Pregnancy and Early Parenting within Talking Therapies
We recognise that pregnancy and early parenthood can be both an exciting and overwhelming time. Becoming a parent is a major life change, with role changes and a mixture of emotions.
As many as 1 in 5 women can experience emotional difficulties and 1 in 3 new fathers/partners are concerned about their mental health during this time. This can happen to anyone. It is not your fault. Asking for help doesn’t mean you can’t cope or can’t care for your child and it is very rare that children are taken away from their parents but it is the start of getting the right help to ensure you can be the parent you want to be.
Manchester Talking Therapies offers primarily Counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). We prioritise Perinatal clients – expectant parents and their partners at any stage of pregnancy, and parents or main caregivers to a child up to the age of 24 months. We offer 1-1 brief therapy (face-to-face, video or telephone) and we also run groups, such as in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), designed for the Perinatal period.
"Just after 4 sessions I felt like a weight had been lifted; I was able to stop the unhelpful thoughts in their tracks and as a result I felt less anxious. By the end of therapy, my anxiety had completely gone and I felt like a new person and a better mother because I was in control again’’
Pregnancy and Early Parenting within Talking Therapies Patient
It is common for pregnant women or early parents to experience:
- Low mood, sadness and tearfulness.
- Anxiety, worry and tension.
- Irritability and anger.
- Difficult or unexpected feelings towards your pregnancy or baby.
- Poor sleep even when your baby sleeps well.
- Feeling unable to cope or enjoy anything.
- Thoughts that you are not a good enough parent.
- Worrying/ intrusive thoughts about your baby.
- Anxiety about labour or struggling to come to terms with a difficult labour or loss.
Our services aim to keep both parents and the infant in mind, making our services as accessible and safe as possible with appointment flexibility, locations in family friendly venues and priority for assessment and treatment. Our service welcomes and prioritises individuals who are pregnant, or parents with children under 2, including mums, dads and same sex partners.
Common myths about pregnancy and parenting
Myth 1: Pregnant women are deliriously happy and never get depressed
Myth 2: It’s just the ‘baby blues’, I’m fine
Myth 3: If I’m diagnosed with a mental health issue, my baby will be taken away from me
Myth 4: If I tell anyone about my mental health worries, they will think I’m a failure, a bad parent or that I don’t love my baby
Myth 5: Mental health problems only affect certain people
Myth 6: I will be forced to take medication
Myth 7: I’m the only one who feels this way
Myth 8: Only mums suffer from mental health issues like postnatal depression
Myth 9: There’s nothing I can do to help a parent I know experiencing mental health issues
Myth 10: I’m never going to feel better
Pregnancy and Early Childhood Resources
You may find the resources on this page a helpful start to getting the support you need: https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/pregnancy-resources
As a service user, relative or carer using our services, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice, and support.
Find resources for carers and service users Contact the Trust