Content note:
This story includes sensitive topics that may be distressing for some readers, including:
- Terminal illness and the loss of a parent
- Postpartum mental health challenges (including postpartum anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and postpartum OCD)
- Experiences of grief and emotional distress
Please read with care and take breaks if you need to. If you’re struggling with your mental health, you’re not alone. Support is available through your healthcare provider or trusted mental health organizations.
As part of our Love the Water campaign, we’re sharing the stories that sit at the very heart of Water Babies — the real, honest journeys of families whose time in the water has transformed life far beyond the pool. For many new parents, baby swim classes become more than a place to learn skills; they become a sanctuary during the overwhelming early days of parenthood.
Beverley’s story is one of those rare and powerful journeys. Through an unexpected pregnancy, the weight of postpartum anxiety and intrusive thoughts, and the long road to understanding her postpartum OCD, she found an unexpected lifeline in Water Babies swim lessons with her little boy, Rhys. Her experience is a reminder that the water can offer confidence, connection, and moments of calm at a time when new moms often need it most.
An Unexpected Pregnancy
Hello. I’m Beverley, Bev to most people, but most importantly, I’m mom to Rhys. This is our story.
I remember the moment I found out I was pregnant. The test flashed “Pregnant 3+,” and I was in complete shock. I had never imagined motherhood being part of my path. I loved children, but the idea of being responsible for shaping a little person’s entire childhood felt overwhelming.
I wouldn’t say I wasn’t maternal, but I wouldn’t say I was either. I had always pictured myself as the “cool aunt”, the one who loved spending time with kids during school vacations, then handing them back. I loved spontaneous trips, had a very organized work life, and was focused on chasing the future I thought I wanted.
Suddenly, I was pregnant, and there was a whole little person completely relying on me. I was terrified of the unknown. I kept the news to myself for a while, carrying a heavy sense of guilt underneath it all, because I didn’t believe I could ever be a good mom.
My Mom’s Diagnosis
On January 31, 2022, my mom was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. It was her third cancer diagnosis during my lifetime, but this time felt different. She looked at me and said, “This is it. I think I’m going to die this time.” I was heartbroken.
Part of me thought my pregnancy news might give her something to hold onto, a lifeline, but I was still struggling to come to terms with it myself. I didn’t know how to reassure her; she had always been the strong, positive one.
She was in and out of the hospital, and I was barely staying afloat myself. When her treatment was extended and showing signs of working, I finally shared the news. We cried together, shocked, overwhelmed, but filled with joy. My mom was absolutely thrilled.
But alongside that happiness came fear. My thoughts spiraled: Will she make it? What if she doesn’t? How can I be there for her and care for a newborn? I felt selfish for wanting her to get better just so we could enjoy this moment together.
A Pregnancy Driven by Anxiety
As my pregnancy progressed, anxiety took over. I felt safest when Rhys was still inside me. I was being closely monitored due to high blood pressure, but in my mind, keeping him inside meant keeping him safe, and keeping myself close to my mom.
I changed my routine completely. Swimming became one of the few places where I felt calm and in control. I would sit by my mom’s hospital bed reading while she rested her hand on my belly, feeling him kick. Those moments felt safe.
When it became clear that I needed to be induced early for both our health, I felt like I had lost all control. I agreed through tears, choosing the latest possible date so I could be there for my mom’s final treatment.
Welcoming Rhys
At 12:13 a.m. on October 1, Rhys was born. Despite some minor complications, he arrived safely. As he entered the world, my mom walked into the delivery room and held him for one of his very first cuddles, a moment I had prayed for.
From the moment I held Rhys, I knew my purpose was to be his mom.
The Quiet Struggle I Didn’t Expect
After birth, Rhys struggled with reflux, and I struggled with my mental health. While parts of motherhood brought joy, much of it felt like drowning in guilt, exhaustion, and sadness I didn’t know how to share.
I was plagued by intrusive thoughts and terrified to leave the house. I worried constantly that someone would think I was a bad mom and take my baby away. I felt trapped, isolated, and overwhelmed.
The Baby Class That Opened a Door
Eventually, with encouragement from my sister, I attended a local baby class. For the first time, I felt seen, not judged, not rushed, just supported. A fellow mom mentioned swimming and reassured me how much it could help.
That conversation planted a seed.
Discovering Water Babies
When I found Water Babies, something felt different right away. From my first phone call to walking into our first lesson, I felt supported, truly supported, as both a mom and a human being.
Our teacher, Mairead, welcomed us with warmth, patience, and understanding. Over time, those weekly lessons became an anchor. In the water, my mind finally felt quiet. Rhys relaxed, floated, splashed, and thrived – and slowly, so did I.
The Hardest Goodbye
In April 2023, I lost my mom. The grief intensified everything I was already carrying, but Water Babies remained a constant – a light, safe space during the darkest period of my life.
Mairead didn’t just teach swimming. She gave me hope. She helped me believe I was a good mom when I couldn’t see it myself.
Swimming Through the Wobbles
Like many children, Rhys went through “water wobbles” as he grew. There were tears, clingy lessons, and moments where I questioned everything. But with patience, reassurance, and support from the Water Babies team, we got through it and Rhys came out the other side more confident than ever.
Water Babies became about so much more than learning to swim. It helped me become a confident mom, an advocate for others, and deepened the bond with my son in ways I never imagined.
Becoming a Water Babies Teacher
Inspired by our journey, I eventually trained to become a Water Babies teacher myself. I wanted to give other families the same safe space I had been given, a place to connect, grow, and breathe.
Our journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s one I’m incredibly proud of. If sharing my story helps even one other family feel less alone, then every step has been worth it.
After everything Beverley and Rhys have navigated together, their story is a powerful reminder of just how much comfort, confidence, and connection can be found in the water.
If you’re looking for a safe, supportive space to bond with your little one – especially during those wobbly early months, our lessons are here for you, too. When you’re ready to begin your own journey, we’d love to welcome your family to Water Babies and help you fall in love with the water, one small splash at a time.
