Publish date: 24 August 2023
Perinatal mental health conditions affect women and girls globally, with as many as one in five birthing parents experiencing mental health problems during this time.
At West London NHS Trust, our perinatal service is made up of a range of healthcare workers who are experienced in mental health, offering support and treatments to women who are having mental health problems when they are pregnant, or after they have had their baby.
Here, one of our service users shares the story of her journey through pregnancy and into the first postnatal year with our perinatal service.
‘When I found out I was pregnant, I was thrilled that I would become a mother and have a baby, if all went well, but at the same time, I was scared to death.
‘Fearing the “legacy” of my disturbed childhood; long history of depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), I had put off motherhood for as long as possible, but now it was happening.
‘During the second trimester, I had some complications and my feelings of disassociation increased, along with a greater-than-usual inability to fall and stay asleep. Worried that it would all escalate and get much worse, I asked for mental health support from my midwife. Thankfully, she took my concerns seriously and referred me to a specialist midwife who was my first point of contact with the mental health team.
‘She scheduled an online consultation, which was a welcome move, as I find it easier to discuss personal difficulties with the safety of the distance the screen offers. She asked me some questions to understand a bit more. Throughout the call, she was compassionate, whilst also looking for practical ways to support me during the pregnancy and beyond.
‘It was through her attention and professionalism that I found myself under the care of a psychologist in the service soon after. We had a first initial meeting at her consultation room and, although it usually takes me a while to trust medical professionals (and anyone, really!), she put me at ease with her warm presence and calm manner.
‘These women made me feel safe and I started to feel that I was in good hands and that whatever difficulties lie ahead; we would together see through them. They all know their staff and have excellent processes in place to secure continuity of care, which really impressed me.
Soon I realised that I had stumbled upon a pocket of superb NHS care, and I was grateful, thanking my lucky stars, the universe, God, and other entities for this blessing and gift.
“The meetings with my psychologist were now held on a weekly basis and I looked forward to the hour I was to spend under her care. She was always fully present. Her respect for me personally and for my pregnancy and how she used all of herself, including skills, professionalism, intuition, and warmth to give me what I needed each time, will stay with me for years to come.
“In my most vulnerable time, I was allocated a very meaningful hour a week where I was allowed to safely unravel my greatest fears.”
‘Being honest about my difficulties and staying present is hard for me. Showing vulnerability is also a big no. But I found myself, time and again, sharing my inner feelings about my growing baby, parts of my past that were making their ugly presence again, and fears for my new future as a mother.
‘I could describe more about our meetings, but I won’t! Those memories are a sacred place for me now, a personal temple I can visit and savour the beauty of having that resource while pregnant and beyond. Having this type of care given back to me, a mental health patient among my other identities, my dignity, and a dimension of being human that is rare to come across. It often did not feel like just therapy, but like an act that made the world a civilised place again.
‘I would like to note how the team supported me in the days building up to the birth and after. With the efforts of these clinicians and other specialist nurses on the ward, whose names I sadly forget, my elected Caesarean section was as smooth as possible. A precise birth plan was crafted with attention to detail and knowledge of the workings of the hospital and wards. We were allowed to have a side room, which gave us privacy and the unbelievable luxury of having my partner stay with me and our baby daughter through the night and day.
Those days that were supposed to be the hardest and most challenging are etched in my memory as the most serene and happy ones. The decisive factor that made them such positive days was the care of my psychologist and the team. It was all so wonderful that I sometimes felt guilty - does everyone get so well looked after across the country?
‘The gift of psychological support continued after having my daughter. In my psychology sessions, the challenges of new motherhood, the anxieties, and joys, were thoroughly examined and I soon learned from her how to be there for myself and my baby in a more relaxed, profound way. It was a steep learning curve, having the scrutiny of therapy alongside learning to care for my first baby, but I would not change a thing. The reason that made me work hard in therapy was my wish to be the best mother I could be for my daughter, but I was equally motivated by my psychologist’s support. She has a gift for making the painful tolerable and the horrible ok. I savoured her presence and seeing her continued to be my sanctuary and personal mental garden where all types of flowers and thorns were allowed to grow.
‘If it were in my power, I would clone you all and fill the maternity wards of this sorry planet with professionals like yourselves. Less trauma and happier pregnancies and births would definitely make for a better world. Looking back, I feel like my baby and my partner, and I were wrapped in this perfect bubble of care while becoming a family. This was a wonderful experience in every way and a lovely birthing story that I will tell my baby so that she knows that she had a perfect start in life and that true, impeccable support is possible. And it was all because of the kindness (and professionalism) of the amazing people that spend their days looking after mothers and their babies.
‘Hope you stay strong and never change!
‘With warm wishes and gratitude, thank you all for your dedication and tireless support.’
The service recently launched a campaign to raise awareness and increase referral rates for mental health support services for women during pregnancy, pre-pregnancy, and eighteen months after birth. You can read about the campaign here.
You can find out more about the Trust’s perinatal service and how to refer, here.