Having a baby is one of the most important times in your life.
It’s a huge change for people, physically and emotionally. One minute you might be feeling excited, the next you are nervous. It can be an emotional rollercoaster. In fact it is estimated that 1 in 5 women will experience a diagnosable mental health issue before, during and after pregnancy, which is also known as the perinatal period. That’s where we can help.
Who are we
The Rotherham and Doncaster perinatal mental health service provides specialist assessment and treatment to mums or birthing parents and their families living in Rotherham or Doncaster.
Our service works in partnership with Light, a local peer support charity.
We offer confidential, non-judgemental care and treatment to mums or birthing parents who experience moderate to severe mental health needs.
Not every mum or birthing parent will need our service, but we can help provide all the information you need to access other local support.
Lots of our team are parents themselves and have experienced similar emotions to the ones you may be feeling.
Who do we support?
We estimate that more than 700 women or birthing parents in our local area will receive support from us at some point every year, so if you are struggling with how you are feeling don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Our service is available to women and birthing parents who:
- are planning to try and have a baby
- are pregnant
- have a child less than 12 months old
And who also:
- have previously been diagnosed with a moderate to severe mental health problem
- might be developing a moderate to severe mental health problem
- have experienced previous trauma
What do we offer
Everyone we see is unique and experiences different things. That’s why what we offer is tailored to meet your individual needs.
Some of the services we offer include:
Pre-conceptual advice
If you’re managing an ongoing mental health problem and thinking about having a baby, we can offer a range of advice. At this one-off appointment, we’ll discuss your current care, risks, treatment and medication.
Specialist mental health assessment
We have a detailed conversation about all aspects of your current needs and previous history. We’ll meet you in a place where you feel most comfortable, whether that’s at home, in one of our clinics or anywhere else you choose.
Interventions and treatments
We offer a range of interventions and treatments including, mental health birth care planning, baby massage and other parent infant interventions, video interaction guidance, psychology, medication management, diagnostic review and emotional support.
Peer support
We attend and support peer support groups, with LIGHT, which gives you the opportunity to meet other parents and babies, share stories and support each other through your recovery. LIGHT offer a range of support so if a group setting isn’t for you, they can still help.
Access to a team of specialists
To help you during your recovery you can access care from a variety of specialists, including psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, parent infant specialists, nursery nurses and support workers.
General advice and signposting
We offer advice for referrers and to anyone seeking support. We work closely with GPs, maternity services, health visitors, mother and baby units, family hubs and other mental health services. We can signpost you to relevant services who might be better placed to offer you help.
Frequently asked questions
We know that no matter how bad you’re feeling, it can be tough to take that first step and ask for help. It’s natural to have lots of questions that you want answering beforehand, so we’ve put together a list of the most common questions we get asked.
If I have a mental health condition will my child or children be taken away?
Please don’t worry, we’re not here to take your children away from you.
Feeling distressed in the perinatal period is common and does not mean that you are a danger to your children. We want to support you to have a happy and healthy pregnancy, and enjoy the experience of motherhood. There are people who have mental health problems; busy being great parents all around us.
If I’m honest about how I’m feeling and what I’ve been experiencing, will people think I’m a bad mum?
No, being honest and open helps us to understand how you’re feeling and provide the most suitable support. We aren’t here to judge you as a person or as a parent, we’re here to help you in any way we can. Even if something you’re experiencing sounds odd or it’s hard to say, we need to know.
I’m being referred to your service, what happens next?
We will contact you to arrange an appointment with us, or advise that our service might not be suitable for you and suggest alternative sources of support.
What about partners or dads?
Mental health problems don’t just impact mums, they affect all of the family. We can offer advice to partners and dads should they want this and signpost to services that would best support their needs.
Is medication safe to take in pregnancy?
Taking medication that helps with your mental health during pregnancy can be a difficult decision to make. We can offer advice and consultation around medication during pregnancy to help ease any concerns you may have around this.
How to contact us and refer to service
If you feel you need to be referred to our service, please speak with your GP, your Community Mental Health team, midwife, health visitor or social care professional.
Professional, to refer to service, please complete a referral form. If you need to request a referral form, please contact us using the details provided.
Page last reviewed: May 07, 2024
Next review due: May 07, 2025