This service provides care and support for women experiencing mental health problems during pregnancy and up to one year after giving birth.
We offer specialist perinatal mental health assessments, which focuses on both the needs of mother and infant, and management/treatment for women suffering severe mental illness such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar affective disorder and post-partum psychosis. We can also help women with a history of severe mental illness who are planning a pregnancy, or who have become pregnant and are at high risk of relapse during pregnancy or the postnatal year.
Care is provided across Dorset to women in their own homes wherever possible, enabling them to maintain their roles as mothers while their mental illness is safely treated. When required, we also have a dedicated mother and baby inpatient unit at Florence House, in Bournemouth, which offers 24-hour specialist support.
We have an experienced team of specialists and nursery nurses, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists and a parent-infant psychotherapist. They offer:
- psychiatric assessment and medication, if needed
- advice on the risks and benefits of using psychotropic medication during pregnancy and when breastfeeding
- pre-conception advice
- support with the developing the mother and baby relationship
- psychological therapies including family work, cognitive behavioural therapy and relapse-prevention work.
- occupational therapies for mother and baby, focusing on mother-infant activities and help with routine and role adjustment which may include shopping, cooking, diet and exercise
- parenting skills support and training.
Key information about this service
If you are struggling with perinatal mental health issues, we will work closely with social care workers, health visitors, maternity departments and other healthcare providers to carry out a full mental health assessment. We will develop a treatment plan in partnership with you, tailored to your own individual needs. Our aim is to provide the right care to help you recover, encouraging family involvement and strengthening your bond with your child.
If you feel that you, or someone you know, might benefit from this kind of support, please talk to your GP, midwife, health visitor or other healthcare professional, who can then make a referral to the perinatal service.
We welcome referrals from healthcare professionals such as GPs, community mental health teams, midwives, health visitors, maternity departments and social workers. However, any referrals for potential admission to the Florence House inpatient unit should be discussed with the team first.
Out-of-hours referrals requiring an emergency response will be undertaken by the psychiatric liaison team.
Printable Leaflets - Choice and Medication© Leaflets are designed to help service users, carers and family members understand their medicines better, and to make more informed decisions, best as part of a discussion with a healthcare professional.
Mental health resources and wellbeing apps
Baby Buddy app offering evidence-based information and self-care tools to help parents during pregnancy and early stages of parenting
App users also have access to a confidential, text-based Crisis Messenger which provides 24/7 support for new and exectant parents who are feeling extremely anxious or overwhelmed
Best Beginnings simple,educational and interactive tools to support parents-to-be and new parents
Cry-sis a UK charity offering help and support to parents with babies who cry excessively or have sleeping problems
Dorset Mental Health Forum is a local peer led charity. They aim to improve the lives of everyone affected by mental illness by promoting wellbeing and recovery
Dorset Recovery Education Centre provide different online learning options including podcasts, worksheets and videos
Emotional Wellbeing information and an emotional wellbeing animation from maternitymatters Dorset
getselfhelp website with a lot of information and self help resources for mental wellbeing
Homestart is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times.
Find your local homestart here
Healthmeds useful link to find out more about how different treatments and drugs work
LiveWell Dorset a free service for adults in Dorset who would like to improve their health and wellbeing
Living life to the full Free online courses covering low mood, stress and resilience
Maternal Mental Health Alliance resources Mental health wellbeing tips for women who are pregnant or have recently given birth during the pandemic
Mental health apps NHS-approved apps
Mind a mental health charity offering information and advice
Mindfulness NHS information on how mindfulness helps mental wellbeing
No Panic resources specialises in self-help recovery and provide people with the skills and resources they need to manage their condition and work towards recovery, enabling them to lead more fulfilled lives.
Nourish is a UK mental health and wellbeing app for mums. Created by a team of experts, the app provides a self-care toolkit and support team to give you instant moments of calm when you need it
Pandas is a community offering peer-topeer support for you, your family and your network
Perinatal treatment free evidence-based mental health resources and courses website for new parents
The Blurt Foundation Blurt are dedicated to helping those with depression.
Tommys a UK charity offering information on mental health before, during and after pregnancy
Try our 6 tips to help you be happier NHS tips on helping you to be happier, more in control and able to cope
Wessex Healthier together maternal mental health information
Caring for your baby resources and leaflets
Benefits of skin to skin contact with your baby
The Association for Infant Mental Health (AIMH) have developed a set of video resources for parents with newborns and expectant parents to help them bond with their baby and foster emotional well-being. The videos include guides on understanding and responding to the cues your baby is giving you.
Bedtime meditation video In this 30-minute video, instructor Beth's soothing words and relaxing moves help you leave the stresses and strains of the day behind and prepare for restful sleep.
Prenatal and postnatal yoga video If you are pregnant or have recently given birth, gentle exercise can be helpful. In this 45-minute video designed for beginners, instructor Hester will help you to tone, stretch and relax.
Feedback
Your feedback is always helpful to hear and of value to us and we welcome it.
You may be pleased with the care we offer and think we are doing something well, or would like to suggest improvements to our service. Alternatively, you may feel we have not given you the care you expected or needed, and would like to make a complaint. Either way, our patient advice and liaison service (PALS) can help. Making a complaint will not have any adverse effect on your current or future care and treatment.
You can also share more about your experiences of our services, whether it relates to care provided at home, during an outpatient appointment or during an inpatient stay. Visit our our patient experience page for more information.