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The second full day at The International Marcé Society Conference was brilliant! Once again I awoke with my post-viral fatigue along with a determination to make the most of being there. I also had mixed emotions as I knew my boy was leaving home to start his university life. I went into the refectory for breakfast feeling weary and a little down.  Isn’t it great when simply by being with some people, they have the ability to lift you just by being themselves?  For a few years now I have shared the delightful company of Julie Rawlinson and her colleague Anne Prendergast who are part of the PSS group in Liverpool. We ate our breakfast on the terrace and it felt like we were truly abroad at an international conference as it was so warm! We discussed our next joint event when Julie and I shall both be speaking in London on 11th December at a Healthcare Conference. As we wandered to the first session, I realised how much better I felt – thank you ladies!

I was joined in the theatre by Chris Bingley from The Jo Bingley Memorial Foundation. It was great to see fathers and charities represented at this conference.  Over the years I have often mentioned the work by Professor Lynne Murray for her research and books on babies, e.g. ‘The Social Baby‘, that has become the standard for baby-centred child care. We were privileged to hear her speak. One aspect she discussed was  ‘differential susceptibility’ – the theory by Belsky and Pluess (2009) in that children respond differently to adverse conditions depending on their temperament. She suggests that assessments for parental depression should be administered in domain-specific contexts and their strengths and needs should be profiled.  Support for them should then be targeted specifically to these needs with regard to cognitive/emotional, containment/attachment. Professor Murray shared with us her work in South Africa where she is developing a book sharing support group that is aimed at the cognitive development of the child. This links with the work of Booktrust, who strongly believe in the importance of books, even reading to your unborn child.  Her new book ‘The Psychology of Babies‘ was available at the conference.  I was thrilled to be signing my books next to her in the book shop and got a signed copy of hers!

We then were treated to another presentation by a world renowned speaker on mental health, Vikram Patel. He shared with us that ‘even by the most conservative estimate of 15% prevalence and 130 million births per annum, this translates to nearly at least 20 million mothers with depression each year’. That is a staggering and (almost) frightening fact!  He outlined some of the additional risk factors in the low and middle income countries (LMIC) and the inter-generational transmission of poverty. It was fascinating to hear of the work he is involved with in LMIC where some amazing support is given to mothers by peers and community support workers. Perhaps there are lessons for us here in the rest of the world? Does perinatal mental health care need to be so sophisticated for those suffering in the mild to moderate categories?

The next session was magical! The speaker was award winning composer,  Jennie Muskett.  She described, in a wonderfully lyrical way, the importance of sounds and how music is such a powerful medium to touch the emotions. She emphasised that to a baby, Mum and Dad’s voices are the most beautiful sounds. Jennie shared with us how naturally the soothing sounds and matching movements of a mother and baby can be linked to musical sounds. She is currently working on an album of lullabies. The idea is that during pregnancy the mother (father, siblings) will take 20 minutes each day to relax and listen to them. Once the baby is born the same relaxing music will be played and used to soothe – she believes strongly in helping parents to focus on the positive and less on stress. She gave us a preview of a couple of songs. I find it incredible that the very best musicians have the skill to feel that you are the only person in the audience as you become lost in the music. Jennie had that quality. You can have a preview here and sign up for her mailing list.

The morning continued to be inspiring when I joined the symposia on ‘Creating improvements in Perinatal Mental Health Services through the Institute of Health Visiting Perinatal Mental Health Champions’.  Every presenter filled my heart with joy to know that at last we are seeing some brilliant training, written by the amazing Jane Hanley, being rolled out to some passionate health visitors. One of the greatest supports to families in that perinatal period is being listened to. Cheryll Adams, from the Institute of Health Visiting (IHV) described the Perinatal Mental Health Champions Programme. Jane Hanley then explained how she had written and delivered the programme and how each champion then cascades the training in their area. I would be stunned if anyone listening to Jane does not leave inspired and motivated to make a difference. Asha Day, a fellow of the IHV,  described her role in the south of England also offering training. Her colleague Melita Walker, offers the same in the north. The inspiration continued as we heard from ladies who have done the Champion training and gave us examples of the work they have achieved as a result. I particularly loved listening to Louise Barrett from Salford and Sasha Barber from Gloucestershire. If they are examples of what is possible, then I feel very optimistic. Find out who is the PMH Champion in your area.

What a fabulous morning! I enjoyed my lunch chatting to people from across the world and signing some more books. I also took time to look at posters describing the research and projects around perinatal mental health. Thank you to those who supplied  copies of them for us to take away – much appreciated. This included ‘Moving on Up’ – a movement therapy for postnatal anxiety and depression.

We then listened to Professor Louise Howard who spoke on ‘What is evidence based perinatal mental health care and is it achievable?’ She also gave us insight into her own experiences. I continue to feel inspired and grateful that we have such dedicated and skilled professionals in this area.

As I write my next book one area that I am increasingly interested in is ‘The Developments of Mental Health Treatments in Pregnancy’, so I attended the next symposia on this chaired by the incoming president of the Marcé Society, Jeanette Milgrom, from Melbourne.  She described a CBT program called Beating the Blues before Birth. This session also included Dr Heather O’Mahen who  described an interesting midwife-led, group supported guided self-help intervention for antenatal anxiety (Acorn). I feel that antenatal anxiety featured much more at this event in general.

I confess that by this stage I needed some time out and went for a walk barefoot on the wonderful beach at Swansea. I did not realise how stunning this area was. This is an aerial view of the university and beach. It would have been a crime not to have been on it!

The weather continued to be amazing. I spoke to my son who had moved into his room at college.  This is a new chapter of being a mother! He was walking on a beach on the east coast ..

That evening it was the Gala dinner. For the first time in weeks I was actually beginning to feel well and it was lovely to dress up. We had a musical treat given by the ladies of Maternal Harmony – here they are at their first anniversary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjs7ywp1qrM

Isn’t it incredible what illness can lead to? Very well done ladies.

I was delighted to dine with the team from one of my other favourite organisations – Action on Postpartum Psychosis. They do incredible work on supporting and researching in this area. It was wonderful to hear more about their work. Lovely people!

We were treated to more musical entertainment by Jane Hanley and some of her talented friends. Is there no limit to the skill of this lady?!

Two other people I met at this conference are both trustees of the charity PANDAS – Gill Martin and Dr Andrew Mayers. Thank you for your company and enthusiasm.

Some of us went into the student union bar later on. The highlight was seeing a group of the Health Visitors dancing to ‘We are the Champions’. Rightly so!

Part 3 to follow …

Elaine