Giovanna Fletcher shares candid post about her mental health struggle after birth of her third son

"I’ve tried to say it out loud a couple of times..."

Giovanna Fletcher has shared a candid post about her struggles with mental health following the birth of her third son. The 33-year-old and her husband, Tom, welcomed their third child - a baby boy named Max - in August this year. She admitted in a candid Instagram post that she hadn't been "feeling myself the last couple of weeks", which she found tough to admit. In the candid post, which she shared on World Mental Health Day [October 10], she encouraged people to speak up if they aren't feeling OK - and urged them to remember that "we must be kinder to ourselves." She wrote:

"I’ve tried to say it out loud a couple of times and then totally dismissed it and brushed it under the carpet. "I have found myself saying, ‘I’m not feeling myself, but it’s fine. I’m fine.’ "Hmm... I’m fine but sometimes I don’t want to get out of bed in the morning. I don’t want to get dressed. I don’t want to see people. I don’t want to do anything. "I’m fine but I’ve been crying for no reason and occasionally can’t seem to stop. "I’m not feeling myself right now but I’ve just had a baby and my hormones are all over the shop and playing havoc with my emotions.

"I’m not feeling myself right now but I’ve just welcomed my third baby into the world and am so incredibly lucky. "I’m not feeling myself right now but people are asking things of me and I don’t want to let them down. I want to deliver and be the productive, proactive and positive person I usually am. "I’m not feeling myself right now BUT thankfully I have a great bunch of people around me who are giving me lots of support and making sure I’m kinder to myself. "We must be kinder to ourselves! And we must talk. "I wasn’t going to add to the amazing conversations happening around mental health today, but seeing as they’ve all helped me, I thought adding to it might just help some others. Be kinder and talk."

Her social media followers praised the mum-of-three for being open about her feelings, as well as raising awareness about mental health. One person said:

"I felt like this after both my babies, it’s so bloody hard. Thank you so much for being honest as it really helps."

Another added:

"My 3rd baby was born 2 days after your little Max, I too haven’t been feeling myself either and couldn’t quite work out why... but it’s ok the not feel ourselves right now and we will be just fine."

Someone else wrote:

"So glad you said this. Such important words. I remember feeling this exactly but I had nobody saying 'it’s ok not to be ok', or even 'do you need help?'. It was hell. "You brave, amazing lady. Life is tough. Babies are tough. But you are mega tough."