Perinatal psychiatry — before, during, after.
Specialist mental health care from preconception through pregnancy and the two years after birth. Trained at one of Australia's few mother and baby units. Family-inclusive throughout.
It's normal to experience a wide range of emotions during pregnancy and in the early postpartum period. But if symptoms persist, intensify, or start to interfere with how you function, how you bond, or how safe you feel — that's worth professional attention. Perinatal care is part of my wider women's mental health practice.
Three things not to ignore.
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Perinatal depression
The 'baby blues' — feeling sad, teary or irritable in the early days after birth — is normal. If those symptoms persist past two weeks, it can be more serious and warrants assessment.
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Anxiety disorders
Antenatal or postnatal anxiety, including intrusive thoughts, panic, or perinatal OCD. Common, treatable, and often misread as "just being a worried mum".
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Postpartum psychosis
Occurs in 1–2 in 1,000 mothers. This is a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate medical attention — call 000 or your nearest emergency department.
Specialist support for complex needs.
Serious mental illness (SMI) — including schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder and schizoaffective disorder — has unique implications in the perinatal period. Risk of psychiatric relapse is higher, pregnancy and birth complications are more likely, and parenting often needs more wraparound support.
I support women with SMI from preconception onwards, so they can plan healthy pregnancies and births and build strong, secure relationships with their babies. This includes liaison with obstetric teams, midwives, GPs and child and family services.
Safe prescribing — for two.
Some psychiatric medications can be safely prescribed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Others can't. I review your current regimen against the evidence and your individual risk profile, and explain the trade-offs clearly — so you can make an informed decision rather than a fearful one.
Infant mental health, from day one.
Infant mental health focuses on helping babies from birth to three years develop the building blocks of healthy emotional, social and cognitive growth. The aim is for those very first relationships — with parents, primary caregivers — to be trusting and attuned.
When that foundation is secure, babies grow into children who can regulate emotion, form close relationships, and explore the world with confidence.
Assessment & intervention across the perinatal arc.
I provide complete psychiatric assessment and intervention from pregnancy through to two years postpartum, including:
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Pre-conception advice
For women worried about the impact of pregnancy on their mental health, or planning a pregnancy alongside ongoing psychiatric treatment.
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Antenatal review
Assessment and ongoing support to ensure psychiatric medication is at a safe dose for mother and baby — and to monitor for changes through trimesters.
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Maternal mental health & the family
Supporting the impact of the mother's illness on the whole family — partners, older children, grandparents involved in care.
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Parent-infant attachment
Parent-Infant Psychotherapy to strengthen the bond between primary caregivers and their baby — particularly where past trauma is re-triggered by parenting.
Two Sydney clinics, plus telehealth Australia-wide.
Blue Fig Clinic
Level 5, 235 Macquarie Street
Sydney NSW 2000
02 7202 7061
reception@bluefig.clinic
Dolphin Tribe
Unit 4, 1 Railway Street
Baulkham Hills NSW 2153
02 7202 7747
reception@dolphintribe.com.au
Telehealth
Secure video psychotherapy across Australia. Selected psychiatric follow-ups by telehealth where appropriate.
Enquire →Pregnant, postpartum, or planning?
Referrals welcome from GPs, obstetricians, midwives and child and family health nurses. Request a perinatal psychiatry appointment through either clinic.
See clinic details