HEALTH MATTERS: NHS Highand team approach to improving care for struggling mums and babies
Even though pregnancy and parenthood can be times of great excitement and joy for many people, research suggests that as many as one in five women will experience a mental health problem whilst pregnant, or within a year of giving birth – also known as the perinatal period.
This can be quite an isolating experience, and mums can often be distressed about not feeling the way they think they “should”.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes drew public attention to the mental health difficulties faced by a significant number of women during pregnancy, and in the period following childbirth, by talking about her own experiences.
Subscribe to receive our free email newsletters
However, there still remains a widespread lack of understanding when it comes to this important issue.
We know that these difficulties can have an enormous impact on mums, their babies, and their wider families, and can sometimes lead to longer term problems if left unchecked.
Since 2021, we have developed a perinatal and infant mental health team.
Our team comprises three separate elements: community perinatal mental health; maternity and neonatal psychological interventions; and infant mental health. It is made up of clinical psychology, nursing, midwifery, parent-infant therapy and psychiatry staff.
We aim to provide timely help for those who might be struggling with a mental health problem, particularly when treatments available from their GP might not have been successful.
We also offer help for mothers who have had a difficult experience of pregnancy, childbirth or neonatal care, or who have a mental health problem which makes it difficult to access appropriate maternity or postnatal care.
We are aware that mental health problems can sometimes make it difficult for mums to form a bond with their baby, so we offer support for the building of good relationships between parents and infants.
There are now a number of options available for women who are struggling with their mental health in the perinatal period.
There are several effective psychological therapies, which are backed by research evidence, and can be delivered when they are needed.
The use of mental health-related medication can also be tailored for use in pregnant women, or those who are breast feeding, and we have good links with a specialist clinical pharmacist who frequently advises on these issues.
As well as working directly with women in the perinatal period, we also offer support and advice to colleagues in other professions who are working with perinatal women and infants, who want to provide appropriate support with respect to their mental health.
We work closely with midwifery, obstetrics and health visiting, and many other professional groups for this purpose.
We also have links to several charitable organisations who are involved with providing perinatal and infant mental health support in local communities across Highland.
I would encourage any woman with a concern about her perinatal mental health to speak to any member of their care team, in order that appropriate supports can be put in place at the earliest opportunity.
Dr Doug Hutchison is a consultant clinical psychologist and clinical lead for the perinatal and infant mental health team.
