Becoming a parent can feel overwhelming especially in the first few months after the birth, whether you are a first time parent or are adapting to a growing family life.  Making sure you feel supported and have the right guidance available is important.  As well as our virtual peer support groups, we have put together some links and guidance which you may find useful.

• Around 6-8 weeks after birth, your GP should offer you a postnatal check to make sure you feel well and are recovering properly, further information can be found here Your 6-week postnatal check – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership have put together a fantastic guide packed with useful information from registering your baby, postnatal care, contraception, physical and emotional wellbeing, information for dads, coping with crying, safe sleep and useful local contacts.  Click here to access the guide

 

Virtual NHS Parents Peer Support Forum

These sessions are aimed at staff who are parents, carers, or grandparents. Whether you are brand new to parenthood or experienced, all are welcome. This is a great opportunity to meet other parents, share experiences and spend some time socialising with people who will be experiencing similar ups and downs and challenges. You will meet other parents in a virtual environment and be able to offer peer support, a listening ear or even just vent about some of the things that you might be struggling with. You can also share your successes and milestones and build a small support network.  As everyone will have experience navigating life with children, these will be non-judgmental groups where babies, children, teenagers are welcome.

2024 session dates;

• 15th February 2024
• 11th April 2024
• 6th June 2024
• 1st August 2024
• 26th September 2024
• 21st November 2024

 

Perinatal Support and Workshops

Expecting a baby and becoming a parent can be a time filled with happiness and joy but it is also emotionally and physically challenging and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed.  IAPT and Little Minds Matter offer tailored support to people in the Perinatal period (when you are expecting a baby, up until the child’s 1st birthday).

At Bradford District and Craven Talking Therapies, we offer free, confidential talking therapy for people who have a range of emotional difficulties during the perinatal period. We also “fast track” people within the Perinatal period and therefore you will be assessed and access therapy quicker. Support with low mood, sadness and tearfulness.  We can offer:

• Help with anxiety, worry and stress
• Understanding difficult or unexpected feelings towards pregnancy or baby
• Help with difficulty sleeping (even if baby is sleeping ok)
• How to manage thoughts that you are not a good parent, or that you cannot cope
• Support with anxiety about labour or struggling to come to terms with a difficult birth.

This is a family friendly service, and your therapy can be completed via telephone or video call, if this is easier.  We also have face to face appointments available in venues with baby change facilities and pram accessible rooms.  Additionally we have a fully online course via SilverCloud which is tailored to the Perinatal period, this can be accessed 24/7 and you do not need to attend appointments.

Part of our Perinatal offer is access to our Perinatal Workshops which are online sessions focusing on: Sleep for you and baby and bonding with baby/bump. You can find out more on our courses and workshops page. 

How can I access the service?

There are three ways that you can refer to Bradford District and Craven Talking Therapies:

1. Fill in our simple and secure online self referral form.
2. Or, prefer to call us? Please call 01274 221234 (Monday – Friday – 09:00AM – 05:00PM) to speak to Bradford District Talking Therapies Administration team.
3. Alternatively, speak to your GP or healthcare professional. You can ask them to make a referral for you.

Needing more urgent support?

The perinatal period can come with additional risks as pregnancy and being a new parent can be such a challenging time.

•  Are you feeling hopeless or incompetent as a parent?
• Do you feel you have not bonded with your baby/bump?
• Do you have negative thoughts about yourself as a parent or your ability to cope?
• Are you seeing/hearing things that others cannot?
• Have you self harmed over the last 2 weeks or had thoughts to end your life?

If you are expecting a baby, or have a little one under 1, and answer ‘Yes’ to any of the questions above, please seek support from First Response, available for people of all ages living in Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale or Craven. Call 0800 952 1181 – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

Useful links

• Early days – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• Postnatal mental wellbeing support – Perinatal and postnatal mental health – Mind
• Overview | Postnatal care | Guidance | NICE
• Services and support for parents – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

 

Please see below for further resources which you may find useful.  You can also visit our Events section of the website for other available recourses.

As always if you have any specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact the team who will be happy to help.