cropped-Rainbow-purple-icon-on-TRANS-long.png

You are in the CalmFamily

You are in the CalmFamily

The knowledge hub

Perinatal mental health and carrying

Baby tries to get mum's attention postnatal depression perinatal mental health
Share this article:
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on pinterest
Share on email

Perinatal mental health and carrying

Baby tries to get mum's attention postnatal depression perinatal mental health
Share this article:
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on pinterest
Share on email
This resource is categorised as:
This resource is listed in the following topics

Both myself and Jenni have personal experience of perinatal mental health conditions. We’ve written about these before: Em’s experience of post-natal depression: Antenatal mental health and the wonderful Paul Webster wrote about his experience of paternal mental health issues. Many of the people we speak to have personal experience of antenatal and postnatal depression, anxiety and other conditions.

In the UK it is estimated that more than 1 in 10 mothers will develop a mental illness whilst pregnant or in the first year after having a baby, and new research suggests that the figures are similar for fathers. Whilst previously this may have been swept under the rug and parents left to struggle, more and more people are speaking openly about their mental health struggles in order to shed light on what is a widespread issue.

prevalence of perinatal mental health issues
Prevalence of perinatal mental health issues in women and birthing people as provided by the NSPCC

How can carrying affect perinatal mental health?

bonding Em and Reu perinatal mental health

Carrying your baby can be a simple and low cost intervention which can have a profound impact on your mental health.

Practical tool to support families with perinatal mental health struggles

Many of the benefits of carrying newborns can have a huge practical impact. If you are concerned about being able to care for your child, having them close can help you read their cues. Carrying them can help you chat with them and build a whole new relationship.

Slings and carriers can give you your hands back to eat, to drink, to take care of yourself. Carrying your baby can help you leave the house when everything feels overwhelming. Slinging your baby can help you calm them when other options have been exhausted. Carrying can help you cope with the demands of more than one child.

If you are struggling with the day to day reality of coping with mental health issues and a baby or child, a simple tool to give you your hands and freedom to move back can be very valuable. What seems like a small change could have a profound knock on affect.

perinatal mental health and carrying. "Carrying strengthens our bond challenged by postnatal depression"

Bonding: sling support emotional engagement for parents with mental health conditions

Beyond the practical there are many emotional impacts of carrying a baby, for you and for your baby as well. Carrying, especially skin to skin, helps release the hormone oxytocin, which can have a positive impact on everything from breastfeeding to bonding and help your mood too. Using a sling can help you feel like you are able to achieve something positive with your baby when you are feeling overwhelmed. Carrying can help you boost hormones such as oxytocin, dopamine and seratonin, which can be low in people with perinatal mental health issues.

Slings and carriers can be an expression of who you are through colour and design which helps you reconnect with who you were prior to children. Carrying can help you get outside, and fresh air and walking in nature canhave a great positive impact on mental health. Slings can get you out to meet friends, to take part in hobbies which would otherwise be inaccessible. They allow you to reconnect with people and places that are important to you. The sling community is often amazing and can lead to deep and long lasting friendships; as well as a level of support that is less common in our modern society. Carrying can start with the practical, and end with building bonds that support you through your perinatal mental health difficulties.

Building connections

If you’re struggling with the day-to-day aspects of parenting and coping with perinatal mental illness, a sling can become more than a tool. It can be a lifeline that connects you to a support network you didn’t know was there; or a connection back to your family and friends. It can be the thing that keeps your child close when you don’t want to be apart, and a tool to help you bond.

Where you can get sling support

If you’re looking to try a sling but don’t where to start, why not see if there is a local sling library or sling consultant. If you don’t want to see someone face to face or can’t get to sessions then It’s A Sling Thing can provide phone, Zoom or email consultations and postal hire to help you try different options. We love helping families identify options that could work for them.

We have heard from many parents about how slings have been useful tools for coping with a whole range of perinatal mental health issues in both parents, and we are lucky to have experienced the powerful affects first hand.

Baby tries to get mum's attention postnatal depression perinatal mental health

I need help: getting support for perinatal mental health issues

If you are concerned about your mental health please do reach out for assistance. You have many more options out there than ever before, although many people still feel a stigma attached to admitted they need mental health support.

You can always see your GP who should be able to prescribe both medication and talking therapy. Your local area may have an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service which you can self refer into. It may also have a specialist perinatal mental health team.

There are many resources available online:

Blogs

Facebook Resources

Perinatal Mental Health Partnership

Twitter Resources

Instagram Resources

If you have other resources you have found valuable please drop us a line on hq@calmfamily.org and I will get them added to this article.

Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in Calming babies, Family mental health, Infant care, Parents & families, Perinatal mental health, Post-natal period
Resources by category
Resources by topic
Resources by type

Post comments

Responses

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Online groups

Ask in a forum

Find a consultant