Tag: mothers

Holyrood report spotlights mental health of expectant and new mothers and expresses concern over access to support services

The mental health of pregnant women, new mothers and their families, including those affected by miscarriage, stillbirth and the death of an infant, has been highlighted by a Scottish Parliament Committee.

The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s inquiry into women’s mental health experiences before, during and after the birth of a child (otherwise referred to as the perinatal period) highlights a number of issues faced by new mothers over the support they have received, particularly during the pandemic.

In particular, the inquiry found there was a sharp rise in birth trauma incidences reported since the pandemic began. The Committee calls on the Scottish Government and NHS Boards to redouble their focus on delivering services that directly address birth trauma.

The Committee also looked into the of support for those suffering from miscarriage, stillbirth or death of an infant. During its inquiry, the Committee received evidence of some women affected by baby loss who reported being treated close to women giving birth to healthy babies, causing additional trauma to the women affected.

The report calls for accelerated action to establish specialist baby loss units and, in the meantime, for new national protocols to be set up “that ensure families affected by baby loss are consistently treated with respect and compassion and in a trauma-informed way”.

Alongside a focus on community care, the Committee also examined access to specialist Mother and Baby Units (MBUs), of which there are currently two in Scotland. The Committee emphasises the benefits of providing wider access to MBUs for new mothers with complex needs and they express support for the creation of a new MBU serving the north of Scotland. 

Gillian Martin MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said: “Up to 20% of women in Scotland experience negative mental health impacts before, during and after giving birth and the aim of our inquiry was to shine a spotlight on this important issue and to see what more should be done to support these women.

“We heard of concerns in certain health board areas with the support structure in place for parents and families impacted by miscarriage, still birth and the death of an infant, and feel more action is needed to give them appropriate support.

“We had discussions with some new parents affected by baby loss who felt they didn’t receive the standard of care they are entitled to expect. That is why we are calling for every effort to be made to accelerate the establishment of specialist baby loss units

“The evidence we received suggests that during the pandemic, there was a sharp rise in incidences of birth trauma. In many instances this was a direct result of COVID-related restrictions, which limited the support women were able to receive from partners and families before, during and after giving birth.

“Our inquiry heard about the benefits of Mother and Baby Units for women who have complex mental health issues in the perinatal period and the Committee would like to see a concerted effort to widen access to these units in conjunction with the community care offer.

“We think there is a strong case to set up a new Mother and Baby Unit serving the north of Scotland but we also need to focus on issues around staffing, resources and general awareness to maximise the positive impact of perinatal mental health services and third sector organisations who support mothers.”

The Convener added:

“The extensive evidence we have gathered during the course of this inquiry has shown the importance of a preventative and community based approach to perinatal mental health. It is clear that only through accessible, joined up care across both the third sector and statutory services, women and families can get the care they need at this critical time.

“We’d like to put on record our thanks to all of the women who spoke with us and shared their stories.”

Other findings in the report include:

• concern that many women and families are currently having to wait longer than 6 weeks to access perinatal mental health support;

• the increased barriers faced by women and families from minority ethnic backgrounds, or for whom English is not their first language, and those from particularly vulnerable or at risk groups, to access perinatal mental health services;

•  the critical role that stigma plays in perinatal mental health and the resulting reluctance for individuals to fully engage with healthcare professionals;

• a call for the Scottish Government to ensure further education institutions deliver perinatal mental health training as core training for all midwifery and nursing students as a priority.

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Mental health support for new mums

Rollout of £1 million for counselling and befriending.

New mums at risk of poor mental health will be given access to increased support including counselling and befriending services.

The rollout is part of a £50 million investment in mental health services for new mums, babies and young children announced by the First Minister earlier this year.

An initial £1 million will support several key areas, including helping the third sector provide counselling, befriending and peer support for women and their families.

The funding will see new and expectant mothers get more consistent access to psychological assessment and treatment.

It will also be used to increase staffing and training at Mother and Baby Units for the 2,250 women with the most serious illnesses and to develop mental health services for babies.

Announcing the funding at Aberlour children’s charity, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “It’s crucial that these services are led by the needs of women, young children and families.

“We have sought the views of people who have experienced mental health issues during and after pregnancy – their voices have influenced where this money will go and the services it will deliver.

“Our vision is of a Scotland where women, young children and families do not face fear or stigma when experiencing mental health issues.”

Aberlour Chief Executive SallyAnn Kelly said: “I welcome this funding for third sector organisations who are striving to deliver high quality perinatal services to new parents and parents-to-be. To give children the best start in life, it is vital we support parents effectively.

“Aberlour has worked with over 300 families across Forth Valley and East Lothian but our ambition is to roll the Perinatal Befriending Service out across Scotland so that every parent, no matter where they live, has access to personalised support and assistance when and where they need it most.”

 

New PEEP group starts at Health Project next week

There are still places for the Women Supporting Women peep mums/carers and babies (6 weeks – 2.5 years) group starting next week Tuesday 21st May, 1:30 – 2:30.  Continue reading New PEEP group starts at Health Project next week

Scottish Charity seeks to improve Mum’s Mental Health At Work

Ready Steady Baby, a popular resource for pregnant women, has been updated to include information on perinatal mental health support.

This follows the Scottish Government’s announcement that over £50m will be spent on improving access to maternal mental health services. However, for many mums, it can be on their return to work that mental health can suffer.

Glasgow-based community development charity, Outside The Box is calling on mums to help tackle maternity discrimination in the workplace by sharing their experiences of supports that have helped them.

Using an online survey to collect stories of things that have improved mental health and wellbeing of mums returning to work, they hope to provide examples of best practice and raise awareness of the problems that employers may be contributing to.

Outside The Box have already been working with groups of mums over the past year who shared their stories of discrimination. They found that mums are being discriminated against because they are pregnant in the workplace, because they are having to go on maternity and because they are a mum returning to work.

Their findings are backed up by statistics provided by the Department of Business, which show that every year in the UK, as many as 54,000 mums feel that they have to leave their jobs.

While 77 per cent of mums say they have had a negative or discriminatory experience during pregnancy, maternity leave, and/or on return from maternity leave.

One in five mums (20% – or up to 100,000 women) said that they experienced negative comments or harassment in relation to flexible working or pregnancy.

Many women are unaware of their rights, and this lack of awareness is part of the problem. In fact, all mums:

  • have the right to 52 weeks maternity leave with the right to return to work thereafter,
  • are entitled to all contractual terms and conditions during maternity leave, apart from pay ,
  • have the right to be offered a suitable alternative vacancy if they are made redundant during maternity leave,
  •  have the right to ask for flexible work,
  • are protected against unfair treatment, unfair dismissal, discrimination because of pregnancy, child birth and maternity leave.

These facts and more are listed in a Guide for Working Mums that was published by Outside The Box last year.

Jill Keegan, Community Development Advisor at Outside The Box, said: “I was discriminated against in previous employment from the point I told my boss I was pregnant to returning to work six months later.

“I constantly had my professional capabilities called into question and began to believe I wasn’t capable or good enough. It resulted in me leaving a post I had been in for five years – I could no longer cope with feeling so low, isolated and useless.”

“What makes things good for me at work as a Mum is being in an environment that supports people’s mental health and wellbeing. Flexible working is a key component of this, but relationships built on trust and support allow for open lines of communication with my boss and colleagues.

“Social support in the workplace has helped me feel valued as an important part of a bigger team. Being respected as a person with a life and responsibilities is liberating – I don’t feel useless anymore.”

Additional quotes from the mums who Outside The Box spoke to, include:

 “What really upset me was when I came back I’d had important responsibilities taken from me and given to others. This was never discussed nor was I given them back. I felt like I was being punished and no longer valued.” Amanda from Fife*

“I’d had a difficult birth and my baby had to have an operation after she was born. A few days later, after getting home from the hospital, I received a letter telling me that whilst on maternity I had been put on the re-deployment list and would have to re-interview for my job. My baby was still unwell, I was breast feeding and we were all trying to recover as a family. I still don’t know how I got myself to that interview.” Amy from Edinburgh*

“My employer sent me 3 separate contracts after I told her I was pregnant -each one contracting me out of my maternity rights and I was pressured to sign, or I’d lose my job.” Kerry from Glasgow*

“I was forced to come back on a full -time basis or I was told I could lose my job.” Charlotte from Motherwell*

*All names/locations changed.

 To take part in the survey, visit: http://bit.ly/mumssurvey

A poem for Mother’s Day

LUCOZADE

My mum is on a high bed next to sad chrysanthemums.
‘Don’t bring flowers, they only wilt and die.’
I am scared my mum is going to die
on the bed next to the sad chrysanthemums.

She nods off and her eyes go back in her head.
Next to her bed is a bottle of Lucozade.
‘Orange nostalgia, that’s what that is,’ she says.
‘Don’t bring Lucozade either,’ then fades.

‘The whole day was a blur, a swarm of eyes.
Those doctors with their white lies.
Did you think you could cheer me up with a Woman’s Own?
Don’t bring magazines, too much about size.’

My mum wakes up, groggy and low.
‘What I want to know,’ she says,’ is this:
where’s the big brandy, the generous gin, the Bloody Mary,
the biscuit tin, the chocolate gingers, the dirty big meringue?’

I am sixteen; I’ve never tasted a Bloody Mary.
‘Tell your father to bring a luxury,’ says she.
‘Grapes have no imagination, they’re just green.
Tell him: stop the neighbours coming.’

I clear her cupboard in Ward 10B, Stobhill Hospital.
I leave, bags full, Lucozade, grapes, oranges,
sad chrysanthemums under my arms,
weighted down. I turn round, wave with her flowers.

My mother, on her high hospital bed, waves back.
Her face is light and radiant, dandelion hours.
Her sheets billow and whirl. She is beautiful. 
Next to her the empty table is divine.

I carry the orange nostalgia home singing an old song.

Jackie Kay

Café Life community café attains Breastfeeding Friendly Award

Microsoft Word - Breastfeeding Friendly Award Criteria.docIt’s been the law in Scotland for ten years that it is an offence to prohibit a woman from publicly breastfeeding her child. Despite this, many women still feel unwelcome.

NHS Lothian has launched a new initiative to get public places such as café’s to create a policy that breastfeeding mothers will not just be welcomed but actively encouraged to use their facilities.

Café Life, a community café which is part of the charity LifeCare Edinburgh in Stockbridge has recently attained the Breastfeeding Friendly Award.

LifeCare’s Business Relations Manager, Stephen Clarke said: “This award is proof that we do what we say we do.  Although we have always welcomed mother’s to breastfeed their child in the café and use our facilities such as our baby changing units this award means that we are recognised as part of a bigger initiative to support the rights of breastfeeding mothers.”

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Café Life is used by a cross section of the community such as parents with infants, young adults with learning disabilities, older people, workers and school children.

LifeCare (Edinburgh) Limited is a local charity that works with the elderly, those with dementia and their carers across Edinburgh.  Café Life contributes to the services provided by directing any extra income made into them.

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