The perinatal period is the time from conception until 12 months after childbirth and is a time where women experience many physical, emotional and social changes.
In May 2022 we carried out a Perinatal Mental Health Survey. This was distributed to our service users to complete from our Leighton Hospital Maternity Unit Facebook page. We have now collated the responses and the survey report can be viewed on the button below:
Perinatal Pathways
Perinatal Pathways has been developed by the Perinatal Mental Health Clinical Delivery and Networks to help midwives, health visitors and any professionals working with women in the Perinatal period to identify which service and interventions would be most helpful. It can also be used by women themselves and their families to help find appropriate support.
Please note, this app is to help you navigate to the correct pathway, it is not a diagnostic tool.
To access the pathway, click the link below, alternatively to self refer to Leighton's Perinatal Mental Health Midwife click the link above.
Meet the team
The Perinatal Mental Health Team consists of:
Perinatal Mental Health Lead Midwife - Lucy Nuttall (07900056013)
Perinatal Mental Health Midwife - Rebecca Anubla (07979129486)
Maternity Support Workers - Katie Bostock (07775778239)
The team sits alongside the Enhanced Midwifery Team.
Tommy's My Pregnancy and post-birth wellbeing plan
The following wellbeing plan from Tommy's is a 2-page plan, endorsed by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), that helps you start thinking about how you feel emotionally and what support you might need in your pregnancy and after the birth. Feel free to click on the link below, complete and put in your hand held record to discuss with those looking after you.
Sometimes your birth may not have gone as planned and you may find yourself worrying excessively about this, having flashbacks, feeling anxious and even having panic attacks. You are not alone and there is help to support you. Please see the links below for further support.
Birth Trauma Association is a charity that supports women who suffer birth trauma – a shorthand term for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after birth.
The Maternal Mental Health Service is a brand new service supporting local communities to access treatment and care if they have experienced or are struggling with moderate to severe mental health difficulties associated with birth trauma.
The Maternal Mental Health Service is a brand new service supporting local communities to access treatment and care if they have experienced or are struggling with moderate to severe mental health difficulties associated with:
- birth trauma
- tocophobia
- any loss of a baby in the perinatal period
For referral information, or more information about the service, please click the link above.
Fathers and partners can also be affected by mental health in the perinatal period. Fathers, partners and you can self refer to the Central Cheshire Wellbeing Hub and will be prioritised for treatment.
A new safe sleep video (YouTube) by the Rugby Dads to raise awareness with dads/men about safe sleep for young children and babies.
Further resources:
- Dads Matter (Dads Matter)
- Dads Zone (Lullaby Trust)
- The Dad Pad (Dad Pad)
- The Fatherhood Institute
- Tips for your birth partner (NHS)
- Men Tell (Men Tell)
- Acacia Dads Family Support (Acacia)
-
Wellbeing Parenting Pack (Mind)
- Action on Postpartum Psychosis
- CALM app
- Cheshire East Children's Centres
- Cheshire West and Chester Children's Centres
- Family Ties: admin@familyties.org.uk, 07513 384 272, one-to-one and group courses for parents, infant bonding and attachment. Referral required.
- Headspace App (in-app purchases)
- Hearts and Minds Partnership map to help you find a local service.
- Maternal Mental Health Alliance
- Mind
- Medicines in Pregnancy (Bumps)
- Maternal Mental Health Alliance
- Motherwell Cheshire, 01606 557666. Supporting women of all ages with mental health
- The Smile Group: a local charity supporting women with postnatal depression
