Mental Health 3rd trimester, feeling a lack of care from NHS

[aimeeeleanor]

Currently 34 weeks pregnant & my mental health is on the floor. I can’t explain why, it just is. I feel so so incredibly low, it is debilitating. I’ve also become very anxious about being in public, feeling extremely vulnerable. Have a csection booked at 39 weeks & i am just terrified of being stuck in a hospital ward with so many people coming & going. This isn’t like me. I don’t know what’s going on in my head I really don’t

Let me briefly explain my situation. Mum of 1, expecting another

• Previous loss of twins in Feb this year (so much guilt)
• Fell pregnant again in March
• Suffered horrific HG up until 26ish weeks, at which point it eased somewhat
• Mum guilt at not being able to be a proper Mum to first DC
• Left with no midwife after my 16 week appt after she left. Handed over to community team so seen someone different everytime since
• Asked to be referred to mental health midwife team at my 24 week appt
• Have heard absolutely nothing since, so 10 weeks. Have been through the ‘quiz’ about 5 times with different people - how am i feeling, will i hurt myself, can i do daily tasks etc. Each time the person doing the test has said they will ‘expedite’ a request to the MH team. Nothing has materialised

I also don’t have anymore midwife appointments booked until I give birth, I assumed I would have one at 34/36/38

Aside from telling the team I am going to harm myself, I won’t because of my unborn child & my first DC. Though there are days I definitely feel like it would be easier to just not be here. I don’t know what else to do to be taken seriously & to speak to somebody to find coping mechanisms. Not just to do this god damn ‘depression quiz’ that makes you feel like an absolute joke with someone new everytime

I am suffering so much. Am i being dramatic that I feel like this care has been so poor? Should I have been seen by now? They have told me I can call
999 or check into triage, I don’t want to do that & be away from my family more

They also suggested IAPTS from GP but I have done this before many years ago & it was in no way helpful for me

Please anybody help

Sorry you are feeling like this, and have had the responses you hoped for/need from the midwifery service.
Can you ask your GP for a referral to the local Perinatal Mental Health team?

The response to requests for support with your mental health do sound a bit lacking. The other stuff is not ideal but not dramatic, and it is your second child when input is generally a lot less than first. I'd call them and politely explain you really would like some support with how you're feeling, that you have asked for this before, and you'd appreciate them arranging it and updating you on what will happen. Ditto pp you could also go through your GP and ask their support in getting something arranged.

What you have said here is enough to merit an assessment you don't have to be feeling like harming yourself. your loss and HG will be impacting on your MH.

So sorry to hear how you’re feeling and for your losses. I’m also still waiting for a MH referral and haven’t heard anything in weeks. In the end I just booked a private session with a clinical psychologist so that I could feel like I was doing something. Not sure if that’s an option for you? I would definitely push both for your MH referral and to see a midwife before giving birth. Could someone help to advocate for this on your behalf? It’s pretty exhausting having to chase all this stuff and likely the last thing you feel like doing yourself. Hope you start to get the support you need; I think you’re right to feel that you haven’t had the right support to date x