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Perinatal Mental Health Service

  • Support for women who are pregnant, or in the first postnatal year, who are experiencing serious perinatal mental health difficulties, such as: birth trauma, psychosis, depression, anxiety, complicated reactions to loss, tokophobia.

  • Directorate: Mental Health
  • Age: All Age Adult
  • Referral Criteria: Health professionals or GP
  • Address: Willenhall Primary Care Centre,  Remembrance Road, Coventry, CV3 3DG
  • Hours: 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
  • Telephone number: 024 7621 2176

About us

The Perinatal Mental health service works with women or birthing people who are pregnant, up to 2 years postnatally, who are experiencing serious perinatal mental health difficulties.

These might include issues such as:

  • birth trauma
  • psychosis
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • prolonged feelings of loss, such as stillbirth
  • an intense and disabling fear of childbirth (tokophobia)
  • obsessive compulsive disorder;
  • needing support with medically complicated pregnancies such as placenta praevia or a multiple pregnancy

Referrals are from a health professional only. We accept referrals up to 12 months post partum.

 

Perinatal Loss Pathway

The Perinatal Loss Pathway supports women and birthing people with a GP within Coventry and Warwickshire who have experienced perinatal loss and are having associated mental health distress.

Our service is for women and birthing people who experience moderate to severe distress which is impacting on day-to-day life (e.g., work, relationships, sleep) which is directly associated with their experiences of;

  • miscarriage
  • ectopic pregnancy
  • termination for any reason
  • still birth
  • neonatal or infant death before the age of two

There is no time limit for how long ago the loss happened.

The team can also support with fear during a pregnancy that follows baby loss.

Baby loss can impact everyone in our community. Our service aims to reflect the rich cultural diversity found in Coventry and Warwickshire to meet individual needs and experiences.

Who is in our team

The service is delivered by a small team of professionals made up of;

  • Psychological professionals
  • trained peer support workers with lived experience of baby loss
  • specialist midwives
  • admin

 

What can I expect from the service?

We offer peer support, specialist midwifery and psychological therapy which aim to build an understanding of individual experiences, current difficulties, and possible factors which may affect emotional wellbeing.

In psychological therapy, we draw on a range of evidence-based and trauma-informed psychological approaches. The care provided will be based on individual needs and preferences and may include a combination of approaches such as:

    • providing a safe space to share experiences
    • information about how the brain and body responds to trauma, and its association with loss and grief
    • managing feelings
    • developing resources and strategies for meaningful living
    • person centred, cognitive behavioural, and compassion focused approaches

Our specialist midwives can provide a link between consistent support and advocacy, including trauma-informed birth planning.

Our trained peer support worker bring their own personal experience of perinatal loss to support others. They provide emotional and practical support.

The length and number of sessions required will be considered on an individual basis.

How can I be referred to the service?

Anyone who feels they need support around their mental health following a pregnancy or baby loss is encouraged to discuss this with their midwife, health visitor or GP who can share information about all the sources of support in Coventry and Warwickshire. They can also refer into our specialist team if needed (they can use the section below). Unfortunately, we do not accept direct self referrals.

What happens next?

Once a referral has been sent into the team, the referral will be discussed in a team meeting. The aim of this meeting is to consider each client's needs and who may be best placed to support them, whether this is the Perinatal Loss Pathway or another service.

We may contact you to ask you some more questions to help our understanding.

If it seems likely that our service could help you, we will be in touch directly to offer an initial appointment where we can consider this further with you.

Support for partners

The loss of a pregnancy or baby can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of partners, dads, birthing partners, or other family members.

If you feel that your day-to-day functioning (work, sleep, relationships) has been significantly impacted and you are struggling in any way, please consider contacting your GP for further support. You can also seek help and self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies.

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