Looking After Your Wellbeing Before and After Having a Baby

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Are you expecting a baby, are you a new parent, or do you know someone who is?
Pregnancy and parenthood can be an exciting time, but it can also feel challenging.

As a new mum, dad, parent, or carer, it’s natural to feel a range of emotions during this time, but if difficult thoughts and feelings are starting to have a big effect on your daily life, it’s important to talk about how you are feeling.

The below lists services across Barnsley that could support you as a mum, dad, parent or carer during pregnancy and early parenthood:
Midwifery
Your Midwife will support you throughout your pregnancy, birth, and the early days of parenthood. You can speak to them about your physical health, but also any thoughts, feelings, or worries you may have.
You can also speak to the Mental Wellbeing Midwife, or the Birth in Mind Service at Barnsley Hospital, and can find more information on how they could help you here: Barnsley Hospital Parental Mental Health.

• You are mum, dad, or carer who is pregnant/ expecting, or care for a child under 2 years old.
  
• Would like one to one support to build on your parenting skills, strengthen the connection between you and your baby, and to boost your confidence, wellbeing, and coping skills as you adjust to life with a new baby.
  
• You also might have had challenges in your own childhood, be experiencing difficulties now, or you/your baby may have health concerns.
  

Barnsley dads can download The Dad Pad app for FREE on iOS or Android to support you on your parenting journey.
DadPad - On the iOS App Store
DadPad – On Android/ Google Play

During pregnancy and early parenthood, as a dad or partner it can be easy to ignore your own needs, especially when so much focus is on your partner and baby.
Parenthood can be a big change and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed at times. You may be adjusting to a new reality or routine that’s different to what you expected, feeling unsure or not ready to return to work, or facing wider pressures such as the lack of sleep, or financial stress.

It’s important to look after yourself and your mental health too. It’s ok for you to ask for support, and you can click the above link to view local support available to you. 

Are you expecting a baby, a new parent, or know someone who is?

Perinatal Mental Health can affect mums, dads, and all co parents, and there are some things to look out for in yourself, your partner, or someone you know, that might mean they need some support.

This includes:

• Feeling down, depressed or hopeless
  
• Feeling like you’re losing control
  
• Worrying about the past or future
  
• Finding it hard to sleep
  
• Struggling to concentrate
  
• Feeling argumentative or irritable
  
• Struggling to connect with your bump or your baby
  
• Worried you do not feel the same as others, or that you are not enjoying being a parent
  
• Feeling guilty or blaming yourself for things
  
• Avoiding going out or seeing other people
  
• Feeling worried about your own or your baby’s health
  
• Having thoughts of wanting to harm yourself or others
  
• And non specific body aches and pains
  

If you are experiencing several of these, on most days, you may need some support.

You're not alone. Help is available.

Speak to someone you trust. This could be your family and friends, your Midwife, Health Visitor, GP, or your Barnsley Family Hub.

You can contact your health visitor on 01226 774411 and visit their web page for more information :

💻 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service

You can also find local services for support further down this page.

If perinatal mental illness is left untreated, this can have significant and long-lasting effect on families.

• We know that 1 in 4 new and expectant mums, and up to 1 in 5 dads will experience perinatal mental illness
  
• About 70% of women may downplay or hide the severity of their feelings.
  
• Mums from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities may experience higher rates of postnatal depression and anxiety than other groups
  
• Single mums are about three times more likely to experience periods of depression compared to other groups.
  
• New dads are more likely to develop anxiety during the perinatal period, if they are a new dad and haven’t taken care of a baby previously
  
• 1-2 in 1000 women will develop a serious mental illness in the postnatal period, which is a medical emergency. You can find more information on postpartum psychosis through Action on Postpartum Psychosis 

Children thrive when they feel safe, loved and nurtured, and bonding with your baby lays the ground for children to grow up happy, independent adults.