Supporting your mental wellbeing during pregnancy and new parenthood

Going into your pregnancy, new parenting journey or growing your family can be as overwhelming as it can be exciting.

With so much change, there’s no wonder we sometimes need to pay extra attention to our mental well being, both the expectant parents and wider family, to ensure we’re in the best place we can be as our families grow and change.

Both pregnancy and new/expanding parenthood can be challenging for our mental health, whether that’s concerns for yourselves or your baby in pregnancy, managing crying and potential impacts on sleep when the baby arrives, or simply adjusting to this change in the best way possible, it’s easy to let ourselves become overwhelmed during this time – and this can be a normal, however we don't want anyone to struggle alone.

It’s important to recognise when you might need to have a conversation about how you’re feeling with either a loved one or a friend, or it may be something you feel comfortable talking to your Midwife, Health Visitor, Early Days Worker or GP about.

During your antenatal appointments, you may be asked about how you are feeling around your mental and emotional well being, and we would encourage you to speak up at these times if you feel you need to. You can also contact your Midwife, Health Visitor or Early Days Worker at your Family Hub at any time if you need support or just an ear to listen.

Support at Your Family Hubs

At the Family Hubs, we’re here to support you whenever you need it. In fact, our teams are trained in perinatal mental health and well being to ensure if you need anything, whether that’s just a conversation to offload some of your concerns, through to a referral to receive additional support, we have you covered.

We'd always recommend speaking to your Early Days Worker or someone in your local Family Hub, either by dropping into a Family Hub, contacting us on the details available HERE.

Other ways you may be able to improve your mental well being in your pregnancy and parent journey include:

Attending LIGHT Pre- and Post-natal Peer Support Groups

A number of our Family Hubs host LIGHT pre- and post-natal peer support groups as part of their weekly timetable. LIGHT is a peer support service that was started by three mums who had a personal interest in/experience of post-natal depression, and now deliver support within communities. We are proud to work with LIGHT to provide groups for parents, by parents to offer a place to go to find peer support in their parenting journey. To find out more about these groups, contact your local Family Hub or Early Days Worker, or speak to your Midwife or Health Visitor. Alternatively, check out our current Family Hub timetables to see where and when the next LIGHT peer group support is running. More information about LIGHT can be found HERE

Parenting Classes

Parenting is one of the hardest jobs in the world, AND it comes with zero training! Our range of FREE parenting support and classes can give you the tools and confidence with parent the way you feel is best for both you and your little ones. And with this confidence, parents often report better mental well being and being more capable to manage their feelings when it comes to being a parent. No matter who you are, every parent will benefit to taking part in our parenting classes and groups! Speak to your local Family Hub or find out more about what's on offer HERE

Attending Baby and Toddler Groups

Many of the parents that attend our wide range of free groups and sessions on offer at the Family Hubs, be that a First Friends session, a Breast Start group or a Toddler Time class say that getting out and about with their little ones, meeting other parents and care givers at a similar stage to them and allowing their little ones time to socialise has vastly improved their mental well being.

Sometimes, just having other parents to speak to about the things you're struggling with and how others deal with them can be hugely beneficial, and often, it's these small interactions that make the biggest difference to our well being as parents.

It's also an opportunity to have a quick catch-up with one of our Early Years team who might also be able to support you with anything you're struggling with.

Infant-feeding Support

We know that feeding an infant, however you choose, can be overwhelming, especially if it's not straight-forward or you're feeling like you're having issues. Finding ways to overcome these issues can be a small way of vastly improving your mental well being, even if it's just having a conversation about it.

Your Health Visitor or the team at your local Family Hub can support you to overcome these issues, and point you in the direct of one-to-one guidance or peer support groups hosted at your local Family Hub, such as our free to attend Breast Start groups.

These are a fantastic way to meet other breast feeding mums and to develop confidence in your feeding journey. Make sure to check out your local Family Hub's timetable for a list of infant feeding groups such as Breast Start.

 

Wider Support With Mental Health

If you feel that you have reached a crisis, please seek help now.

In a crisis, contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or your GP.

Shout is the UK's first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It is a place to go if you are struggling to cope and you need help now. Text "shout" on 85258 or find out more at the Give us a Shout website.

If someone's life is in danger telephone 999.

 You'll also find lots of information about general Mental Health support by visiting our dedicated webpage HERE

Parents – NHS Talking Therapies (rdash.nhs.uk)