Oxford IPPS?

[Daisy17]

Wondering if anyone out there has experience of Oxford IPPS for ante/post-natal mental health support? I had some anxiety/depression issues when DS1 was tiny which lead to (useful) CBT and counselling. My midwife for DS2 (due end of May) has put me in contact with the Oxford IPPS team this time as a sort of safety net, although I feel much more in control of things this time round. My first appointment is tomorrow. Being me I feel like a fraud! but I know that I might well struggle again and that it's a good thing to be offered. Have people found them useful?

[CommanderShepard]

Hello! Yes, I have, and firstly a massive big unmumsnetty hug to you.

I first saw them in 2011 when I was pregnant with DD - I had hyperemesis, things were going really badly at work, I didn't feel happy to be pregnant even though it was planned and was starting to have suicidal ideation. My GP got me an appointment with IPPS - I can't remember who I saw at that time but she was really nice, although the conclusion was that I didn't really meet their criteria just then as my depression wasn't solely pregnancy-related.

When I gave birth to DD in May 2012 it was a very traumatic set of circumstances and I felt like I'd utterly failed and was a terrible mother to her - there was a point where I was trying to tell the midwives I shouldn't be allowed to take her home because there was no way we were bonding. DH managed to convince them to re-admit me, so I got seen by a consultant psychiatrist (Dr Bantick, if he's still around - he's lovely) and he got IPPS back and I saw Dan Graham who really turned everything around for me. I spent about 6 months seeing him and unpicking how I felt about the birth, my relationship with DD (which was fine; I just couldn't see it) and various family issues that had cropped up at the time (MIL was vile to me when DD was born via EMCS and really was the catalyst for the breakdown).

I cannot thank IPPS enough; I'm not entirely sure I'd be here to be pregnant again if it wasn't for them. DC2 is due in September and so far mental health is ok, though I do think I want to insist that I'm discharged by a psychiatrist and an obstetrician, just to be sure that I'm in good shape - I thought I was fine last time until I really, really was not.

Very best wishes for your appointment

[Daisy17]

Oh Commander, unmumsnetty hugs back, sounds like you went through such a rough time, far more so than me. So glad to hear how much support you got from both IPPS and the Radcliffe team in general, and that you are having another little one soon. My anxiety/depression is also not really pregnancy/birth related either, it's something I've always struggled with anyway, probably genetic, but let's just say that the physical and emotional demands of a fairly high-needs, non-sleeping baby didn't do me any favours. It was my partner who made me seek help last time, it felt so normal to me to be so weepy and shut off from reality, but he made me see how much of the joy of our DS I was missing, and how much it was affecting our family life. Tricky stuff! So yes, must remember not to minimise what went on when I talk about it - too English!!

[Daisy17]

Thanks again, Commander, for your reply this morning. The appointment was very helpful and they are going to keep in touch regularly once I've had the baby to check how I'm doing. :) All the very best with your second DC!