Your emotional wellbeing and mental health

Becoming a parent is an exciting time and comes with many new challenges this can effect our emotions. It’s not unusual to experience a range of emotions which can impact on how we think and feel.

Perinatal Mental Health

Perinatal mental health problems are those which occur during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child. Perinatal mental illness affects up to 27% of new and expectant mums and covers a wide range of conditions such as anxiety, depression, low self confidence, difficulty bonding. There is a lot of support available contact your local family hub or speak to your children’s centre who can help you find support. 

Perinatal Mental Health Support

• Leighton Hospital Perimental health team 
• Macclesfield Hospital Perimental health team 

Support Videos 

• Emotional Wellbeing support for parents
• Emotional Wellbeing support for new dads, partners and non-biological parents

SMILE

Offer a range of carefully-developed services to meet the needs of families in our local communities.

• Peer Support Groups operate on a weekly basis out of venues in Macclesfield, Congleton and Sandbach
• 1-1 Home Visits are accessed via referral from a Healthcare Professional
• Talk Therapy is available to parents via referral from our Group Facilitators
• Family Sessions at Ruby’s Fund in Congleton
• Virtual community  follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Support Services

For more advice and tips to support your mental health during pregnancy and beyond, have a look at:

• Tommy's - Emotional changes in pregnancy
• NHS - Five Ways to Wellbeing: 
• Motherwell Cheshire
• NHS - Mental health problems and pregnancy
• PANDAS - Information and support for parents affected by perinatal mental illness
• Association for Post Natal Illness (APNI)
• Action on Postpartum Psychosis
• Dads Pad app
• Dads Matter
• Top Tips for parents from the Institute of Health Visiting 

 You & Your Baby

• Best Beginnings Free Baby Buddy app
• Observing your baby together  
• Parental wellbeing from BBC Tiny Happy People

Page last reviewed: 13 February 2024