Perinatal Mental Health Maths

I am still surprised that many perinatal professionals are unaware of how many parents struggle with their mental health and wellbeing.

Here are some statistics you might find surprising:

• 1 in 5 parents experiences perinatal anxiety.
• Depending on what study is used between 10% and 20% of parents experience perinatal depression 
• 30% of all parents describe their birth as traumatic and anywhere between 4% and 9% of parents go on to meet the criteria for PTSD, depending on which study is cited.
• Sadly 14 babies die every day (2018 statistic) in the UK. This kind of loss and grief is naturally traumatic and extremely distressing.
• Additionally, according to RCOG numbers, 6% of first-time mothers experience 3^rd or 4^th degree tears. This kind of injury will always impact on the individual’s mental and emotional health because of the devastating changes that it brings to their life.
• One in 7 couples will experience problems trying to conceive. In the UK in 2020 there were 60,000 IVF cycles. This process is notoriously stressful, pressurised and sadly often marked by loss and grief.
• Using the 2020 UK birth rate of 613,936 that equates to 122,787 parents struggling to cope with perinatal anxiety, 61,393 parents dragged down by depression, 184,180 parents surviving with trauma symptoms, 36,836 women impacted by a devastating, life changing birth injury.

That is potentially a HUGE 405,196 parents struggling with their mental and emotional health and wellbeing at a time when optimum health and wellbeing are required to recover, bond, feed and nurture their babies.

After a birth injury left her with PND Marie said:

‘‘I hadn’t done it right, I felt like a complete immense failure, I think an awful lot of me does blame myself for what happened. If I had done this, or done that…’

 Jo said after an IVF miscarriage during lockdown:

‘I couldn’t believe that they were so uncaring, dismissive and completely oblivious to how traumatising their ‘care’ was. I still think about that day now a year on and the panic comes rushing back.’

Angela struggled to adapt after lockdown ended after spending most of it alone with just her partner and her baby. She developed a severe anxiety about leaving her baby with others. She said:

‘I can’t get out of my mind that the threat has gone. I am supposed to return to work next month but the thought of leaving her in a germ ridden nursery makes me feel sick with fear.’

These are just a few of the conversations I have had with parents recently.

There are so many other voices that tell stories of trauma, struggle and the pain of trying to cope with early parenting whilst experiencing grief, anxiety, low mood or trauma symptoms.

The need for adequate perinatal support for mental, emotional health and wellbeing has never been so great.

Do you have what it takes to be a certified (OCN West Midlands) Practitioner of Perinatal Emotional Health & Wellbeing?

Could this be the next big thing for your business?

Or could it be the career move that you have been looking for?

The Certificate course starts in September and is an 18 month study consisting of 10 modules.

If you think this could be your next move then book an informal call to discuss whether this course is right for you.