Ile-des-Chenes mother supporting women suffering from postpartum with fundraising walk

When Reese Dyck had her daughter two years ago, she felt joy but at the same time she had a lot of anxiety coupled with intrusive thoughts. She was chronically anxious about whether her daughter Sailor Jade would still be breathing in her crib when she slept. This led to Dyck sacrificing her own sleep to check on her daughter every 15 minutes.

She also would be anxious about leaving the house or letting anyone hold her firstborn thinking they might not hold her properly, make her ill, or worse drop her. This anxiety never truly subsided and was tied to severe suicidal depression when Dyck had her son Sonnet 11 months later.

“It was, without a doubt, the worst time in my life. It makes me sad to say that because, obviously, the newborn stage is something that you want to enjoy… I don’t remember a lot of the first year of his life because I was just in survival mode,” she shared.

Through all this, Dyck tried to get help through prescribed medication and the Steinbach Family Resource Centre, but she found there was still a lack of support for mothers suffering from postpartum.

The saying, “It takes a village to raise a child” is a truism for Dyck, especially when dealing with postpartum.

“I think the big thing is that postpartum, the baby doesn’t need to be held. Don’t worry about the baby. The baby isn’t going anywhere…But the mother is the one that needs to be held. You need to hold the mother. You need to listen to her cries. When she tells you she’s struggling, you need to listen, even if it doesn’t look like she is.”

The 22-year-old single mother noted the extreme shift in hormones women face five days after giving birth, and again at six to 10 months after giving birth, is second to the shift that happens at death.

A 2024 survey by Statistics Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada found that 49 percent of mothers and birthing parents experienced challenges with their emotional or mental health. Among those reporting challenges, 60 percent began after childbirth.

Despite this, 36 percent of respondents with mental health challenges received help from a professional for their emotional or mental health in 2024. The reason for not getting mental health care was due to scheduling, long wait times for appointments, or not knowing where to go to get help.

In light of this, Dyck is wanting to raise awareness and help women who have experienced postpartum difficulties by holding a fundraising walk for her Steinbach Postpartum Centre, which she hopes to open this fall once she has found a place in the city’s commercial district.

“Essentially, we are aiming to be a one-stop shop for all your postpartum needs,” said the Prince George native.

The centre will offer many resources, such as chiropractic care, mental health care, lactation care, child care, support groups, medical care, and massage. She is getting help from local doula Charlyse Litke, who is consulting for the non-profit.

“Our tagline is, ‘Every mother deserves a village, let us be yours,’” said Dyck.

Steinbach was chosen for the centre as Dyck wants to be central for mothers coming in from rural areas.

“I’m trying to find the best way to put this. The more rural areas do not acknowledge mental health. There’s a lot more stigma around mental health. And I guess the culture in these small communities – I’m trying to put this as delicately as I can – the culture is that you just pump out babies.”

“So, I think the need for this is stronger in the smaller communities and the more rural communities. Which is why I want to stay central to them.”

The walk will not only raise funds, but it will bring awareness and support, make connections between mothers, and let mothers know they are not limited to being just a mom, said Dyck.

The Walk for Postpartum Recovery will be held on Aug. 29 at K.R. Barkman Park at 11 a.m. with multiple vendors, a silent auction, a donation barbecue, and expert guest speakers.

“If I can speak to postpartum mothers in the area – I see you. I understand what you’re going through. You’re doing such important work, and you’re doing incredible, despite what your brain might be telling you. And we’re here for you.”