Perinatal mental health team

[PickledGhost]

I have an appointment with the perinatal mental health nurse next week after being referred by my midwife. I'm 27 weeks pregnant with my second. I had bad anxiety and depression when pregnant and for the first year with my first baby but there was no perinatal mental health service in my area then so I had no support apart from a GP appointment now and then because I wasn't actively suicidal so I wasn't unwell enough to deserve help. I'm not actively suicidal yet at the moment but I am having very dark thoughts about harming myself. I am not in current danger and I will never do anything to myself while pregnant that would harm my unborn baby. My question is, has anyone had experience with the perinatal mental health service while pregnant as an outpatient? What can they actually help with? I don't even know what help I need or want?? I just feel terrible, scared, angry, hormonal, just want to self harm and am constantly arguing with everyone at home and slipping up at work. If the nurse asks me what I want from their service I have no idea what to say. To not feel like this??? To stop being a piece of crap? I fully expect to be discharged and/or given a leaflet about mindfulness. I'm lost but i don't know how to ask for directions so thought I would ask on here if anyone would be able to share any of their experiences or advice on how to actually ask for and accept help from mental health services?? Xx

I am currently under perinatal mental health care due to a previous MH episode / section.

I was referred to the team and was seen by a psychiatrist; and it was a really helpful session. I was nervous about going because during my previous episode I thought the care I received was questionable at best. She completely changed my perception. She spent over an hour going through my whole life history and getting to know me and my previous issues. I felt she was really balanced and fair and didnt jump to either medicalising me or dismissing me.

Their were numerous options for what could happen - watch and wait, preventative treatment via therapy or meds, creating an action plan for if the worst happens and I require section etc.

We are currently going with increased monitoring, action plan and watch and wait.

I feel I have really good support and I hope you receive this too

Didn’t want to read and run. I hope you get the right support and are able to enjoy your little one when they arrive. Good luck ☘️

I was. Like you I had pnd with my first although by the sounds of it mine was much milder I also had some birth trauma which was I think misdiagnosed as pnd/pna.

Started getting anxious and having intrusive thoughts and flashbacks about 27/28 weeks so midwife referred me to mental health midwife and a specialist councillor who was really helpful and helped me frame a lot of the trauma and plan my birth. I had an hour session with her weekly from about 32 or 34 weeks until birth and she was really helpful.

MH midwife was nice but I felt was for cases more serious than mine. I felt she would have sorted more cbt and medication if I’d wanted it and I felt meds were a last resort for me personally while the counselling was going well.

I’ve had a really positive experience this time round I think because everyone has been very supportive and I’ve been able to access the help I needed without being put straight onto medication I didn’t want to take.

Baby is 7 weeks now and I’ve not - so far - had any dark thoughts or anxiety anything like with my first which im putting down to getting the help I needed during my pregnancy this time and having a much better birth.

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and positive stories, I appreciate it all. I am on messenger already but I am open to changing them if needed. Its a shame there are no face to face support groups because of covid because I think that is what would help me because I feel very ashamed and isolated xx

*medication not messenger

Sending so much love. Be as honest as you can with the perinatal team - they are there to help you. I had severe postnatal depression with my first so when I fell pregnant with my second, by around 16 weeks the anxiety was back big time. I went back into medication and had a support worker every week check in with me. I also self referred for IAPT therapy if that’s something your local area does? Most do!

Be kind to yourself and take each day at a time. Feel free to message me too if you fancy a chat with someone who knows how rubbish it can be x

Yes, I saw the post having DD1 for PTSD symptoms and again when I was pregnant with DD2 because I was so scared of giving birth that I couldn’t talk about it without crying. They were brilliant and help me develop the tools I needed to deal with how I felt, get through the birth and the first few weeks.

It went okay, i was calmer than I was worried I was going to be. I stressed I'm not in immediate danger or a risk to anyone, I love my family and want to get better etc etc. They're going to allocate me a named nurse for care coordination and see about a medication review and possibly counselling. They mentioned group therapy and I said I'd be up for that. The unsettling thing was they said they thought I needed inpatient care and asked if I would agree to an informal admission to a MBU...?!?! I was shocked and declined because I don't believe that would be helpful to keep me from my family on a ward surrounded by women and babies, and swear I'm not a risk right now. They said okay but it has shaken me up and made me realise maybe am more poorly than I thought. A big contrast to last pregnancy when I was dismissed out of hand. I have said though that I accept things may get worse and going in to hospital is something I will be prepared for in the future if it is needed. Thank you all for sharing you experience and time xxz

@sayrarehman

Hi All,

I am carrying out research on mothers mental health and their experience of receiving counselling during pregnancy. I need participants I was advised to try Mumsnet. If you know someone or you meet the requirements please get in contact I would greatly appreciate it. I have been struggling to find ppts my supervisor suggested it could've been because of covid. This is all online so you can answer the questions from the comfort of your own home. There is not much research into counselling during pregnancy so I have always wanted to look into it more.

The criteria:

• Mothers between the ages of 21 to 45
• Someone who had counselling during their pregnancy
• Must have received a minimum of 6 sessions
• Is at least one year post giving birth
• Lives in the UK

If you meet this list please email [email protected] this is my university email.

I won't do well on my dissertation if I don't find ppts so please kindly reach out I would really appreciate it smile

That's a very unprofessional way of soliciting participants for research. I suggest you review your ethics module. My life and struggles are not fodder for your degree and the attempt at emotional blackmail is not appreciated. There are ways of going about conducting research and this is not one of them.

I apologise for causing any distress that wasn't my intention I really want to find some research on how important it is to support women who are struggling with mental health. I will delete my post.