After experiencing six miscarriages over six years, Marcelle Cooper faced a mixture of fear and uncertainty upon discovering she was pregnant for a seventh time. Having come to terms with the possibility that motherhood might not be in her future, Cooper and her husband Steven from North Sydney had shifted their focus towards healing and acceptance, finding solace in travel and the companionship of a new kitten. The couple also faced medical challenges, including Cooper’s removal of her left fallopian tube, which further reduced the chances of conception, leading them to ultimately decide to stop trying to have children.
Nearly a year after this decision, Cooper became pregnant naturally with their daughter, Skye. The early stages of the pregnancy were marked by significant anxiety and fear. Cooper described the first 20 weeks as “terrifying,” with constant symptom monitoring that left her “scared to be hopeful.” After her 20-week scan brought some reassurance, she was able to embrace the pregnancy with growing awe. Skye was born in 2020, and initially appeared healthy and thriving.
However, Cooper’s challenges continued postpartum. When Skye was just three months old, Cooper experienced a severe mental health decline characterized by anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, and significant weight loss. At six months, despite seeing her daughter grow and engage with her, Cooper felt numbness and emotional detachment, which alarmed her deeply. Recognizing she could no longer manage alone, she sought help and contacted her general practitioner, who referred her to the Gidget Foundation Australia.
The Gidget Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that provides specialised mental health support for expectant, new, and potential parents, focusing on peri-natal depression and anxiety. These conditions affect about one in five mothers and one in ten fathers, and remain a leading cause of death among expectant and new mothers. Cooper described the referral to Gidget as life-changing. With professional support, her mental health improved markedly, and by Skye’s first birthday, Cooper began to genuinely enjoy motherhood.
Cooper acknowledged that reaching out for help was one of the hardest decisions she had to make. She shared concerns common among new parents facing mental health issues, including fear of being judged as unfit or worries about child removal. Through the foundation’s guidance, she developed strategies to manage anxiety and recognize when she was struggling.
Today, Cooper serves as a Gidget Angel, an ambassador role through which she raises awareness about peri-natal mental health and encourages others to seek support. She also advocates for parents who have experienced loss not to minimize their grief, emphasizing that comparing one’s experience can diminish the validity of personal feelings. Her story highlights both the difficulties many parents face and the importance of accessible mental health care during the perinatal period.