Perinatal Mental Health

What is Perinatal?

Perinatal is the time frame from falling pregnant up until baby is 24 months old. This is a time often met with feelings of isolation, self-criticism, and an inflated sense of responsibility and guilt as a parent or care giver. I am passionate about supporting parents through this often challenging and emotional journey.

My interest in supporting parents in the perinatal period was sparked when I became a parent myself. I realised that though there are many rewards when you become a parent, you are also faced with a number of challenges. Below are some of the challenges that can be faced on the journey into parenthood:

• Prenatal depression and/ or anxiety.
• Postnatal depression and/or anxiety.
• Loss of identity.
• Inflated sense of responsibility for baby.
• Traumatic birth experience.
• Perinatal loss.
• Complicated pregnancy.
• Hyperemesis Gravidarum (severe pregnancy sickness)
• Relationship difficulties.
• Postnatal health anxiety following a traumatic birth.

Often the above difficulties were unexpected and come with feelings of guilt, shame, and self-criticism for having these struggles.

What is Birth Trauma?

Research suggests that around 4-5% of women who give birth go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Often parents will describe their birth experience as being far removed from expectations. Either it was not the birth they had hoped and planned for, invasive obstetric intervention were used, and/or parents did not feel heard or listened too by medical professionals, which can lead to a sense of vulnerability, distrust, fear, anger, and feeling out of control. The birth of a baby can also be difficult for fathers and co-parents. The birth experience itself can often lead partners to feel powerless when observing their loved ones in distress and/or requiring intervention. Please see ‘Partners and Co-parents’ below.

What is Perinatal Trauma?

Traumatic experiences within the perinatal period are not exclusive to the birth of your baby. These experiences can occur in both the prenatal and postnatal period, and may include fertility difficulties prior to pregnancy, a medically complicated pregnancy, invasive examinations and obstetric interventions, and postpartum complications.

Perinatal Loss:

Loss in the perinatal period can be sudden and unexpected. As a parent, you may not have been able to meet your baby in the way you had hoped, or you may not have had the time with your baby that you wanted. The loss of a baby is not only a physical loss, but also the loss of a bond, loss of what you had thought your future would look like, and loss of the experience of becoming a parent and sharing that with your partner and family. I can help you to process this loss and to help you to manage the distress surrounding this painful time in your life.

Partners and Co-parents:

Being an observer and trying to be ‘the strong one’ when your loved one is struggling can feel difficult. It can also feel dauting not knowing whether your loved one and baby are going to be ok. The focus in the perinatal period can often overlook the experience of partners and co-parents and focus on mum and baby. Partners play a crucial role in supporting mum and baby, and for this reason, its paramount that there is support when needed. Partners will often describe feeling traumatised, powerless, guilty, and a sense of uncertainty about the future, along with an increased sense of responsibility with a new addition to the family. I can help support you through your own parenting journey.