MENTAL HEALTH TEAM

Although having a baby should be a happy time, it can also be a time of great change and stress. Some emotional changes are normal but sometimes problems persist.

The type of help you need depends on the severity of the problem you are experiencing. Your health visitor, midwife or GP can help decide which sort of help is best for you.

Sometimes this will include self-help or a talking therapy – sometimes this might include medication or a combination of treatments.

Some mothers will need help from mental health services, especially if they have a pre-existing mental illness and are planning to have a baby. In some areas there are specialist perinatal mental health teams that support mothers in pregnancy and following the birth. The team usually include mental health nurses and consultant psychiatrists who have expert knowledge.

In rare circumstances a mother may need admission to a mother and baby unit following assessment from specialist mental health services.