Referral to MH specialist Obstetrician - any experience?

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Went for my booking in appointment this morning and when going through the standard form was asked about mental health. I was honest and explained that I was under a psychiatrist for about ten years for depression and anorexia but that I was discharged from their care about three years ago, have been off medication for about four years and have been completely stable ever since. The midwife, who had never met me before then said that she thought I looked tired, which I suggested was probably related to having got up extra early this morning to drop DH at train station. Anyway, she said that she would refer me to an obstetrician who cares for all women with MH problems and that I wil now have consultant-led care. She also stated that I would probably be referred back to psychiatry. When I said that I was unhappy about both referrals as I had some bad experiences under psych care and would rather avoid it unless absolutely necessary, she said that people who are reluctant to see psychiatrists are usually the people who need it most, putting me in an impossible position.

So, I'm just wondering what happens at these specialist appointments with obstetricians and whether a referral onto psych is quite usual even for people who are well and stable? Seeing as it can be nigh on impossible for people in crisis to get to see a psychiatrist in this area, this seems absolutely crazy (no pun intended).

TIA

I was referred to obs for something non-MH-related, but my "referral" consisted of a ten minute appointment at 15 weeks, and another scheduled for 35 weeks - so it doesn't automatically mean you'll be there every week etc being counselled or medicated, iyswim. It's likely the MW felt out of her depth and wants a psych to "ok" you, I'd have thought, incase you ended up with PND and she got blamed for not red-flagging you

Agree with Fluffy I was sent to a special unit, in a different hospital to the one I wanted - nightmare, involved hr and a half bus journey - the chatted to me for ten mins , said I seemed fine and here's the appropriate phone numbers to ring if you start having any problems. They also questioned why I was there as I was so obviously ok atm, but I explained about midwife and they said they suspected she just was trying to avoid missing anything now in case I did have any issues later down the line. Another apt, 10 weeks later ( in my normal place this time ) EXACTLY the same convo again, same outcome, same thing said about midwife. Just go with it, try not to worry, when they see you're not currently having any problems, that'll probably be the end of it!

I had antenatal depression (and a history of past depression) and was referred to the specialist MH obstetrician. This worked out really well for me, because it meant I also got assigned a named specialist midwife to see me throughout my pregnancy and through the first month of DS's life - the basic idea was that there needed to be a HP who'd developed a relationship with you and knew what you were "normally" like so that they'd be able to spot if things had gone downhill and you needed more support. The other bonus was that she had the flexibility to fit when she saw me around other stuff that was going on in my life, which was handy from a stress reduction point of view. I don't know if all specialist MH obs teams do provide named MWs - it may depend on where you live.

The way the team I was under worked was that they had an "attached" psychiatrist, who specialised in perinatal MH and who saw patients as part of the antenatal clinic service - I didn't have to trek off to the local psych hospital, it was all rolled into my antenatal care. I saw the psych once pre-natally, and once just after DS's birth when I had the baby blues in a big way. She was absolutely lovely - rather different from other experiences I've had of psych services!

Finally, the obs consultant himself was great - listened, took on board my concerns etc. I didn't end up getting the type of birth I hoped for (that's a story for a whole different thread) but that wasn't the fault of the MH specialist team

Thanks for putting my mind at rest a bit everyonw. I guess I just panic at the thought of being pushed back into a system that I hated so much in the past.

Loubey - I see the midwife in the community, but aparently the appointment will be on the maternity unit at the local general and a psych refrral would mean trudging off to the psych unit, although I'm hoping the MH obst may have more sense than the midewife, and not bother referring me on. I certainly feel that the midwife struggled with the possibility that I might have actually improved - she really didn't seem to believe it!

cakejunkie I'm glad to hear your exerience of services was positive. I hope you are fully recovered now.