My Blog

I’d like to share with you my account of the second conference on the theme of my second book ‘Another Twinkle in the Eye – contemplating another pregnancy after perinatal mental health’, held in London on 24^th May.

I am grateful to the team at Salford CPD  who organised and ran it for me. Their team are always professional and efficient making both the lead up to the day and the event itself run smoothly. The venue was The Wesley hotel, literally 65 paces from Euston station. It is a quirky venue and met all of our needs well. I would recommend both companies.

The evening prior to the event, me and three of the other speakers dined at a hidden gem, ‘The Nelson’ Italian restaurant that is only a few minutes’ walk away.  When I chair a conference I always feel it is good to meet other speakers, where possible, the evening before because I feel that it improves and creates new relationships. This can help to make a better event. Back at The Wesley we met three more speakers and we already had a ‘team’!

Around 80 healthcare professionals came to the conference from all over the UK. We even had two delegates from Belfast. I am increasingly pleased to see how many use ‘perinatal’ in their job description. This demonstrates the growing awareness and acceptance that such roles are very necessary. As in Jersey last week, the wide range of attendees shows that we are finally beginning to show real steps in perinatal mental health being ‘Everyone’s Business’. This included midwives, psychiatric nurses, commissioners, health visitors, obstetricians and gynaecologists, safeguarding nurses, students, mothers, a doula, therapists, lecturers, counsellors, dietitian, locality team managers and a tissue viability nurse.

I began the day with a general introduction about my story and why my second book had emerged due to the requests and needs of making facing the choices around having another baby when a previous pregnancy and perinatal period had not been what they expected. We then heard from Catherine Burrows who shared her journey of postnatal illness around her two children. We all felt very moved by her account and she concluded with 10 great tips of advice to others. She has written a book that has helped many mothers.

Next was Giles Berrisford, perinatal psychiatrist based at the Mother and Baby unit in Birmingham. He has recently been appointed as Associate National Clinical Director for Mental Health (Perinatal) with NHS England  and is chair for Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP). He presented a very informative talk on the risk factors and psychiatric treatments for a subsequent pregnancy following puerperal psychosis. It was full of practical advice and suggestions. There were many nods in the room when he spoke about the choices that women face around breast feeding and that we must take away any pressure on these mothers to breastfeed. The main concern has to be a healthy mother. If her medication or other needs mean she is unable to feed the baby herself, she must have complete support for this. I agree. I remain a huge advocate of breastfeeding and still feel the loss of my opportunity to continue it when I had to be hospitalised without my son. At the same time, I know many women have told me that the guilt and pressure placed on them to breastfeed adds to their mental distress when they are unable to do so.

Beth Bone was our next speaker who spoke frankly and openly about her journey of puerperal psychosis, including suicide and the aspects that could have made her care easier. She now uses her experience to highlight mental health in her career with Barclays Bank. I am always so touched when she shares how my first book, ‘Eyes without Sparkle – a journey through postnatal illness‘ , contributed to her recovery.

Beth posted this photo on her Facebook page with the message: ‘This is what recovery from severe PMI looks like! Elaine‘s book gave me hope when I had so little left & now we are friends – funny how the worst time of your life can result in so many positives x’

Over a refreshment and networking break, delegates visited the stands from APP , Best Beginnings, Nutricia  and SMA  where they shared useful information to support families with young children.

I was very pleased to welcome the next speaker, Katy Morley, who is team leader and specialist perinatal mental health liaison nurse in Hull for pre-conceptual counselling. She contributed to the chapter in my book on this. She shared how powerful and important this is for people either at very high risk of perinatal mental illness with a first or subsequent pregnancy to access this service. I strongly encourage that a service like this should be an integral part of any perinatal mental health pathway. Surely it makes so much sense to invest in this rather than spending so much more in managing a crisis? The human cost is immeasurable.

Mike Coote , for whom I am PA, shared his knowledge of the use of positive language. This is so relevant when we speak to people considering another pregnancy and around birth. Why do we say ‘don’t worry’ for example? This implies that we have something to worry about!

Clair Rees, Executive Director of Parent Infant Partnership (PIP) UK , joined us next. She shared with us a brand new film about their service and the need to work with mental health of the infant and child too. This links into the First 1001 Days APPG group. She encouraged delegates to get involved. My next presentation is speaking at an event as part of Infant Mental health week on 9^th June  at Westminster Hall. I follow a number of MPs and the inspirational Alain Gregoire, who was one of the main forces behind the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.

After lunch we heard from Debby Gould, programme manager, Nursing and Midwifery, leading on Compassion in Practice for NHS England North. I recommend Debby’s book. She shared some thought provoking ways of helping people have a better pregnancy and birth. Here are a couple of her slides.

I then highlighted some other key areas that also need consideration, e.g. siblings, the family, sleep, feeding. We could fill a 3-day event!

Claire Hartman-James was next who movingly spoke of her first baby and then perinatal mental illness followed by way she made her second birth and postnatal period so much better. She shared some of her poetry and tips about mindfulness that have helped her.

I am always keen to emphasise the need to be aware of the mental health of the partner around the perinatal time. Mark Williams joined us to demonstrate how this can manifest itself and highlight the need to check how they are and what support is there for them. For example, if PTSD was a result of experiencing the birth of their first child, what help is there for them if their partner is pregnant again? Could simply the smell of the hospital be a trigger?

Finally, we had an inspiring session from Charlotte Antoniou and Natasha Yukabova who spoke to us about ways they help the women in their support group in North London  using creative techniques. They had some wonderful examples of how they help women who are pregnant again after a perinatal mental illness, through activities with their existing child, e.g. planting seeds that grow as the baby does; crafts to welcome the new baby. There was also discussion on how we can apply other creative activities.

I feel that many of us with ‘lived experience’ of perinatal mental illness (as in the top photo of Catherine, me, Natasha, Claire and Charlotte) showed at this event that:

1. Recovery is possible and we are stronger and wiser for our experience
2. We have a very active role to play in our recovery and preparation for another baby – in taking personal responsibility alongside professional support, we have better outcomes
3. We are able to inspire healthcare professionals and providers to improve the mental health of current and future parents.

Part of the delegate rate included a copy of my book ‘Another Twinkle in the Eye – contemplating another pregnancy after perinatal mental illness’. Thank you to my publishers, specifically Joseph Tagg at Taylor Francis Group/CRC Press for making this possible. I felt very touched at the number who asked for me to sign their copy just before they left.

I wish to thank everyone involved in the day. I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt quite emotional that my journey ultimately had led to us all in that room yesterday. My greatest desire continues to be wanting to make early parenthood healthy and happy for others and to provide inspiration for those who are able to support them. It felt that yesterday achieved that.

The day ended with a drink with Catherine and Claire at the bar in The Wesley, served by a very friendly waiter. My coffee was served literally with a smile!

Another day like this is currently being planned – next time in Edinburgh on Tuesday 27^th September.

Please let me know if you feel that a day like this would be useful in your locality and let’s find a way to make it happen!

Best wishes

Elaine 🙂