Can an obstetrician also be a mental health consultant?

[mumma2bee20]

This is my first pregnancy and I've been given an obstetrics phone call appointment & I'm sure my midwife said she would refer me to a mental health consultant but I am unsure if obstetricians are just physical health consultants or they include mental health aswell.

If anyone could help it would explain the appointment!

I would ask, but it is likely from the perinatal MH team rather than a "regular" consultant psychiatrist.

That would be my guess anyhow.

Obstetric consultant will be for anything pregnancy/birth related. They communicate with the perinatal mental health team who will support you with anything mental health related and then keep your consultant in the loop.

If you need to see a specialist purely for your mental health/medication etc then you will see a psychiatrist - if it is mental health support alongside a pregnancy then your consultant will just oversee your care with the mental health team.

Both options possible so the only way to know is speak to midwife or obstetrician. Mental health teams are made up of lots of different professionals and may get input from an obstetrician part time to inform decision making but an obstetrician wouldn't be working full time as a mental health consultant. Sorry if I'm duplicating what others suggested! My two year old is distracting me!

I was referred to an obstetrician that had a specialism in maternal mental health. I was also referred to the perinatal mental health team. I'm technically under both consultants but for me the perinatal team are taking the lead so I haven't "seen" the obstetrician since a phone call at 24 weeks.
My area also has midwives that have a mental health specialism. I'm relatively stable so I'm being seen by my local midwife as that allows me to be seen at my gp surgery rather than trekking to the hospital.

So, there are professionals within the maternity services with mental health specialism in addition to the specialist perinatal mental health teams. Who is most appropriate to manage your care depends on you personal circumstances.

I have also qualified for an antenatal health visitor appointment too, which was mostly an introduction to the health visitor and what support will be on offer through the health visitor service after birth.

Makes absolute sense that either way they are linked through either a team or are specialist themselves. Either way hopefully nothing to be concerned about. It's my first time so trying not to get too confused or worried!!

Thank you all for your help x