The Maternal Mental Health Service (MMHS) supports women/birthing people, their partners and families living in Birmingham and Solihull who have experienced perinatal loss and have associated mental health difficulties.
Our service is for women/birthing people who experience significant mental health 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 of pregnancy due to foetal abnormality.
- stillbirth
- neonatal death
Baby loss can impact everyone in our community. Our service aims to reflect the rich cultural diversity found in Birmingham and Solihull to meet individual needs and experiences. Parents can often feel isolated and misunderstood in their grief, our service offers an open and supportive space.
The service works alongside other health professionals to ensure the women/birthing people are given the best support possible. Women/birthing people who have experienced perinatal loss have worked with ourselves and maternity colleagues to develop our service.
Who is in our team?
This service is delivered by a small team of professionals made up of;
- clinical psychologists
- counsellors
- a specialist midwife
- trained peer supporters with lived experience of baby loss
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.
We will work together to identify and plan steps forward for support and meaningful change. We will 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 the following tools and approaches:
- Providing a safe space to share experiences.
- Talking with someone who has also experienced perinatal loss.
- Information about how the brain and body responds to trauma, and its association with loss and grief.
- Managing feelings.
- Talking about parental identity and how this has been impacted by perinatal loss
- Managing relationships
- Developing resources and strategies for meaningful living
- Person centred, cognitive behavioural, relational and compassion focused approaches
To complement this, our specialist midwife provides support and care, both around the experience of loss and any concerns around future pregnancies. Our specialist midwife can provide a link between the maternity service and other services involved in mental health care for women/birthing people, including the local primary care therapy service (IAPT) and the wider perinatal mental health team.
Our trained peer supporters bring their own personal experience of perinatal loss to support others. They will bring together people with shared experiences to support each other providing authentic support.
Our team is also able to provide support to partners, offering an assessment to support access to community-based specialist support services.
The length and number of sessions required will be assessed 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 Birmingham and Solihull. They can all also refer into our specialist team if needed. Unfortunately, we do not accept direct self-referrals.
Information for Professionals
All referrals must come from health professionals working within Birmingham and Solihull (such as Midwives, GP’s, Obstetricians, Health Visitors, Nurses).
Should you have any questions about the service, how to complete the referral form or would like to discuss a person who may benefit from our service, then please contact us via our email address bsmhft.mmhs@nhs.net
What happens next?
Once a referral has been sent into the team, the referral will be discussed in our weekly Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT). The aim of this MDT meeting is to consider each client’s needs and who may be best placed to support them, whether this is the Maternal Mental Health team or another service.
If suitability of the service is agreed, we will be in touch directly to offer an initial appointment.
Support for Partners
The loss of a baby or pregnancy can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of partners, dads, birthing partners, and other family members
If you feel that your day-to-day functioning (work, sleep, relationships) has been significantly impacted and you are struggling in anyway, please consider contacting your GP for further support.
Aditionally, please find below a list of links to support services which you might find helpful.
Compassion Circle groups, run by our Maternal Mental Health Services team on bsmhft.bereavementsupportclinic@nhs.net
The Lily Mae Foundation – 01676 535716 www.lilymaefoundation.org/
Sands – Birmingham branch 07709 425001 Solihull branch 07890 780 433 www.sands.org.uk
Aching arms – www.achingarms.co.uk
Edward’s Trust – 0121 454 1705 www.edwardstrust.org.uk
In the event of a mental health crisis please contact: NHS 111, and press option 2.
In the event of an emergency please call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
The loss of a baby or pregnancy can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of partners, dads, birthing partners, and other family members
If you feel that your day-to-day functioning (work, sleep, relationships) has been significantly impacted and you are struggling in anyway, please consider contacting your GP for further support.
Our service works with Matt Whitehouse, from The Lily Mae Foundation, to support partners and other family members.
Maternal Mental Health testimonies
Bereaved parents encouraged to join new community support group
The above animation was co-produced by the Maternal Mental Health Services team. If after watching this video you or your loved one can relate to the story, please speak to your GP.
Asia Ali is one of three Peer Support Workers who make up an integral part of our Maternal Mental Health Services team. Using her lived experience of baby loss, Asia is a symbol of hope to many women, particularly those in our South Asian community, showing them that recovery is possible.
