Good morning,

When interior designer Hayley* went into labour, it was an incredible shock. You see, up until that day, she didn’t know she was pregnant.

Stories like Hayley’s happen more often than you might think. In Australia, one in 400 pregnancies is discovered after 20 weeks, and one in 2,500 pregnancies is discovered during labour.

Hayley was pregnant as the result of a sexual assault.  She, understandably, describes her brain as having blocked it out in order to protect herself. She thought that changes to how she looked were caused by other things and didn’t consider the fact she could be pregnant – not for one second.

“I just thought I was fat, and I couldn't understand why I just wanted to binge eat all the time,” she says. “I had been going to my GP to find out what was going on and he asked me if there was any chance I could be pregnant ... I said no.”

When she suddenly found out she was about to have a baby, Hayley was frantic with fear.  How would she care for her baby without a single nappy or wet wipe to her name. 

Thanks to the support of our generous community, Geelong Mums was able to put together a care package containing a pram, port-a-cot, car seat, clothing and other essential items Hayley needed when little Daisy* was born.

“It made me feel like I wasn't alone,” Hayley says. “It was such a saviour. It allowed me to focus on Daisy, and give her what she needed from me, emotionally, rather than stressing and trying to figure out our basic needs.”

Hayley’s story is just one of thousands that we hear from families in need every year. And with the cost of living increasing, the need in our community is only growing. 

Please, will you help raise $75,000 in time for Christmas so Geelong Mums can work to ensure every baby and child in our community has the best start in life?

Warm regards,

Ruth

Ruth Holdaway MBE
CEO
[email protected]

PS: Hayley’s story might not be common but her need for support is. Please donate generously today so I can raise the $75,000 needed to support families in our community over the next few months.

*Hayley and Daisy are real people and their story is true. Names have been changed to protect their identities.