Rutland parents can get help this week and beyond as maternal mental health is championed.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) is encouraging all parents who are struggling with their mental health to reach out and ask for help this Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week and beyond.

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is a week-long campaign running until 7 May dedicated to talking about mental health issues before, during and after pregnancy. Throughout the week, the Trust is aiming to raise awareness of some of support available to parents in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. 

Around 1 in 5 women experience a perinatal mental health problem during pregnancy or within the early postnatal years, with almost three quarters of those who have an illness hiding it or underplaying what they are going through. 

Tanya Hibbert, executive director of mental health services at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: "Having a baby is a completely life-changing experience. Many new parents will find that having a baby impacts their emotional wellbeing and mental health; although it can be a very special time, it can also be stressful and exhausting. This can be because of a lack of routine, lack of sleep and getting to know your baby, which can all take time to adjust to. 

"Though some mood changes are anticipated and considered normal, it is important for people to seek help as soon they notice any mood changes that are having a greater impact on their life. When problems with emotional wellbeing or mental health are diagnosed early, help and support or treatment will be offered, so things become easier for you and your family, and recovery can be much quicker.

"Please just start by reaching out to someone; a family member, friend, health visitor, midwife or speak to your GP. There are people out there who want to help and support you to feel better."

If you notice that you, or someone you know who is pregnant or has recently had a baby, has any of the following symptoms please encourage them to seek support. 

Signs to look out for include:

• Feeling tearful, anxious or low for more than 2 weeks
• Feeling much more irritable or angry than usual 
• Feeling hopeless, as though things will not get better
• Significant changes to your appetite, such as eating more for comfort or forgetting to eat 
• A loss of enjoyment or interest in anything 
• Avoiding other people
• Struggling to bond with your baby
• Feelings of inadequacy/incompetency as a mother
• Frequent crying for no obvious reason
• Constantly worrying or feeling anxious; you might notice a racing pulse, thumping heart, breathlessness or sweating. 

It is important to remember that fathers and partners can be affected and experience these symptoms too.  

A spokesperson for the LPT said: "If you have a history of depression or other mental health problems, or if there's a family history of mental health problems following childbirth, discuss this with your GP, midwife, health visitor or mental health team when you're pregnant or thinking of having a baby to receive support."

What support is available? 

There are many ways you can access support. Start by speaking to someone. 

In Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland you can speak to: 

• Your GP
• Your health visitor 
• Your midwife or obstetrician.  

The LPT team added: "Where you may need specialist support, they may refer you to our Perinatal Mental Health Service, which supports people who have complex or severe mental health issues relating to pregnancy, childbirth and the first year following a child's birth, or our Maternal Mental Health Service, which helps people with moderate to severe difficulties related to birth trauma, baby loss, and tokophobia (a fear of pregnancy)."

You can also speak to a qualified health professional using either the ChatHealth or Mum's Mind secure text messaging services. 

Self-care tips that can help to support your emotional wellbeing:

It can help to find ways to look after yourself when becoming a new parent. Some ways you can do this are: 

• Building a support network – try to get out to local parent and baby groups, peer support networks or do an activity with friends or family. 
• Accept help if it is offered and you feel comfortable doing so, for example with shopping, cooking or cleaning. 
• Try not to put pressure on yourself to keep up with all the things you used to do or set unrealistic standards.
• Keep active, even if it is going for a walk with the pram. Physical activity can help to boost your mood.

Parents are encouraged to reach out if they need help.