Perinatal Mental Health Specialist Team- please provide your help/ advice/ experiences

[Starshine22]

I'm new to this group and was looking to be provided with some support.

I'm 29 and pregnant with my first child, due in August. I've suffered with anxiety and OCD traits my whole life: I've had therapy a few times and have been on medication 3x over the last ten years.

When I fell pregnant I was in a very good place mentally however I've been plagued with, what I believe to be, OCD symptoms such as excessive hand washing, a fear of contamination, a fear of certain foods. It has affected my sleep and has since escalated into fears of accidentally harming the baby (what if they fall down the stairs? What if they choke? What if my partner can't bathe them properly and they drown).

I disclosed this to my mental health midwife who said she thinks I need more specialist support. I've now been placed under the Perinatal Mental Health Specialists and I am waiting an assessment from a psychiatrist for further diagnosis and to check what medications may benefit me.

What terrifies me is I was reading on 'Tommy's' under the list of who the MH team may include. Alongside doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists there was also social workers listed. I'm terrified that they are going to get involved: absolutely petrified. My brain will not stop ruminating over it.

[Sussexmidwife]

You have made the very important step of sharing how you are feeling with your midwife. That took courage and is something that health professionals will view as being very positive.
As you will be aware, there are very great range of emotional and mental health issues and so, like with physical conditions, a wide variety of professionals may be appropriate.
The fact that you have asked for help indicates that you have insight and are willing and able to seek appropriate help. Based on that I can see no reason at all why a social worker would become involved in your situation.
You are already being a great mum by taking up offered support. The right support now will enable you to enjoy your baby.

[Starshine22]

@Sussexmidwife

You have made the very important step of sharing how you are feeling with your midwife. That took courage and is something that health professionals will view as being very positive.
As you will be aware, there are very great range of emotional and mental health issues and so, like with physical conditions, a wide variety of professionals may be appropriate.
The fact that you have asked for help indicates that you have insight and are willing and able to seek appropriate help. Based on that I can see no reason at all why a social worker would become involved in your situation.
You are already being a great mum by taking up offered support. The right support now will enable you to enjoy your baby.

You have just made me cry.

I can't explain in words how loved this baby already is and how wanted they are. I think that's where all my anxiety is stemming from: I just want to so fiercely protect them that I'm panicking about every scenario where I'm not able to, I think.

[Sussexmidwife]

@Starshine22 - crying in a happy way I hope?
Your baby is very lucky to have a mummy who cares so much xx

[Orangesandlemons82]

In my experience they were social workers who specialised in Mental health, not Child protection social workers. Just like occupational therapists and MH nurses they also acted as care coordinators. It really isn't anything to worry about.

[Starshine22]

[quote Sussexmidwife]@Starshine22 - crying in a happy way I hope?
Your baby is very lucky to have a mummy who cares so much xx[/quote]
Very happy tears!

[Starshine22]

@Orangesandlemons82

In my experience they were social workers who specialised in Mental health, not Child protection social workers. Just like occupational therapists and MH nurses they also acted as care coordinators. It really isn't anything to worry about.

Thank you for this. This has helped to clarify a few things.

Could you tell me more about your experience and what it involved?

[Starshine22]

Bump

[Orangesandlemons82]

@Starshine22 sorry I have only just seen your reply. I was supported by a team in Hampshire precovid so may be different now. I was met at home initially by a psychiatrist whilst I was pregnant and he explored different medication options. They then came back ten days later to see if I had reached a decision. I was allocated a mental health nurse care coordinator who visited me at home regularly. I was also given sessions with a nursery nurse to learn baby massage and sessions with a psychologist. I was referred to the same team again in my second pregnancy and again they were very proactive and arranged that my husband would stay with me in a private room after the baby was born as we needed to stay in for a couple of days. When my mental health worsened they arranged for me to be admitted to the mother and baby unit for more intensive support and to change medication. I can't fault their care,they were amazing. Do you have any specific questions I can help answer?

[chattycaterpillar]

Hi @Starshine22, so sorry you are having a tough time.

Mental health teams are often made up of Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Support Workers , Social Workers who key work lists of clients/ caseload. They often do exactly the same role as each other, despite having trained in different disciplines.

So a soical worker on an adult mental health team would be there to support with your mental health, not child protection. They would be no more likely to to report you to children's services than a nurse or occupational therapist on the same team.

Best of luck and hope it goes well.

Also wondered if you fancied contacting PANDA's whilst waiting, ( they support people experiencing prenatal depression/ mental illness).

pandasfoundation.org.uk/what-is-pnd/pre-natal-depression/