How do you get mental health support during pregnancy?

[FrancescaBlake]

I am currently 9 weeks pregnant.
I self referred to maternity a while ago and probably 2 weeks ago now I got a letter with my 12 week scan appointment, but I have not heard about a booking appointment still.
I called the community midwife (as the letter said to do that if you have not yet heard about a booking appointment) and she said all my details have gone over to my GP who will contact me to arrange the booking appointment but it is not usually until a couple of weeks before the first scan appointment.
So I have waited but haven’t heard anything, I’m in no immediate rush to chase the appointment itself but I’m struggling with my mental health quite a lot and I was waiting for my booking appt to bring it up so I can get some support. Even just having that appt booked in will help me knowing that I have a plan, if that makes sense.
Is this the right thing to do? I don’t know if I should be contacting someone else about getting some support or if it is just better to wait for the booking appointment. I am functioning okay so it’s not urgent but I am really keen to speak to someone as I am struggling a bit.
thanks for any advice 😊

Hi @FrancescaBlake sorry to hear you're struggling with your mental health. Are you comfortable saying what you're struggling with? Your local Talking Therapies service works with people with anxiety and depression related difficulties and they'll prioritize you as you're perinatal. Theyre usually self referral and you can google your local service. It might be worth booking a GP appt to discuss what support you need as they can refer you on if you need something else?

Contact your GP and let them know you're struggling. It might get the midwife appointment sorted plus they can refer you to NHS talking therapies and/or the local perinatal mental health team if your mental health difficulties are pregnancy related! Definitely don't wait it out. You deserve support and sometimes there's a waiting list for the support so best to get on it 😊

Thank you both for your replies!
@nothernexposure i have a really long history of anxiety that I was expecting to flare up with pregnancy tbh.
I over think a lot and also really struggle with change, negative thinking etc and I just want to catch it before it gets too bad. I always think the worst that I won’t be able to cope, what am I doing etc, my thinking gets really out of hand.
I’ve had a lot of therapy in the past and I have always found it helpful. that’s good they will prioritise I didn’t realise that, thank you 🙂

@IVFKinster thank you! I was going to give it until Friday and call if I don’t hear anything, I’ll be 10 weeks by Monday so I think I should have had it booked by then anyway!
I do worry about the waiting time - wasn’t sure if I’ll be 35 weeks by the time I actually get to see someone 🤪

Hi via your gp you'll go to h th e top of the list of pregnant