Having a baby and becoming a parent is one of the most life-changing events we can experience. One in five women will experience a mental health problem during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth. This may be a new mental health problem or another episode of a mental health problem you've experienced before.
Pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period can be associated with the return or worsening of a previous mental health illness.
It is important to get specialist advice even if you are well during pregnancy. Those who have had previous mental illness are more likely to become unwell after giving birth.
Treatments may include medication and/or the input of specialist perinatal services. Ask your GP or psychiatrist for information and advice to help you decide what is best for you and your baby. This may mean continuing with, changing or stopping the medication. Do not stop taking your current medication without first speaking to a doctor.
Your midwife will carry out a detailed assessment of your mental and physical wellbeing at the beginning of your pregnancy (the booking appointment) and will make sure that the right specialists are involved in your care. You may be seen by an obstetrician who specialises in mental health through pregnancy and after the birth. Mental health specialist midwives are available in all maternity services in Kent and Medway to make sure you receive the right care at the right time.
Below is some information about some of the different mental health conditions which can affect women and families.
You can speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP. All the professionals involved in your care will work together to make sure you have the support you need. You can also refer yourself directly for mental health support.
Getting better from a mental health problem can involve a combination of lifestyle changes, medication and talking therapy. The important thing is to know that you are not on your own and talking to your midwife or doctor can be your first step. See below for details of the services that could help you.
The Perinatal Mental Health Community Service specialises in the assessment, diagnosis and short-term treatment of women 18 and above who are affected by a moderate to severe mental health illness in the preconception, antenatal and postnatal period.
Most women should in the first instance seek advice from their midwife, health visitor or GP. Many women can be offered initial support and treatment in primary care. However if more specialist support, advice, interventions or treatment is required, a referral to mental health services can be made.
We are broadening the remit of the service in line with the NHS Long Term Plan ambitions for specialist perinatal mental health community services and have consulted with those with lived experience of perinatal mental ill health, health and social care staff, commissioners and stakeholders on a service name that will be inclusive and appropriate.
Around one in four women experience a mental health problems in pregnancy and during the 24 months after giving birth.
The NHS is committed to providing people with high-quality perinatal mental health care and has recently announced the roll-out of 26 new dedicated maternal mental health services.
A pilot project is currently running in east Kent called Thrive: Psychological Support for Birth Trauma and Loss.
We have been working with TONIC to conduct interviews and surveys with women and their partners who have experienced birth trauma or loss. Their input will help shape the way we roll this type of service out across other areas in Kent and Medway, to ensure these services are accessible, effective, and suitable for all.
Thank you to all who shared their experiences with us as part of this process. Further information about how we take this forwards will be available in due course.
There are a range of services available under Talking Therapies which offer support to those with less severe mental health needs.
You can refer yourself to a Talking Therapies service without seeing your GP.
Talking therapies can help with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, phobias and other related problems.
Therapeutic appointments are available weekdays and evenings and some weekend appointments are available. All services are operating remotely via phone and online.
You can search the nhs website for psychological therapy services close to you here: Find a psychological therapies service.
Kent and Medway Mental Wellbeing Information Hub
Perinatal Mental Health Community Service
Mental health support: Kent.gov.uk
Postnatal and antenatal depression: MIND
Mental health before, during and after pregnancy: Tommy's
Antenatal and postnatal mental health: NICE guidelines
Perinatal mental health: Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Some women may need to take medication for an existing physical or mental health problem before, during and after pregnancy. Decisions about whether to continue, change or stop medications in pregnancy are not straightforward or easy. Some medications have been used in pregnancy for many years and are known to be safe; while there are a few medications that should be avoided. It is very important that you do not stop your medication suddenly unless your doctor tells you to. Stopping treatment suddenly can make you relapse and can cause unpleasant side-effects.
It is important to weigh up the risks and benefits of taking medication in pregnancy and to discuss this with your doctor so that they can consider what would be the safest yet most effective treatment for you and your baby. BUMPS (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) provides reliable, evidence-based information about the use of medicines in pregnancy.
Postnatal depression is a persistent low mood or lack of interest in doing things that can start within a year of having a baby. Find out more about postnatal depression.
Although many women have a very positive and empowering experience of childbirth, birth can also be difficult and frightening in some circumstances.
After events which are particularly frightening or distressing, it is normal to experience some 'post-traumatic stress' which can include feeling anxious and perhaps reliving parts of the experience in your mind. This normal response to traumatic events can develop into a disorder (post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD) if the response is particularly severe or continues for more than a few weeks after the event.
Birth trauma is another term for post-traumatic stress disorder after a negative experience of childbirth.
Some women can develop obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) for the first time during pregnancy and early parenthood.
OCD is an anxiety disorder when a person can experience unwelcome thoughts, as well as compulsive behaviours. Thoughts could be about accidentally or deliberately harming their child, or their child becoming ill.
It is very normal for mums and mums-to-be to occasionally experience these feelings and worries. But for some, they can find themselves very distressed and try to manage their anxieties or prevent their fears from coming true through compulsory behaviours such as cleaning, avoiding activities or having no breaks from caring for their baby.
If this is affecting you or your partner, contact your midwife, health visitor or GP. Early support is important for recovery
Read more about perinatal OCD.
Psychosis is a condition where people perceive what's going on around them very differently from others or have thoughts and beliefs which get in the way of normal life. It's important for women and their families to be aware that although psychosis is rare, there is an increased chance in the first weeks after birth.
Some new mums may feel over-energised, euphoric and feeling they need little sleep. This is called the 'baby pinks' and can be a warning sign. They may also feel they are unable to concentrate and their behaviour is more impulsive or out of character.
If you have any concerns or worries for yourself or your partner, especially if you or they have previously had a mental health problem, then speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP who can refer you for specialist support.
Find out more about postpartum psychosis at NHS.uk.