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Maternal Mental health week-What about the non pregnant partners?

 Hey Guys, 


Jess here and today I want to chat to you about Perinatal Mental Health.



This week (29th April -5th May 2024) is Maternal Mental Health week where a week long campaign is running to raise awareness around mental health before, during and after birth. You can find out more about the campaign here: Maternal Mental Health Alliance


Perinatal mental health is all around advocating for and recognising symptoms of mental health around pregnancy, this could be feelings of uncertainty or anxiousness around the pregnancy itself,  being worried or concerned about the birthing process or feelings of low mood and depression post birth. Perinatal mental health most commonly affects the pregnant partner however they are not the only ones who are affected as the non pregnant partner can also go through mental health issues. Whilst the pregnant partner has to carry birth and feed (if exclusively breastfed) the baby the non pregnant partner has to watch the whole birth process, and can feel detached and like a spectator in the whole process rather than a partner. 


Things you or your partner may experience. 

-You may feel unprepared, not ready for baby to be here, emotional, panicky, go through nesting phases only to undo them. During birth you may become panicked about yours and babies health, how it is going to go, what can go wrong,  post birth you will be challenged with exhaustion, maybe in pain, overwhelmed, teary, feelings of hopelessness or not being good enough, suicidal thoughts. 



Partners may experience feeling overwhelmed by the upcoming changes, anxious about the process, uninvolved or like they are sitting on the sidelines especially during pregnancy and if baby is breastfed, they may become worried about the birth process, what if something goes wrong, what if their partner is taken away and they don't come back, what if there is an issue with baby, they may become distressed during birth, watching a loved one go through pain can be heart breaking especially if you feel like you can't do anything to help them, partners may feel frustrated or overwhelmed, tiredness can hit, but also feeling guilt for not being able to do enough to help. 


Perinatal mental health is more than just post partum depression, it also includes perinatal anxiety, OCD, postnatal PTSD and birth trauma or postnatal psychosis. Below you can find some links to more information as well as information around Perinatal Mental Health for Partners. This will include access to support and where you can find out further advice. 


More info here:

Mind-Perinatal Mental Health

Tommys Perinatal Mental Health

NHS Perinatal Mental Health


Perinatal mental health for partners:

Mind Paternal mental health

Tommys Partner Mental Health 


An interesting read from a partners perspective ( TW Postnatal psychosis/suicide)

https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/news/perinatal-mental-health-a-partners-perspective/



Our journey had some challenges and we were both hit by baby blues, I took a slight hit to my mental health but with a few rules in place and some insight from the community midwives and health visitor as well as ongoing support for each other as a family we are in a better place. 

Here are a few key lessons to take on board as a family in and around pregnancy. 

1. be open and honest with each other, talk about things that are bothering you and listen to each other

2. Know the signs to look out for and who to contact for intervention, this is key for yourself and your partner. 

3. work with each other to have dedicated guilt free time to do your own thing, this is especially key after baby, it can be more challenging if they are exclusively breastfed but it is possible even in just shorter time frames. 

Just want to say thanks for reading, let me know your thoughts below and just know there is always help out there and I am always here to listen. 

Scribble back

Love from 

Jessie 

x x x 





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