Has anyone been referred to a specialist MH midwife when booking in?

[arghhelpme]

Just that really. Have been on and off antidepressants for the last 12 years. Am now pregnant with 3rd dc and the midwife has made a referral for me to see a midwife that deals with mental health, never had it with previous dc.

What do they actually do?

Well I can't really help with what they actually do.
A friend of mine was referred as she had suffered with PND with her first DC.
I believe it was to assess what support she might need once the baby had been born. How the pregnancy, birth and new baby would impact on her mental health. To look at the possibly of her needing medication after birth etc....
All I can say is it can do no harm.

Yeah I had one after recurrent losses. They do an assessment, it isn't horrible or daunting.

I see a consultant who specialises in women with psychiatric disorders so not quite the same but similar. They are more experienced, and have probably undertaken further study, into this particular area of midwifery. They are better trained to deal sensitively with ladies who have such conditions, including being able to give more specific advice on medication during pregnancy and dealing with additional anxiety that can be caused. Some new mums to be are anxious enough and when you put the added pressure on there of having a mental health thingy they really need to handle some of us with care and sensitivity :)

It has been a very positive experience. I expect as well she can act as a go between for you to access extra services through a perinatal psychiatric team if you want that (I recommend that too).

Nothing to be worried about - it's all extra support and help.

I saw one for DC2, after suffering severe ante natal depression and anxiety with DC1. She was brilliant. Based at the hospital, she came with me to the initial consultant appointment (then I was discharged back into regular midwife care)

She called me a couple of times during the pregnancy to check in, and just before I gave birth. She was always very respectful and kind, and treated me as a grown up at all times.

I had one because I suffer from eating disorders. They monitored me and I had a consultant for my MW appts.

its getting more common now, mainly because they are more cautious about the impact of mental health and pregnancy.

It is just to help adjust medication and to ensure your stable. I hardly see the perinatal mental health team after my inital visit as they are happy im stable and can manage my condition well enough to know if i need to re contact them.