Maternity & Neonatal Psychology
What are Maternity and Neonatal Psychological Interventions Teams? How can they help me and my family? Please click on the image above to find out more.
Pregnancy and birth can involve many different feelings and emotions. For some families, the pregnancy and postnatal journey can be more complicated and this can have an impact on emotional wellbeing. For example, parents may experience:
- Medical complications related to the current pregnancy or birth
- Previous difficulties or complications related to pregnancy, birth and neonatal care that impact maternity care during the next pregnancy
- Phobias, such as needle or birth phobia (Tokophobia)
- Psychological difficulties following a traumatic birth
- Their baby being admitted to Special Care or Neonatal Intensive Care
Psychologists are specially trained to help you manage the wide range of emotions you may be experiencing at this difficult time.
Who is the Maternity & Neonatal Psychology Team?
We are a small psychological therapies team, that includes Clinical Psychologists and a Clinical Associate in Psychological Therapy. Our team covers the whole of Tayside and can offer appointments in person at various clinic locations, or using remote technology. We are based within the Neonatal Unit, Ninewells Hospital.
Who can refer to the Maternity & Neonatal Psychology (MNP) Team?
There are a variety of different health professions that can refer you to the MNP service – for example:
- Obstetrician
- Health Visitor
- Midwife
- Family Nurse
- Neonatal staff
- GP; or
- Other primary and secondary care services.
If you feel you would benefit from support from the MNP Team, you may wish to speak to your health visitor, GP, midwife, family nurse, or health professional. They can then speak to us. If you are already known to a mental health team you may wish to discuss how you are feeling with them. We encourage that you discuss any worries or concerns that you may have with a health professional.
Confidentiality and Consent
All NHS staff have a legal duty to keep information about you confidential. We keep information about your contact with the service in electronic form and it is held securely. Only staff involved in your care will be able to look at your records and we can check who has looked at your electronic record. The person who referred you to the service will be kept informed about your treatment. At times we may be required to exchange information with other professionals involved in your care, for example, your GP. On occasion, we are required by law to share confidential information out with the NHS. If this happens, we will make every effort to keep you informed.
