Taking Care of Yourself Without Putting It Off

Iryna is a young mother from the Poltava region who is raising two children: her older child is two and a half years old, and her younger child recently turned three months old. She is currently on maternity leave, recovering from childbirth, and attending a rehabilitation center.

Iryna and her husband are both in the military. They both began their service in 2017, and after the full-scale invasion began in 2022, they rejoined the ranks of Ukraine’s defenders. For several years, military service shaped the family’s daily life and plans. Due to an illness contracted while performing her military duties, Iryna was granted disability status.

Today, Iryna balances her own recovery with caring for her two young children. After many years of service, she is having to establish a new daily routine in which rehabilitation, postpartum recovery, and caring for her children play a central role.

Daily chores and caring for her children require considerable physical effort from this young mother. The family lives on the second floor, so Iryna has to carry the stroller and her children up the stairs several times a day. Due to the strain on her back, it has become more difficult for her to perform her usual tasks without additional support. Doctors recommended that Iryna wear a special back brace, but due to the constant expenses of raising her children and supporting her family, she put off this purchase for a long time.

The targeted financial assistance she received through the “Women’s Health” project enabled her to purchase the necessary back brace. According to Iryna, it helps reduce the strain on her back and makes her daily childcare tasks easier.

She used the remaining funds to purchase skin care products. After giving birth, both Iryna and her three-month-old baby developed skin problems, and specialized skincare products are expensive and require regular use.

Previously, Iryna often put off spending on her own needs, prioritizing her children’s needs above all else. The support she received helped her purchase the necessary products and not put off taking care of her own health.

Iryna continues to attend the rehabilitation center and is working on her recovery. Her experience highlights how important it is for women with disabilities—particularly after childbirth—to have access to support that addresses their immediate needs: physical recovery and healthcare for both mother and child.

Oleksandra Perkova, Communications Manager of the Project