Perinatal mental health

 

While it’s normal to experience a range of emotions during and after your pregnancy, if you’re struggling with the following conditions, it’s important to get professional help.

 

• Depression - The ‘Baby Blues’ – feeling sad, teary, or irritable in the early days after birth – is normal; if these symptoms persist after two weeks, it could be more serious.

• Anxiety disorders – antenatal or postnatal anxiety 

• Postpartum psychosis – occurring in 1-2 in 1,000 mothers, this is a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate medical attention.

 

From pre-conception to pregnancy and the postnatal period, I help women adjust to the challenges of motherhood and support them as they bond with their babies. 

 

Pregnancy and serious mental illness

 

Serious mental illness (SMI) includes acute or chronic impairments such as schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder and schizoaffective disorder. In the perinatal period, women with SMI have unique needs. There is a higher risk of psychiatric relapse, an increased chance of pregnancy and birth complications, and more need for support around parenting. 

 

I support women with SMI from pre-conception onwards, so they can enjoy healthy pregnancies and births, and build strong relationships with their babies. 

 

Medication during pregnancy

 

Some medications can be prescribed during pregnancy and breastfeeding, while others cannot. I’ll make sure your medication types and dosages are safe for you and your baby.

 

Your baby’s mental health

 

Infant mental health focuses on helping infants from birth to three years of age develop the building blocks needed for healthy development. 

 

My aim is to make sure babies’ first relationships are trusting and caring so they can grow into healthy, happy children who can regulate their own emotions, form close relationships, and are open to exploring the environment around them. 

 

How I can help:

 

I have worked with women and their families from pre-conception to pregnancy and the postnatal period,  completing a mental health assessment and individually tailored treatment options for them. Transition to parenthood can be a time when traumatic memories could be retriggered, making the job of parenting more challenging. I have supported parents with Parent-Infant Psychotherapy to promote an infant’s sense of security and parental bonding.

 

I provide complete assessment and intervention for women who have mental health concerns from pregnancy through to two-years postpartum. This includes:

 

• Pre-conception advice: for women worried about the impact of pregnancy on their mental health.

• Antenatal review: assessment and ongoing support to ensure psychiatric medication is at a safe dose for mother and baby.

• Maternal health and the family: supporting the impact of the mother’s illness on the whole family.

• Parent-child attachment issues: focused on strengthening the relationship between primary caregivers and their baby.