this can, at times lead to lack of confidence and feelings of ignorance. Sadly, for some mothers, this experience can be made so much harder due to challenges with their own mental health. Two in 10 women will suffer mental health issues that can occur during pregnancy and in the year after birth, often clouding their moments of joy with a real sense of darkness and isolation. Many of these women also suffer in silence, overwhelmed by negative feelings, but also afraid to admit to the struggles they are facing due to the fear or shame of what others might think if they aren't coping".

She added:

"Some of this fear is about the pressure to be a perfect parent; pretending we're all coping perfectly and loving every minute of it. It's right to talk about motherhood as a wonderful thing, but we also need to talk about its stresses and strains. It's ok not to find it easy. Asking for help should not be seen as a sign of weakness. If any of us caught a fever during pregnancy, we would seek advice and support from a doctor. Getting help with our mental health is no different – our children need us to look after ourselves and get the support we need."