Mental health support on offer for new mums

But her health visitor realised she was suffering from maternal mental health and suggested she met with a specialist. She did and Molly (28) soon began to feel better and enjoy being a mum even more.

Molly, whose baby is now seven months old, of Doncaster, said: “I wasn’t sure straight away that help would be beneficial but after having a little bit, I realised it was.

“I could talk through things and receive reassurance that I am a good mum,” she explained.

“I was feeling so irritated and angry, which I know now is pretty normal after having a baby. I felt anxious, I knew I loved my baby and would do anything for him, but I felt I wasn’t being the best mum I could be. I soon found out from the support I was receiving that this was pretty normal but as a first time mum, I didn’t realise this at first,” she added.

Nicola Dyke, a perinatal wellbeing health visitor for Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH), is one of the team supporting Molly.

Molly, speaking during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from May 5 to May 11, said: “It’s been really good support, talking things over, or discussing feelings, I’ve also been videoed with my baby and this showed how devoted I am to him. It made me realise when I watched the footage back. 

“It’s a brilliant service and it’s so niche catering for the mental health of new mums, but it’s great. Molly also says that any other new mums needing the service should get in touch.”

She said: “If you don’t desperately need the service, still get in touch. Don’t let everything get on top of you while you cannot cope.”

You can watch Molly’s story here on Youtube

If you, or someone you know, needs support please phone the Doncaster health visitors perinatal wellbeing team on 03000 021 8997 or the specialist perinatal mental health team on phone 03000 211 839 or email doncaster.spa@nhs.net

For more information on the service visit RDASH

Ends

Note to editors

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) provides a range of mental health, learning disability, drug and alcohol services and community health services across Rotherham, Doncaster and North Lincolnshire.

Our NHS Talking Therapy services are available for adults experiencing anxiety, depression, low mood, or stress. We offer a free, confidential service. Residents can self-refer talkingtherapies for an assessment or call Doncaster 03000 211556, Rotherham 03000 215108 or North Lincolnshire 03000 216165. 

The trust has a Clinical and Organisational Strategy which runs until 2028. In there are the trust’s 28 promises to patients, staff and the communities it serves as well as it’s values and vision ‘ Nurturing the power in our communities.’. You can view it here in a number of languages and Easy Read.  

The Trust has its own charity called Your Hearts and Minds which raises funds through donations, activities and legacies to fund a wide range of projects across our services in Rotherham, Doncaster, and North Lincolnshire. Every day, our work impacts service users, their families and friends, and the staff who care for them. The charity funds ideas and projects, above and beyond routine NHS funding to enable outstanding care to improve their lives and those in the wider community.

For further information, please contact the communications team, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust,

Tel: 03000 212100 or email rdash.rdashcommunications@nhs.net