Kelly’s story

CASE STUDY

Kelly needed the support of Home-Start in Suffolk following the birth of her triplets.

 

Kelly is a mum to two-year old triplets, when she found out she was pregnant she was in an abusive relationship so during her pregnancy moved to Suffolk to seek help. It was here she found Home-Start in Suffolk.  

After the triplets were born, Kelly and her three babies moved into various foster placements before moving into a mum and baby residential. Kelly said “Moving into the residential in December 2020 was the best thing that happened to us. It meant I got the support I desperately needed to be the mum I wanted to be”.   

Kelly appreciated this was the second chance she needed to get things right and could see that people really wanted to help her. Kelly did well in the residential and was soon moved into her own home. At this time, she was referred to Home-Start in Suffolk to help with the transition to life on her own with the triplets.   

Kelly said “For the first time in my life I felt free. I could take the babies out when I wanted, go to the shops and do whatever I wanted to do. It was exciting but at the same time very daunting. Managing three babies wasn’t easy. One of them has a number of conditions – congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, liver disease, impaired vision, moderate hearing loss and is tube fed. We have hospital appointments all the time”. 

 

 

Laura from Home-Start Suffolk visited Kelly, and explained all the different ways Home-Start could help and introduced Kelly to Debbie, a Home-Start volunteer. Debbie visited Kelly and the triplets every week.   

Home-Start helped Kelly to learn how to manage daily life and provide a more stable home for her children. They helped with budgeting, shopping and meal planning. Debbie also helped look after the babies to give Kelly a bit of time to do some housework, which helped make her feel like she was keeping on top of things.    

Kelly said “In so many ways Home-Start has helped me to be a better mum. They’ve shown me how to be patient and that if you’re having a hard day, take some time to have a breather.   

The triplets are constantly fighting and pulling each other’s hair. It can get very stressful, but I’ve learned techniques from Home-Start to help me stay calm. Home-Start find the areas in life that are stressful and make them calmer. They even helped to get transport in place to get us to my daghter’s many hospital appointments”.   

“Without Home-Start I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now. Home-Start has helped me to be the best possible mum to my babies. I love being a mum and I’m so lucky to have them.”

 

“In so many ways Home-Start has helped me to be a better mum. They’ve shown me how to be patient and that if you’re having a hard day, take some time to have a breather. ”