Category: postnatal

A strategic plan integrating community development concepts for the trans and non-binary childbearing population in perinatal services.

[Originally submitted as an assignment for MPH @ University of Manchester]

Community and Public Health Issue

The community in focus is the England’s transgender male and non-binary[1] childbearing community. Trans people are individuals whose gender identity falls outside the stereotypical gender norms of their biological sex. No definitive figures exist for how big the trans community is due to lack of research, fear of reprisals, no standardisation in definitions, and outdated data systems lacking recording capability[i] [ii] [iii] [iv] [v]. An approximation suggests around 600,000[vi] trans people live in the UK. We can assume the number of trans people is likely rising due to the increase in referrals to gender dysphoria clinics[vii]. Therefore, the trans childbearing community is likely rising too – although subject to the same recording and accuracy issues as the wider trans community – meaning providing gender-inclusive perinatal care is becoming more of a pressing concern for service providers.

Trans individuals are likely to have had previous negative experiences within healthcare settings and suffer from healthcare professionals (HCPs) not understanding their specific needs adequately[viii]. The trans childbearing community are trying to access services created for heterosexual ciswomen[2][ix] so information, clinical space and HCPs are usually heavily gendered, making it more difficult to access services from outside that binary. If trans people are unwilling or unable to adequately access perinatal services their and their baby’s health is risked. A public health central tenet is to prevent disease and improve health by offering services accessible to all; therefore ensuring gender-inclusive perinatal services is a public health issue.

Theory of Change

Problem:

Perinatal care is essential for the perinatal dyad; without it there are increased risks of adult and child morbidity and other serious adverse outcomes[x]. Trans people are at increased risk of not accessing healthcare services due to real or perceived stigma, discrimination and bias from HCPs, lack of cultural competency, systemic barriers such as inadequate IT systems and sociocultural barriers such as increased mental health challenges[xi] [xii] [xiii]. This is particularly an issue in perinatal healthcare where services are largely created by and for ciswomen, adding an additional cis-centric dynamic to accessing care, and where it is possible any experienced gender dysphoria can worsen.

Long-Term Goal:

Strategic aims of this health plan are to:

  • Reduce the real/perceived stigma faced by trans childbearing people that stops them accessing perinatal care
  • Improve the experience of the trans childbearing community accessing perinatal care
  • Improve the health of trans childbearing individuals and their infants through the perinatal period.

These goals will be met when all trans childbearing people who want to access perinatal care do so, and in doing so no harm is caused emotionally or physically to the dyad.

Key Audience:

Stakeholders involved in this strategic plan will be trans childbearing individuals, perinatal care workers (including midwives, obstetricians, infant feeding workers, health visitors), and other HCPs e.g. endocrinologists, together with representation from Clinical Commissioning Groups and the VCSE sector.

Backwards Map from Goal:

Examination of the preceding stages from the long-term goals necessitate a collaborative approach from all identified stakeholders so all necessary changes before the goal can be met are considered.

To reduce overall stigma and improve the experiences of trans individuals accessing perinatal care there needs to be:

  • Reduction of internalised stigma
  • Reduction of healthcare stigma from individual practitioners
  • Reduction of structural stigma

Which needs:

  • Motivation to change from the institution and HCPs within it
  • Belief from trans childbearing individuals that cultural change can occur

Which leads to accessibility of perinatal services for trans people through:

  • Improved understanding of the challenges faced by the trans childbearing community leading to an increase in desire to help overcome these challenges
  • Equipping HCPs with the skills and competencies needed to support the trans childbearing community
  • Cultural changes in the behaviour of HCPs which leads to a visible awareness for the trans childbearing community
  • Improvement in the existing structural systems
  • Motivation of individuals to access a changing system for health gain

No change is independent of any other or relates only to one long-term outcome; they are symbiotic in nature therefore it is unrealistic to assume that a singular change will lead to a singular outcome. Coproduction is a vital part of the plan to ensure that the assumptions and underlying logic of approaches are valid and fit for all stakeholders, but particularly the service users.

Strategies and Interventions:

There is a paucity of research about trans childbearing experiences of pregnancy care in England; what little exists are small-scale qualitative studies, often undervalued in the medical world[xiv]. This failing of research existence results in organisations having little solid evidence to base the redesign of services on[xv].

A key principle underpinning all strategies is that they will be developed through true coproduction with relevant stakeholders including service users, to ensure they best fit the needs of the community (while recognising that the trans childbearing community has not one homogenous voice).

Strategies which have been published can be broadly grouped within the following themes.

                Culturally Competent Training

HCPs often lack understanding and awareness of the trans childbearing community and the specific problems they face when accessing highly gendered healthcare services. To help alleviate this, cultural competence education including use of appropriate language should be given to staff[xvi]. Cultural competency can help staff interact with people they care for in a way that does not cause mental harm; for example, using correct pronouns, not deadnaming[3], misgendering or conflating gender identity with sexual orientation[xvii]. Fit-for-purpose cultural competency training can ensure HCPs provide appropriate medical care rather than subjecting trans individuals to superfluous and sometimes voyeuristic practices[xviii], or giving incorrect medical information[xix].

Cultural competency training would be included in this strategic plan to help meet the long-term goals. Training would be offered firstly to all core perinatal HCPs and then rolled out to affiliate HCPs. The training would impact on:

  • improving understanding of challenges faced by the trans childbearing community by HCPs
  • increasing HCPs’ skills and competencies to deal with diverse challenges
  • increasing vocalness and visibility of trans rights and needs in pregnancy making perinatal care more accessible for the trans childbearing community
  • reducing healthcare stigma, discrimination, and bias
  • improving the experience of trans individuals accessing perinatal care
  • improving the health of the trans childbearing community.

Limitations recognised by the strategic plan of this intervention are that:

  • the trans childbearing community are not a homogenous group therefore their needs may be disparate; poorly designed training courses may give HCPs the impression that a one-size-fits-all approach is possible
  • this specific type of education is relatively new; no research exists to evidence its efficacy other than anecdotal feedback. However, it is likely that it will have the same level of positive impact on patient outcomes as other types of cultural competency training[xx].

Assumptions made regarding training as a strategy to meet the long-term goal of this strategic plan are that:

  • HCPs are not transphobic and any failings in service provision come from lack of understanding which can be overcome
  • HCPs are motivated to better their awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by the trans childbearing community
  • HCPs have the time to do additional training outside their caseloads
  • the interpersonal skills needed to enable HCPs to provide care to trans people are teachable
  • there is a supportive space for HCPs to learn in and competent experts to provide the training.

Although there may be logistical challenges in staff finding time for training these are not insurmountable, and it is likely an organisation considering such training will be supportive of people in that learning sphere. It is probably best to assume the good intentions of all workers to be motivated to do better unless proven otherwise[xxi] – which can be dealt with under an organisation’s disciplinary policy.

Individualised Care

The trans childbearing community are not a homogenous group and cannot be treated as such, needing a heterogeneric approach to care to match their diverse experiences. Personalised care is an integral to the NHS’ Long-Term Plan[xxii] and should be prioritised for the trans childbearing community through proportionate universalism.

One individualised approach needed is regarding language used. Some trans individuals have a definite preference for their gender identity, some are comfortable with a variety of terms (e.g. male, female-to-male, transman, assigned-female-at-birth)[xxiii]. Alongside this is pronoun choice; trans people have a more positive healthcare experience – and therefore less exposure to mental harm – when correct pronouns are used[xxiv]. There is also the degree of ‘outness’ both in terms of gender identity and pregnancy to consider: for some, being seen as male but not pregnant is critical to good health, for others being out as male and pregnant is important, for others passing as a cisgender woman while pregnant is how they feel safest[xxv]. Birth tends to be pathologised in England[xxvi] and it is possible that being trans in itself may put individuals onto a high-risk pathway even if there is no medical indication, increasing intervention rates with the potential of increasing physiological and mental harm[xxvii].

Specific interventions within this strategic theme to be implemented are:

  • ensure individualised care through thoughtful conversations between pregnant person and culturally competent HCPs
  • reduce the need for the “trans story” to be repeated (thereby causing mental trauma) by having continuity of carer, a strategy which itself improves perinatal outcomes for parent and child[xxviii]
  • have language needs clearly identified “at a glance” on notes so professional contact remains consistent and accurate[xxix]
  • not place on an obstetric pathway for trans status alone[xxx].

The impact on the strategic plan’s long-term goals is to:

  • reduce stigma for the individual by building a close, personable relationship with a small team of carers
  • increase the belief that ‘the system’ can meet the needs of a subjugated community, therefore making it more likely individuals within the trans childbearing community will seek future healthcare
  • improve individuals experience within the perinatal system, reducing mental distress
  • improve the health of the perinatal dyad by ensuring accessibility to fit-for-purpose services and staff.

The limitations of these interventions within this strategic plan may be that:

  • self-identity is complex and may change as a pregnancy progresses, and may need more time, patience, and experience than an HCP has to give
  • the maternity system is not resourced adequately to staff a pathway that requires more time; although continuity of carer pathways should be implemented for “most” birthing people by 2021[xxxi] there are already severe shortages in midwifery[xxxii] that means this is not happening[xxxiii].

Assumptions made with these strategic interventions are that:

  • it matters to trans childbearing people how they are identified by others
  • maternity services are resourced adequately to provide continuity of care and properly individualised care – not just lip-service.

These assumptions can be overcome by conducting transparent and open conversations with each individual. Resourcing is not so easy to challenge however the financial benefits of keeping parent-and-child healthy in the perinatal period can be used as a basis for a proposal for extra resources.  

Systematic Change

The system within which perinatal services exist also needs change to meet the trans childbearing community’s need. There is institutional erasure of trans pregnant people: only one trans-inclusive maternity policy exists in England[xxxiv], IT systems do not have capacity to accurately record gender[xxxv] [xxxvi], physical space is aimed almost exclusively at women[xxxvii], and educational literature features predominantly heterosexual ciswomen.

Interventions which may positively impact on this area and will be included in the strategic plan are:

  • creation of perinatal guidance and policies which are gender-inclusive
  • redevelopment of physical space and literature to ensure representation
  • upgrading of IT systems so perinatal gender options are representative.

The interventions would:

  • improve the environment in which trans childbearing people access perinatal services, making services more accessible
  • make it easier to accurately record a true gender identity, helping increase visibility and break down stigma, both individual and structural.

The limitations of these interventions are that:

  • it may be costly to implement wide-scale change on infrastructure that is nationally devolved
  • systematic change takes time
  • there is likely to be resistance from people who lack education around the trans community[xxxviii].

Assumptions made regarding the implementation of this strategy are that:

  • there are resources to implement wide-scale change
  • there is appetite to do so on a wide-scale; national change needs a top-down approach and if the most senior leaders do not understand the importance of change it cannot happen at the scale it needs to.

Mental Health Focus

Poor mental health is a common theme for trans people navigating healthcare systems, especially perinatal services, therefore it is imperative that action is taken to improve the trans childbearing community’s mental health status.

Gender and genitalia dysphoria before pregnancy, antenatally, intrapartum, postpartum, and longer-term postnatally including infant feeding choices is a big concern for trans childbearing people, and a situation that can shift and worsen significantly as a person passes through these experiences[xxxix] [xl]. It is essential that culturally competent carers understand the impact of dysphoria during the perinatal period and that there is access to culturally sensitive specialist counselling[xli], interventions which are included in this strategic health plan. Alongside professional support is the value of peer support: feelings of isolation cause great distress for trans childbearing people[xlii] and appropriate, specific peer support can be invaluable – HCPs need to be able to signpost this support effectively[xliii].

These interventions would help:

  • reduce internalised stigma through visibility, reducing isolation and improving access to health education in an informal setting
  • improve mental health leading to greater accessing of healthcare and reducing poor physical outcomes.

The assumptions underlying these interventions are that:

  • trans people will want to access perinatal services if mental health is nurtured
  • specific peer support is accessible.

Mitigating these assumptions may take time and resources to increase knowledge and earn trust, and there may be a chicken-and-egg scenario of trans childbearing people peer support not being ‘lumped in’ with generic LGBT support groups – there needs to be volume to necessitate support but without such support the true volume of need may not be known.

Responsibilities:

Providing the space (physical and mental) and resources for the interventions listed to be adequately provided are the responsibility of the HCPs responsible for this strategic plan. The community will decide whether this is enough for them to overturn previous negative experiences and engage with perinatal services, however it is noted that it takes time for underserved communities to develop trust and engagement with a service that has historically overlooked them. There must be an element of goodwill belief from the trans childbearing community that things can change; while this will be true of some there will be others who make a choice never to engage.

Outcome Measures:

Strategic interventions will be measured and evaluated through a framework of user experience data-collection tools. Baseline data prior to the implementation of intervention will be needed so outcome metrics can be tracked against implementation.

  • Friends and Family Test[xliv]
  • CQC Maternity Services survey[xlv]
  • Locally designed Maternity Voices Partnership care survey[xlvi].

Wider benefits should also be seen in health outcomes for both parent-and-child, increasing positive outcomes in maternity dashboard[xlvii] figures generally.

Programme Narrative

The needs-based approach to health improvement of the trans childbearing community holds the assumption that the community face disparity in health outcomes during the perinatal period. This has been evidenced through an assumptive approach based on the wider trans community’s relationship with accessing healthcare and the limited research available on the trans childbearing community and perinatal care experience.

A big limitation of the programme is that the trans childbearing community in England is unknown due to systematic failure of data capturing and heterogeneous approaches to self-identity, exacerbated by fear of stigma, discrimination, and bias. The trans community is growing and even if not the trans childbearing people deserve to have access to appropriate healthcare.

Within the framework of perinatal services provided by the NHS in England, the programme will adopt an integrated approach to improving the health of the trans childbearing community which places individuals from the community at the heart of the proposed strategic interventions. The programme will take a symbiotic approach to the interventions of cultural competency training, individualised care, systematic change, and a focus on improving mental health.

Through partnership working of all stakeholders and in particular collaboration with the community using (or intending to use) the service, the programme will implement strategies that increase awareness and understanding of the additional vulnerabilities and challenges the community face, ensure supportive care that meets the unique needs of the community, changes the system within which perinatal care currently exists, and ensure mental health is as protected as physical health. This will allow broader goals of reducing real and perceived internalised, healthcare, and structural stigma; improve the experience of navigating the service, making it more accessible and giving HCPs the skills needed to provide care to a vulnerable and diverse community; and improving the long-term health of parent-and-child, impacting not just on them as individuals but the wider communities they exist within. Long-term one of the benefits of the programme is that this underrepresented in healthcare community group will be more likely to access perinatal care as they know their community is understood and represented.

Although the strategic themes have been identified through this programme this truly will be a collaborative community health programme and relevant stakeholders but especially the trans childbearing community themselves will coproduce the final programme strategy, implementation, and evaluation methods to ensure they are flexible and adaptable to maintain community relevancy through emerging and changing needs, priorities and in response to any future published evidence.

Sustainability of the programme will be supported through participatory actions of the community themselves and by ensuring that interventions are measured against the long-term goals of the programme with a mechanism for future growth and development of the programme as the long-term goals are achieved.

[1] For the purpose of this essay the umbrella term ‘trans’ will be used throughout unless specifically noted.

[2] A woman whose gender matches their assigned sex at birth.

[3] Using the birth (or legal name if not yet changed) of a trans person even though it is not their preferred name. This can be accidental or intentional.

[i] Nolan IT, Kuhner CJ, Dy GW. Demographic and temporal trends in transgender identities and gender confirming surgery. Transl Androl Urol. [Online]. 2019;8(3):184-190. [Accessed 26 April 2021]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6626314

[ii] Office of National Statistics. Trans data position paper. [Online]. 2009. [Accessed 26 April 2021]. Available from: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/measuring-equality/equality/equality-data-review/trans-data-position-paper.pdf

[iii] House of Commons, Women and Equalities Committee. Transgender Equality. [Online]. 2016. [Accessed 26 April 2021]. Available from: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmwomeq/390/390.pdf

[iv] Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals. Perinatal care for trans and non-binary people. [Online]. 2020. [Accessed 26 April 2021]. Available from: https://www.bsuh.nhs.uk/maternity/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/01/MP005-Perinatal-Care-for-Trans-and-Non-Binary-People.pdf

[v] Public Health England [Online]. Ensuring pregnant trans men get equal quality care. 2020. [Accessed 26 April 2021]. Available from: https://phescreening.blog.gov.uk/2020/03/13/pregnant-men-best-care/

[vi] Stonewall.org [Online]. How many trans people are there in Britain at the moment. [Accessed 26 April 2021]. Available from: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/truth-about-trans#trans-people-britain

[vii] Torjesen I. Trans health needs more and better services: increasing capacity, expertise, and integration. BMJ. [Online]. 2018;362:k3371. [Accessed 26 April 2021]. Available from: https://www-bmj-com.manchester.idm.oclc.org/content/362/bmj.k3371

[viii] Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals. Perinatal care for trans and non-binary people. [Online]. 2020. [Accessed 26 April 2021]. Available from: https://www.bsuh.nhs.uk/maternity/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/01/MP005-Perinatal-Care-for-Trans-and-Non-Binary-People.pdf

[ix] Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals. Perinatal care for trans and non-binary people. [Online]. 2020. [Accessed 26 April 2021]. Available from: https://www.bsuh.nhs.uk/maternity/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/01/MP005-Perinatal-Care-for-Trans-and-Non-Binary-People.pdf

[x] Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists [Online]. Antenatal care should be standardised to the minimum targets set out in the new guidance, say professional bodies. 2020. [Accessed 28 April 2021]. Available from: https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/antenatal-care-should-be-standardised-to-the-minimum-targets-set-out-in-new-guidance-say-professional-bodies/#:~:text=Maternity%20care%20has%20been%20shown,and%20other%20adverse%20perinatal%20outcomes

[xi] Safer JD, Coleman E, Feldman J. Barriers to healthcare for transgender individuals. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. [Online]. 2016;23(2):168-171. [Accessed 28 April 2021]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4802845

[xii] Public Health England [Online]. Ensuring pregnant trans men get equal quality care. 2020. [Accessed 26 April 2021]. Available from: https://phescreening.blog.gov.uk/2020/03/13/pregnant-men-best-care/

[xiii] Berger AP, Potter EM, Shutters CM, Imborek KL. Pregnant transmen and barriers to high quality healthcare. Proceedings in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. [Online]. 2015;5(2):3. [Accessed 28 April 2021]. Available from: http://ir.uiowa.edu/pog/

[xiv] Greenhalgh, T, Howick, J, Maskrey, N, Brassey, J, Burch, D, Burton, M, Chang, H, Glasziou, P, Heath, I, Heneghan, C, Kelly, M P, Lehman, R, Llewelyn, H, McCartney, M, Milne, R, Spence, D. Evidence based medicine: A movement in crisis? BMJ [Online] 2014. Vol. 348. [Accessed 5 May 2021]. Available from: https://www-bmj-com.manchester.idm.oclc.org/content/348/bmj.g3725

[xv] Lai-Boyd, B. Maternity care for LGBTQ+ people – how can we do better? June 2020. [Accessed 29 April 2021]. In: All4Maternity. ALL4MATERNITY BLOG, NEWS & VIEWS. [Online]. Available from: https://www.all4maternity.com/maternity-care-for-lgbtq-people-how-can-we-do-better

[xvi] Berger AP, Potter EM, Shutters CM, Imborek KL. Pregnant transmen and barriers to high quality healthcare. Proceedings in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. [Online]. 2015;5(2):3. [Accessed 28 April 2021]. Available from: http://ir.uiowa.edu/pog/

[xvii] Hoffkling, A, Obedin-Maliver, J, Sevelius, J. From erasure to opportunity: a qualitative study of the experiences of transgender men around pregnancy and recommendations for providers. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth [Online]. 2017;17,332. [Accessed 29 April 2021]. Available from: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth-biomedcentral-com.manchester.idm.oclc.org/articles/10.1186/s12884-017-1491-5#Bib1

[xviii] Hoffkling, A, Obedin-Maliver, J, Sevelius, J. From erasure to opportunity: a qualitative study of the experiences of transgender men around pregnancy and recommendations for providers. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth [Online]. 2017,332. [Accessed 29 April 2021]. Available from: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth-biomedcentral-com.manchester.idm.oclc.org/articles/10.1186/s12884-017-1491-5#Bib1

[xix] MacDonald, T, Noel-Weiss, J, West, D. et al. Transmasculine individuals’ experiences with lactation, chestfeeding, and gender identity: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth [Online]. 2016,106. [Accessed 29 April 2021]. Available from: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth-biomedcentral-com.manchester.idm.oclc.org/articles/10.1186/s12884-016-0907-y

[xx] Lie, DA., Lee-Rey, E, Gomez, A. et al. Does cultural competency training of health professionals improve patient outcomes? A systematic review and proposed algorithm for future research. J Gen Intern Med. [Online]. 2011. 26;317–325. [Accessed 1 May 2021]. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11606-010-1529-0 

[xxi] Bartlett, KT. Making good on good intentions: The critical role of motivation in deducing implicit workplace discrimination.  Virginia Law Review [Online]. 2009:95,8,1893:1972. [accessed 5 May 2021]. Available from: www.jstor.org/stable/27759975

[xxii] NHS England. The NHS long term plan. [Online]. 2019. [Accessed 1 May 2021]. Available from: https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/nhs-long-term-plan-version-1.2.pdf

[xxiii] Hoffkling, A, Obedin-Maliver, J, Sevelius, J. From erasure to opportunity: a qualitative study of the experiences of transgender men around pregnancy and recommendations for providers. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth [Online]. 2017. 332. [Accessed 29 April 2021]. Available from: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth-biomedcentral-com.manchester.idm.oclc.org/articles/10.1186/s12884-017-1491-5#Bib1

[xxiv] Light, AD, Obedin-Maliver, J, Sevelius, JM, Kerns, JL. Transgender men who experienced pregnancy after female-to-male gender transitioning. Obstetrics & Gynaecology. [Online]. 2014. 124;6;1120:1127. [Accessed 1 May 2021]. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2014/12000/Transgender_Men_Who_Experienced_Pregnancy_After.9.aspx

[xxv] Hoffkling, A, Obedin-Maliver, J, Sevelius, J. From erasure to opportunity: a qualitative study of the experiences of transgender men around pregnancy and recommendations for providers. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth [Online]. 2017. 332. [Accessed 29 April 2021]. Available from: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth-biomedcentral-com.manchester.idm.oclc.org/articles/10.1186/s12884-017-1491-5#Bib1

[xxvi] Smith, A for AIMS. Salutogenesis – putting the health back into healthcare. [Online]. 2020. 33,1. [Accessed 5 May 2021]. Available from: https://www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/editorial-salutogenesis

[xxvii] Soet, JE, Brack, GA, Dilorio, C. Prevalence and predictors of psychological trauma during childbirth. Birth [Online]. 2003;30, 36–46. [Accessed 5 May 2021]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12581038

[xxviii] Sandall J, Soltani H, Gates S, Shennan A, Devane D for Cochrane. Pregnancy and childbirth review group. Midwife-led continuity models of care compared with other models of care for women during pregnancy, birth and early parenting. [Online]. 2016. [Accessed 5 May 2021]. Available from: https://www.cochrane.org/CD004667/PREG_midwife-led-continuity-models-care-compared-other-models-care-women-during-pregnancy-birth-and-early

[xxix] Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals. Pronoun stickers. [Online]. [Accessed 1 May 2021]. Available from: https://www.bsuh.nhs.uk/maternity/documents/pronoun-stickers/

[xxx] Brandt, J, Patel AJ, Marshall I, Bachmann, GA. Transgender men, pregnancy, and the “new” advanced paternal age: A review of the literature. Maturitas. [Online]. 2019.

128,17:21. [Accessed 1 May 2021]. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512219305845

[xxxi] NHS England. The NHS long term plan. [Online]. 2019. [Accessed 1 May 2021]. Available from: https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/nhs-long-term-plan-version-1.2.pdf

[xxxii] Royal College of Midwives. Fears for maternity as staffing shortages hit safety and morale says RCM. [Online]. 2020. [Accessed 1 May 2021]. Available from: https://www.rcm.org.uk/media-releases/2020/november/fears-for-maternity-as-staffing-shortages-hit-safety-and-morale-says-rcm/

[xxxiii] Care Quality Commission and NHS England. 2019 survey of women’s experiences of maternity care. [Online]. 2019. [Accessed 2 May 2021]. Available from: https://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/20200128_mat19_statisticalrelease.pdf

[xxxiv] Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals. Perinatal care for trans and non-binary people. [Online]. 2020. [Accessed 26 April 2021]. Available from: https://www.bsuh.nhs.uk/maternity/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/01/MP005-Perinatal-Care-for-Trans-and-Non-Binary-People.pdf

[xxxv] Hoffkling, A, Obedin-Maliver, J, Sevelius, J. From erasure to opportunity: a qualitative study of the experiences of transgender men around pregnancy and recommendations for providers. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth [Online]. 2017. 332. [Accessed 29 April 2021]. Available from: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth-biomedcentral-com.manchester.idm.oclc.org/articles/10.1186/s12884-017-1491-5#Bib1

[xxxvi] Berger AP, Potter EM, Shutters CM, Imborek KL. Pregnant transmen and barriers to high quality healthcare. Proceedings in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. [Online]. 2015;5(2):3. [Accessed 28 April 2021]. Available from: http://ir.uiowa.edu/pog/

[xxxvii] Hoffkling, A, Obedin-Maliver, J, Sevelius, J. From erasure to opportunity: a qualitative study of the experiences of transgender men around pregnancy and recommendations for providers. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth [Online]. 2017. 332. [Accessed 29 April 2021]. Available from: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth-biomedcentral-com.manchester.idm.oclc.org/articles/10.1186/s12884-017-1491-5#Bib1

[xxxviii] Vine, S. Vilified by armies of woke…for being a woman. Daily Mail. [Online]. 13 February 2021. [Accessed 4 May 2021]. Available from: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-9257865/SARAH-VINE-Vilified-armies-woke-woman.html

[xxxix] MacDonald, T, Noel-Weiss, J, West, D. et al. Transmasculine individuals’ experiences with lactation, chestfeeding, and gender identity: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth [Online]. 2016,106. [Accessed 29 April 2021]. Available from: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth-biomedcentral-com.manchester.idm.oclc.org/articles/10.1186/s12884-016-0907-y

[xl] Brandt, J, Patel AJ, Marshall I, Bachmann, GA. Transgender men, pregnancy, and the “new” advanced paternal age: A review of the literature. Maturitas. [Online]. 2019.

128,17:21. [Accessed 1 May 2021]. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512219305845

[xli] Ellis SA, Wojnar DM, Pettinato M. Conception, pregnancy, and birth experiences of male and gender variant gestational parents: it’s how we could have a family. J Midwifery Womens Health. [Online]. 2015;60(1):62-69. [Accessed 4 May 2021]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25196302

[xlii] Ellis SA, Wojnar DM, Pettinato M. Conception, pregnancy, and birth experiences of male and gender variant gestational parents: it’s how we could have a family. J Midwifery Womens Health. [Online]. 2015;60(1):62-69. [Accessed 4 May 2021]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25196302

[xliii] Berger AP, Potter EM, Shutters CM, Imborek KL. Pregnant transmen and barriers to high quality healthcare. Proceedings in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. [Online]. 2015;5(2):3. [Accessed 28 April 2021]. Available from: http://ir.uiowa.edu/pog/

[xliv] NHS England. Friends and family test (FFT). [Online]. 2020. [Accessed 4 May 2021]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/friends-and-family-test-fft

[xlv] Care Quality Commission and NHS England. 2019 survey of women’s experiences of maternity care. [Online]. 2019. [Accessed 2 May 2021]. Available from: https://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/20200128_mat19_statisticalrelease.pdf

[xlvi] National Maternity Voices Partnership. http://nationalmaternityvoices.org.uk/

[xlvii] Maternity Services Dashboard. https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/data-collections-and-data-sets/data-sets/maternity-services-data-set/maternity-services-dashboard

An Exploration of the Aetiology of UK Women’s Perinatal Mental Health Problems.

(Originally written as an assignment for Masters in Public Health/Global Women’s Public Health)

Nature of Problem:

The perinatal[i] mental health (PMH) of women[ii] in the UK is an area of significant concern, needing investment and prioritisation to protect both women and their families’ lives. Poor mental health affects not just mothers: it can affect the child’s physical and emotional health[1], as well as other members of the familial unit[2]. Poor PMH can impact a foetuses’ heart rate[3], cause pre-term birth[4], and cause epigenetic DNA changes[5]. Prevention, detection, and treatment therefore are all crucial to support wider health.

PMH problems[iii] (PMHP) affect up to 20% of perinatal women[6]. This large sample, mixed-method study of perinatal women had responses from women already likely to be thinking about perinatal mental health, however the NHS[7] [8] support these statistics, making over-representation an unlikely influencer. Suicide is the biggest cause of maternal death in the first year post-birth and the second biggest in the first forty-two days post-birth[9]. These statistics have been collated by MBRRACE-UK from NHS reporting, cross-referenced with government resources, and analysed by multiple Expert Reviewers; the methodological rigour underpins the robustness of findings. PMHP cost the UK £8.1 billion per year[10]; economic modelling which includes a robust systematic review and meta-analysis following NICE standards, increasing internal and external validity. Three-quarters of this cost is associated with childhood morbidity[11].

There are regional variances in PMH in the UK. The North East has a referral rate to support services of 35% compared to the East’s 15%[12]: there is a similar regional response rate of respondents comfortable talking about their mental health with a healthcare professional and the report concludes the difference is likely due to (lack of) care received rather than need. The UK is not alone in its concerns over PMH. High Income Countries have a prevalence of PMHP in 7-15%[13] of perinatal women, Low-Middle Income Countries have a higher frequency of 16-25%[14]. These figures are not as recent as the standalone UK percentage so although the UK seems to have a higher rate it is possible that all countries have crept up over recent years. It is also possible that countries without the infrastructure to support large data collection under-report their prevalence.

Impact of Risk Factors:

Gender is a key determinant of good mental health: in England one in five women and one in eight men suffer a mental health disorder, with this number increasing in women over recent years but remaining stable in men[15]. PMH is clearly a factor in this gender disparity; it is possible that if a gender burden were removed in all other aspects of mental health determinants a disparity in prevalence between genders would still exist due to the perinatal period.

Birth trauma is a key trigger of PMHP, affecting around 30%[16] of women who have given birth. Factors influencing development of PMHP following birth trauma include those who have experienced any type of previous life trauma, an intervention-heavy birth, perceived poor care from their healthcare team, and those whose babies are born prematurely or are admitted to neonatal units[17]. Race, ethnicity, age, low socio-economic standing, and lack of empowerment in the birth-room are themselves a risk factor of developing these outcomes[18] [19] [20].  There is a paucity in research regarding prevention of birth trauma – reducing the root cause of an outcome rather than attempting to change the outcome itself may be the necessary action needed. There is also a disparity between both the topics that have been researched and the findings of the research carried out, and the experiences that women and midwives relay. To understand why such a disparity exists, and why preventing birth trauma has not been studied in any great detail needs the context of the UK’s maternity services. Obstetricians are, by their very specialty, more likely to only experience complicated births and have therefore normalised medical births in a way many midwives have not. Obstetricians are also more likely to conduct research, and their medical, male-orientated research is more likely to be funded than research into promoting the physiological norm due to the patriarchal nature of healthcare[21]. The biases of the researcher, therefore, result in research that misses some fundamental areas of lived experience. This is a situation that is changing, however it has become quite a deep-seated divide and the recent media coverage[22] of the newly released Ockenden Report[23] using the phrase “cult of natural birth” shows just how prevalent and entrenched medicalised birth has become. It is also possible that birth trauma figures are even higher as individuals may not count ‘feeling traumatised’ as a specific mental health problem if a diagnosis of PTSD has not been made, and a diagnosis might not be sought when the narrative around birth expects it to be a traumatic event[24].

Ethnicity is another key consideration of PMPH. Minority ethnic groups have a higher prevalence of PMHP while simultaneously being less likely to have them detected or treated[25]. Suffering a higher burden of poor mental health already from other determinants such as poverty, inequity in education and healthcare access, English as a second language, and community and cultural environments factor in these figures, however much current research ignores racism – both institutional and direct – in being a trigger for poor PMH. Since the 2018 MBRRACE report [26] a light has been cast on racial inequities in maternal mortality (including mental health) and grass-roots campaigns like FiveXMore[27] are championing change. Challenging deep-seated inequalities is an ongoing and lengthy process; the uncomfortable dissonance felt by maternity service workers has not fully receded to a point where research can be conducted into this with bias eliminated. It is, perhaps, not the ethnicity of a woman that is the determinant of poor mental health per se, but rather the intersection of a lifetime of socioeconomic factors that are underpinned by structural racial discrimination mixed with a healthy dose of individual ethnically-motivated prejudices. Consideration also need to be given to cultural stigma around mental health, which may exacerbate illnesses[28] [29] and ethnicities such as Travellers who commonly underutilise healthcare[30] meaning true data may be under-represented.

Strong links exist between socioeconomic status and mental health illness[31], a link continuing in the perinatal period[32]:  This study by Ban et al shows women in the most deprived quintile are up to 2.63 times more likely to develop PMHP compared to those in the least deprived quintile. It is, perhaps, unsurprising that women who have existing financial pressures would find them exacerbated by having a new addition to the household and that this increased pressure could trigger a PMHP. Linking in not meeting breastfeeding goals (discussed below) adds an additional financial pressure of circa £10 per week for a can of formula powder – doubly critical that when a woman wants or needs to breastfeed she is supported to do so. The large-scale cross-sectional analysis by Ban et al also correlates age and socioeconomic status: the older a woman is and the more deprivation she is in, the higher her chance of developing PMHP. The large sample size of 116,457 increases validity; although it is possible that those younger, those in higher deprivation or those in some minority ethnic groups are under-represented as they may be less likely to seek intervention.

Society has a role in supporting PMH. New mothers face pressure about how they and their baby should be feeling and behaving from multitudes of sources with many losing self-efficacy, triggering episodes of poor mental health due to a lack of empowerment. The decentralisation of extended families can result in a higher reliance on parenting books whose profit-driven priority is to sell a problem to be fixed by their method; reliance and ‘solutions’ that can trigger poor PMH[33].  How a mother feeds her baby is also a risk factor in triggering a PMHP. While breastfeeding is a protective factor against postnatal depression[34], poor mental health can be triggered if a mother does not meet her breastfeeding goals[35] [36].

The current Covid19 pandemic is limiting access to mental health services. A rapid response study has found that depression has increased by 26% and anxiety by 43% in perinatal women during the pandemic compared to perinatal women before the pandemic. Families feel they do not know where to access information and support[37] and service changes have contributed to suicide deaths[38]. With pandemic stressors on top of the ‘normal’ risk factors for poor PMH there is a big risk of a huge mental health crisis, swamping already underfunded and under-resourced services. Where usually women would have face-to-face appointments that would provide the opportunity to detect issues, these are not always happening (occurring virtually, where women have indicated that they are not comfortable talking about mental health issues over the phone[39]) or at all (where the healthcare team have been redeployed). 

Preventative Strategies:

Current detection of PMH relies on three access-points: pro-active requests for support; positively answering a wellbeing request from their healthcare professional; an existing complex mental health need resulting in a referral to a specialist pathway[40], however these are not without their potential pitfalls, the biggest being the woman being capable of vocalising her need – something which may be hard during a PMHP.  The NHS has prioritised mental health in their Five Year Forward View for Mental Health[41], transforming their Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathway[42] guidance, investing to meet greater need, and greater significance on mental health being placed on all contact points of perinatal women, including the newly contracted six-week postnatal maternal check via GP services[iv][43], although as this started at the peak of the pandemic the service has been oft-overlooked[44] this year.

Detection of PMHP could be improved by services strengthening their links; the NHS is not an homogenous entity and siloed working[45] between services creates gaps that women can slip through[46], especially in an under-resourced, over-worked environment where wellbeing checks become tick box exercises through time constraints, relationships between healthcare professional and service user do not have the opportunity to develop, and referred services have lengthy waiting times if a woman does manage to get that far. Healthcare professionals who interact with perinatal women need to have specific PMH training to help identify issues and be able to confidently manage a PMHP caseload in line with evidence-based pathways.

Prevention is better than cure: optimising preventative strategies is needed to reduce the burden of PMHP. The intersection and correlation of risk factors means that reducing prevalence of PMHP is no small task, starting with reducing long-term health inequalities in at-risk groups: gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and LGBT+ status. If a woman is less likely to develop a mental health problem in a wider context it will only help in a perinatal context. However, much is to be done specifically in the perinatal period too. Reducing birth trauma – changing the narrative around how childbirth is ‘horrendous’ so people expect better[47], reducing unnecessary intervention[48], establishing strong relationships through continuity of carer[49], increasing doula use[50], good quality feeding support[51], and supporting new mothers instead of adding pressure to them[52] will all reduce a woman’s chance of developing a PMHP. Indeed, continuity of carer during pregnancy, the intrapartum and postnatal periods is of great benefit not just in preventing birth trauma and detecting mental health problems themselves, but also in detecting other psychosocial factors that can increase a woman’s chance of developing PMHP. Intimate partner violence increasing during pregnancy[53], poor social support, financial pressures and life stresses are all risk factors for developing PMPH[54] [55] and can all be reduced by a woman being cared for by a trusted midwife over the entire period.

The cost of funding sufficient PMH services is £0.28 billion per year compared to an annual cost to the UK of £8.1 billion[56]  – a compelling argument for public health strategic intervention. Key to all prevention strategies is the co-creation of services with experts-through-experience, paying particular attention to the most at-risk cohorts of women giving birth. World-beating PMH services are useless if mothers cannot attend[v]; women’s lived experiences and needs must be listened to. Although the NHS commits to co-production of services in all the guidance documented in this essay, the reality is that services are so fragmented and under resourced that co-production is often lip service at best.

It is inevitable that some PMHP will exist no matter how stringent the prevention and detection measures put in place are. Treatments need to be timely and accessible, and they need to take into consideration the family constraints a new mother has on her, including high-needs inpatient services. If drug treatment is deemed necessary it is important that prescribers consider a woman’s desire to continue breastfeeding and ensure that the prescribed medication is suitable for breastfeeding mothers, otherwise not meeting her breastfeeding goal could trigger poor mental health.

Peer support as well as medical care is a useful intervention in the treatment of PMHP[57]. It can help reduce feelings of isolation, validate feelings, and provide signposting to specialist services. Peer support services tend to be charity or third-sector led, a wary consideration that may lead to reduced public spending on essential services as the gaps are plugged by volunteers. Peer support is also a useful tool in encouraging under-represented groups to seek additional support, helping to validate feelings in demographics where taboos exist about talking about mental health[58].

There is a wealth of data showing facts and figures around PMH: qualitative research is needed – and the importance of findings acknowledged – to prevent and detect PMHP and create services fit for purpose at treating. Only a multi-factorial position that puts women at the heart of the framework will reduce prevalence of PMHP.

Conclusion

PMHP are a changing burden on women in the UK. Women bear the brunt of the burden for obvious gender reasons, and the burden is increasing over time. Birth trauma is increasing, driven by increasing medicalisation of birth, advancing maternal age, and pandemic restrictions[59] [60]. Non-white-British population is increasing[61], and although work is being done to combat health inequities in ethnic minority populations it is yet to be seen whether this will offset an increase in racially motivated prejudice[62]. Women continue to bear the burden of socioeconomic deprivation, a trend not declining[63]. The intersection of all these risk factors seems set to continue to adversely impact the burden of PMH. Existing strategies for prevention need to be strengthened and optimised to reduce prevalence – including society changing to meet its obligation in reducing the burden on women.

REFERENCES

[i] Using the widely used definition being from conception to one year post childbirth unless explicitly stated.

[ii] This report recognises that not all people who give birth are women, however for stylistic purposes ‘women’ has been used throughout.

[iii] ‘Problems’ has been used rather than ‘disorders’ as disorders implies a medical diagnosis which may not be true for all women.

[iv] A check that has been done for years but has not been contracted – therefore GP’s paid for and obliged to complete – until April 2020.

[v] A conversation with a new mother in 2019: a need specialist PMH support was detected, a local service available and had capacity – the mother unable to attend as babies not allowed to attend appointments. Her partner worked and could not take time off without financial impact. Financial strain would have added to the poor mental health situation. No family available to assist and baby was exclusively breastfed anyway.

[1] Stein A. Pearson R.M. Goodman S.H. Rapa E. Rahman A. McCallum M. Effects of perinatal mental disorders on the fetus and child. The Lancet, 2014.

[2] Watson H, Harrop D, Walton E, Young A, Soltani H. A systematic review of ethnic minority women’s experiences of perinatal mental health conditions and services in Europe. 2019. PLoS ONE 14(1): e0210587. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210587

[3] Kinsella MT, Monk C. Impact of maternal stress, depression and anxiety on fetal neurobehavioral development. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2009;52:425–440.

[4] Yonkers K A, Smith MV, Forrary A, Epperson C N, Costello D, Lin H, Belanger K. Pregnant women with posttraumatic stress disorder and risk of preterm birth. JAMA Psychiatry. 2014;71,897-904

[5] Serpeloni F, Radtke K M, Hecker T, Sill J, Vukojevic V, Assis S G. Schauer M, Elbert T, Natt D. Does Prenatal Stress Shape Postnatal Resilience? – An Epigenome-Wide Study on Violence and Mental Health in Humans. Frontiers in Genetics. 2019;10,269. Doi: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00269

[6] Russell K, Ashley A, Chan G, Gibson S, Jones R on behalf of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Maternal Mental Health – Women’s Voices. 2017. [https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/information/maternalmental-healthwomens-voices.pdf]

[7] NHS. Mental Health Implementation Plan. July 2019. [https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-mental-health-implementation-plan-2019-20-2023-24/]

[8] NHS England, NHS Improvement, National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health. The Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathways. May 2018. [https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/perinatal-mental-health-care-pathway.pdf]

[9] Knight M, Bunch K, Tuffnell D, Shakespeare J, Kotnis R, Kenyon S, Kurinczuk JJ (Eds.) on behalf of MBRRACE-UK. Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care – Lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2015-17. Oxford: National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford. 2019

[10] London School of Economics and Centre for Mental Health. The costs of perinatal mental health problems. October 2014 [https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-09/costsofperinatal.pdf]

[11] Howard LM, Khalifeh H. Perinatal mental health: a review of progress and challenges. World Psychiatry. 2020;19(3):313-327. doi:10.1002/wps.20769

[12] Russell K, Ashley A, Chan G, Gibson S, Jones R on behalf of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Maternal Mental Health – Women’s Voices. 2017. [https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/information/maternalmental-healthwomens-voices.pdf]

[13]  Maternal Health taskforce. Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health. 2018. [https://www.mhtf.org/topics/perinatal-mental-health/]

[14] Maternal Health taskforce. Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health. 2018. [https://www.mhtf.org/topics/perinatal-mental-health/]

[15] McManus S, Bebbington P, Jenkins R, Brugha T. Mental health and wellbeing in England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014. [http://content.digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB21748/apms-2014-full-rpt.pdf]

[16] Ayers, S. (2014). Fear of childbirth, postnatal post-traumatic stress disorder and midwifery care. Midwifery 30, 145–148. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2013.12.001

[17] Soet, J. E., Brack, G. A., and Dilorio, C. Prevalence and predictors of psychological trauma during childbirth. Birth 2003;30, 36–46. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-536X.2003.00215.x

[18] Attanasio LB, Hardeman RR, Kozhimannil KB, Kjerulff KH. Prenatal attitudes toward vaginal delivery and actual delivery mode: Variation by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Birth. 2017;44(4):306-314. doi:10.1111/birt.12305

[19]  Knight M, Bunch K, Tuffnell D, Shakespeare J, Kotnis R, Kenyon S, Kurinczuk JJ (Eds.) on behalf of MBRRACE-UK. Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care – Lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2015-17. Oxford: National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford. 2019

[20] Greenfield M, Jomeen J, Glover L. “It Can’t Be Like Last Time” – Choices Made in Early Pregnancy by Women Who Have Previously Experienced a Traumatic Birth. Frontiers in Psychology. 2019; 10,56.

[https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00056]

Doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00056

[21] https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/aug/10/female-scientists-urge-research-grants-reform-tackle-gender-bias

[22] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/shrewsbury-maternity-scandal/shrewsbury-maternity-normal-birth-baby-deaths-b1769399.html

[23] Ockenden D on behalf of Independent Maternity Review. Emerging Findings and Recommendations from the Independent Review of Maternity Services at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. 2020. [https://www.donnaockenden.com/downloads/news/2020/12/ockenden-report.pdf]

[24] Ashworth S. It’s time to raise your standards and stop expecting birth to be hell. Huffington Post. 2015. [https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/suzy-ashworth/stop-expecting-birth-hell_b_6461242.html?guccounter=1]

[25] Watson H, Harrop D, Walton E, Young A, Soltani H. A systematic review of ethnic minority women’s experiences of perinatal mental health conditions and services in Europe. 2019. PLoS ONE 14(1): e0210587. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210587

[26] Knight M, Bunch K, Tuffnell D, Jayakody H, Shakespeare J, Kotnis R, Kenyon S, Kurinczuk JJ (Eds.) on behalf of MBRRACE-UK. Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care – Lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2014-16. Oxford: National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford 2018

[27] FiveXMore. [https://www.fivexmore.com/]

[28] Time To Change. Family Matters: A report into attitudes towards mental health problems in the South Asian community in Harrow, North West London. 2010. [https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/sites/default/files/imce_uploads/Family%20Matters.pdf]

[29] Rethink Mental Illness. Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Mental Health Factsheet. 2020. [https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/living-with-mental-illness/wellbeing-physical-health/black-asian-and-minority-ethnic-mental-health/]

[30] Smith, D. Ruston, A. ‘If you feel that nobody wants you you’ll withdraw into your own’: Gypsies/Travellers, networks and healthcare utilisation. Sociol Health Illn. 2013;35:1196-1210. doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.12029

[31] Lorant V, Deliège D, Eaton W, Robert A, Philippot P, Ansseau M. Socioeconomic Inequalities in Depression: A Meta-Analysis. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2003;157(2):98–112, doi-org.manchester.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/aje/kwf182

[32] Ban L, Gibson J E, West J,  Fiaschi L, Oates M R, ata L J. British Journal of General Practice. 2012;62(603):e671-e678. doi.org/10.3399/bjgp12X656801

[33] Harries V, Brown A. The association between use of infant parenting books that promote strict routines, and maternal depression, self-efficacy, and parenting confidence, Early Child Development and Care. 2019;189:8, 1339-1350. 10.1080/03004430.2017.1378650

[34] Butler M S, Young S L, Tuthill E L. Perinatal depressive symptoms and breastfeeding behaviors: A systematic literature review and biosocial research agenda. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2020. doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.11.080

[35] Dennis C. L., McQueen, K. The relationship between infant-feeding outcomes and postpartum depression: a qualitative systematic review. Pediatrics. 2009;123(4), e736-e751.

[36] Brown A, Rance J, Bennett P. Journal of advanced nursing. 2016;1;72(2):273-82.

[37] Best Beginnings, Home-Start UK, Parent-Infant Foundation. Babies in Lockdown: Listening to Parents to Build Back Better. 2020. [https://babiesinlockdown.info]

[38] Knight M, Bunch K, Cairns A, Cantwell R, Cox P, Kenyon S, Kotnis R, Lucas N, Lucas S, Marshall L, Nelson-Piercy C, Page L, Rodger A, Shakespeare J, Tuffnell D, Kurinczuk, J. Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care Rapid report: Learning from SARS-CoV-2-related and associated maternal deaths in the UK Maternal, Newborn and Infant Clinical Outcome Review Programme. 2020. [www.hqip.org.uk/national-programmes]

[39] Best Beginnings, Home-Start UK, Parent-Infant Foundation. Babies in Lockdown: Listening to Parents to Build Back Better. 2020. [https://babiesinlockdown.info]

[40] NHS England, NHS Improvement, National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health. The Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathways. May 2018. [https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/perinatal-mental-health-care-pathway.pdf]

[41] Mental Health Taskforce on behalf of NHS England. 2016. [https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Mental-Health-Taskforce-FYFV-final.pdf]

[42] NHS England, NHS Improvement, National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health. The Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathways. May 2018. [https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/perinatal-mental-health-care-pathway.pdf]

[43] NHS England. Investment and Evolution: Update to the GP contract agreement 2020/21 – 2023/24. 2020. [https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/update-to-the-gp-contract-agreement-v2-updated.pdf]

[44] Multiple authors. 2020. Personal Conversations from [redacted]; Birth Rights; Pregnant Then Screwed.

[45] McCartney M. Breaking down the silo walls. BMJ. 2016;354:i5199 [https://www-bmj-com.manchester.idm.oclc.org/content/354/bmj.i5199]

[46] NHS Partners Network. NHS Confederation. A stitch in time – the future is integration. 2012. [https://www.nhsconfed.org/-/media/Confederation/Files/Publications/Documents/A_stitch_in_time_the_future_is_integration.pdf?dl=1]

[47] Duncan L G, Cohn M A, Chao MT et al. Benefits of preparing for childbirth with mindfulness training: a randomized controlled trial with active comparison. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2017;17,140. [https://doi-org.manchester.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1319-3]

[48] Greenfield M, Jomeen J, Glover L. “It Can’t Be Like Last Time” – Choices Made in Early Pregnancy by Women Who Have Previously Experienced a Traumatic Birth. Frontiers in Psychology. 2019; 10,56. [https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00056] Doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00056

[49] Homer C, Leap N, Edwards N, Sandall J. Midwifery continuity of carer in an area of high socio-economic disadvantage in London: A retrospective analysis of Albany Midwifery Practice outcomes using routine data (1997–2009). Midwifery. 2017;48:1-10. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2017.02.009]

[50] Gruber KJ, Cupito SH, Dobson CF. Impact of doulas on healthy birth outcomes. J Perinat Educ. 2013;22(1):49-58. doi:10.1891/1058-1243.22.1.49

[51] Brown A, Rance J, Benett P. Understanding the relationship between breastfeeding and postnatal depression: the role of pain and physical difficulties. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2015;72(2). doi.org/10.1111/jan.12832

[52] Harries V, Brown A. The association between use of infant parenting books that promote strict routines, and maternal depression, self-efficacy, and parenting confidence, Early Child Development and Care. 2019;189:8, 1339-1350. 10.1080/03004430.2017.1378650

[53] Finnbogadóttir H, Dykes A K. Increasing prevalence and incidence of domestic violence during the pregnancy and one and a half year postpartum, as well as risk factors: -a longitudinal cohort study in Southern Sweden. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16,327. doi.org/10.1186/s12884-016-1122-6

[54] O’Hara M W, Wisner K L. Perinatal mental illness: Definition, description and aetiology. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2014;28(1);3-12. doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2013.09.002

[55] Phillis S. The benefits of Continuity of Carer: a midwife’s personal reflection. Patient Safety Learning Hub. 2020. [https://www.pslhub.org/learn/patient-safety-in-health-and-care/high-risk-areas/maternity/midwifery-continuity-of-carer/the-benefits-of-continuity-of-carer-a-midwife%E2%80%99s-personal-reflection-r3573/?fbclid=IwAR05njsyuvBmwyUvdyDJwSlhsESMN1vhd6NbaRyZJFjdQf5SCB3dtA5328U]

[56] London School of Economics and Centre for Mental Health. The costs of perinatal mental health problems. October 2014 [https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-09/costsofperinatal.pdf]

[57] Jones C, Jomeen J, Hayter M. The impact of peer support in the context of perinatal mental illness: A meta-ethnography. Midwifery. 2014;30(5):491-498. doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2013.08.003

[58] Billsborough J et al. Evaluating the side by side peer support programme. McPin Foundation. St George’s University of London. 2017. [https://mcpin.org/wp-content/uploads/side-by-side-final-impact-evaluation-report.pdf]

[59] NHS Digital. NHS Maternity Statistics, England 2019-2020. 2020. [https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-maternity-statistics/2019-20/deliveries—time-series]

[60] Best Beginnings, Home-Start UK, Parent-Infant Foundation. Babies in Lockdown: Listening to Parents to Build Back Better. 2020. [https://babiesinlockdown.info]

[61] Office for National Statistics. Population of England and Wales. 2020. [https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/uk-population-by-ethnicity/national-and-regional-populations/population-of-england-and-wales/latest]

[62] Home Office. Official Statistics; Hate Crime, England and Wales: 2019-2020. 2020. [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hate-crime-england-and-wales-2019-to-2020/hate-crime-england-and-wales-2019-to-2020]

[63] Reis S. DWP data reveals: women and children continue to be worst affected by poverty. Women’s Budget Group. 2019. Available at https://wbg.org.uk/blog/dwp-data-reveals-women-continue-to-be-worst-affected-by-poverty/. Accessed 5 January 2020.

 

 

If You Only Read Some Breastfeeding Articles, Make Them These

I know that statistically most of you reading this while pregnant will want to breastfeed. And I know that most of you won’t reach your goals. That’s what the evidence says. Bizarrely, the research also tells us that antenatal breastfeeding education doesn’t help women fulfil their goals. But I see and hear women every day say “Why did nobody tell me…” about some aspect of breastfeeding or another, which is why the new Stockport Birth Services antenatal course programme includes a breastfeeding session. And even then I won’t have been able to say everything I want to.

I can’t overstate that for some women breastfeeding is hard. I don’t want to put you off, but there’s this idea out there that because breastfeeding is ‘natural’ it’s easy. Nothing could be further than the truth! Remember when you learned to walk? (Well, no, not unless you have hyperthymesia). But trust me – you fell down, got up, fell down, got up, fell down, got up then eventually cracked it and didn’t fall over again until you became a student and cracked open the White Lightening. So if you feel like you’re struggling and ‘failing’ then take heart – many of us have been there and there’s help available. If you can’t get to a group, or you’re not local this is a rather fab Facebook group who I see give excellent information (generally I’d say be careful of where you get your info from online as you don’t know their creds, but on this occasion you can trust the source)

First we need to unpick some of the misinformation out there. Yes your baby needs feeding again. Yes you are making enough milk. Yes it is normal. No your baby doesn’t need to wait 4 hours between feeds. No you don’t need to time a feed from one side for 20 minutes. This is one of the most important blogs you’ll read about breastfeeding and the obsession over the infant feeding intervals. Followed by this one about how long to feed for. I’ll also direct you here to here we question the idea of a ‘good baby‘ and how the idea of it is complicit in damaging the breastfeeding relationship. 

However you feed your baby, responsive feeding is the key and all parents should be helped to understand what that means. 

As a final note here, sometimes feeding worries continue through to the time to wean your baby onto solid food, and sometimes this comes from the mistaken belief that it will help you get some much-needed extra sleep. Here’s a look into it.

There’s literally thousands of blogs I could point you towards on this subject, but these are my favourites.

Pregnancy, Maternity Leave, and Your Employment Rights

Some of you may know that my other professional hat is as an HR Manager (yes, yes, I’ve heard all the jokes). Pregnancy and HR often go hand-in-hand and as there’s been a few different conversations going on between some of my clients recently I thought I’d do a whistle-stop tour of pregnancy rights when at work.

Disclaimer up front – the world of employment legislation is never easy, and never more so when pregnancy is involved so none of this should be used for your own specific situation and you should always get your own advice if you have something you’re concerned about. Blah blah blah, legal, legal, legal.

When to tell work you’re pregnant: You MUST tell your employer you’re pregnant at least 15 weeks before the week the baby is due, so by the end of your 24th week of pregnancy. I’d always suggest informing them sooner rather than later because that way you can be kept safer. You don’t have to immediately announce it to the office as soon as you pee on a stick, but telling a few key people might ease some of the stress. It certainly helps if your colleagues know you’re pregnant if you’re running out of meetings to find the nearest vomitarium, are suddenly and surprisingly refusing cups of tea, or have developed a rather strange allergy to herbs that makes you ill…

Appointments: You have the right to paid time off for antenatal care without taking this from your annual leave allowance. Antenatal care doesn’t just mean your regular scheduled health checks either; it covers all scans and extra appointments as well as any midwife/doctor recommended antenatal/parentcraft classes. Most of these tend not to be in the working day but it gives you a bit of flex for leaving early if you need to. Your partner/the baby’s other parent is allowed time off for 2 antenatal appointments up to 6.5 hours per appt. Many employers will allow time off for all the appts but some don’t (because, y’know, heaven forbid a soon-to-be-parent tries to take an active part in their unborn’s wellbeing )

Health & Safety: Urgh, yeah, that. But it’s important when you’re pregnant that your company takes even better care of you than they normally do – after all, it’s your kid that will be paying the taxes that pay their pension You must be covered by a specific risk assessment in pregnancy that covers off all potential risks to your wellbeing. And even in office jobs there’s a lot! Your body does wonderful things when you’re pregnant but it’s at one of its most vulnerable points too. If there are risks then your employer must remove them for you. If they can’t do that they need to find suitable alternative work for you. If that’s not possible then they must put you on fully paid suspension until the risk is removed or you start maternity leave. I know you don’t want to be that guy causing a fuss but you’re you and your baby’s biggest advocate and you’re responsible for making sure you’re both healthy. Heavy stuff!

Maternity Leave & When To Take It: Maternity leave is a day 1 right, so if you’re pregnant and an employee you’re entitled to take up to 52 weeks leave. The earliest you can start maternity leave is at 29 weeks of pregnancy. You can change your maternity leave start date with 28 days notice although pragmatically this isn’t always possible.If you’re ill with a pregnancy-related illness after 36 weeks of pregnancy and you’re still working this can trigger an automatic start of your maternity leave, even if you intended to work right up to the hilt.

Maternity Leave…How Long: If you work in an office you have to take 2 weeks leave after the birth of your baby (4 weeks if your job is manual). That’s it, the end, it’s the law, no arguments. You can take up to 52 weeks and you also have your annual leave allowance including your accrued Bank Holidays to top up your leave. You can change your maternity leave return date with 8 weeks notice, if you want to (although if you decide to resign only your normal notice period would apply which may be less than 8 weeks).

Maternity Pay: Chances are you’re entitled to 39 weeks maternity pay. To qualify you have to have been an employee for 26 continuous weeks up to the 25th week of pregnancy, earn at least £118 a week and have given correct notice.If you’re not entitled you may receive Maternity Allowance direct from the government. SMP is taxable but you don’t have to pay it back, unlike company maternity pay which you may receive and may have conditions attached, such as returning for a minimum of 6 months after your leave.

Shared Leave: You might want to share your leave with your partner. Essentially you give up some of your maternity leave so they can take it as well as or instead of you. Writing about the ins and outs of the scheme would and does fill up several pages of company handbooks but suffice to say here, it exists so be aware of it while you’re planning.

KIT/SPLIT Days: While you’re on maternity leave you might want or need to get into work for a particular reason, or to keep your hand in. While on maternity leave you have 10 Keeping In Touch days to use, although your employer doesn’t have to agree to them (but likewise, you can’t be pressured into doing them). Payment needs to be agreed with your employer – some pay for the hours done, some pay for the full day regardless of how many hours you’re in but remember that even if you’re only working for half an hour, that’s one full day gone from your entitlement. If you share your leave with your partner you (and they) are also entitled to 20 additional SPLIT days. Same rules apply. (Side note – In Touch days dramatically increased when more men were given the ability to take more time off. Patriarchy, eh?)

Work While You’re On Leave: Being off on maternity leave affords you some additional rights. If changes to the business are happening while you’re off you have the right to be kept abreast of the situation. If you’re at risk of redundancy being on maternity leave can’t stop it happening, but you’re obliged to be offered any suitable alternative as a top priority. As an aside, being off on leave while all your colleagues are still working can sometimes suck big ones so make sure your workplace are supportive and respectful of you.

Discrimination: Unfortunately pregnancy discrimination still exists because sometimes organisations or people within them are dicks. Amirite?! Even more unfortunately when you’re pregnant or have just had a baby is THE worst time to stand up for your rights and a lot of the shitty behaviour never gets called out meaning organisations never have to face their truths. Those of you who have had the strength to stand your ground, I salute you! Those who have suffered but have chosen to concentrate your efforts on you and your families, I see you and I give you an awkward shoulder-pat in solidarity.

If you think something is happening that shouldn’t be these organisations can help:

ACAS – they’re the first port of call and should be ok for basic rights but they’re sometimes a bit…well, basic, in my experience. ACAS.org.uk

Maternity Action – the UK’s leading charity to fight inequality and improve the health of pregnant women, Maternityaction.org.uk

Pregnant Then Screwed – support for women who have suffered discrimination in pregnancy, including a free legal helpline. Pregnantthenscrewed.com

Whew, that pretty much covers some of the basics. Good luck!

pregnancy maternity rights at work discrimination employment