During the perinatal period (during pregnancy and up to a year after birth), parents can be under a lot of pressure. They may also be dealing with feelings of anxiety, stress or depression. 

The effects of social distancing due to coronavirus may also increase mental health issues and without the right support, this can make it difficult for parents to care for and connect with their baby. 

First up in our coronavirus series, we are joined by a midwife, health visitors and perinatal psychiatry experts for a special episode to mark Infant Mental Health Awareness Week (7-12 June 2020). 

The panel discuss how the pandemic and lockdown is affecting pregnant women, parents, their families and babies; antenatal and postnatal care services have adapted in response; health visitors have been conducting assessments; and how vulnerable families are being supported.

Read the podcast transcript on the NSPCC Learning website.

💬 The speakers




Dr. Jo Black - consultant perinatal psychiatrist
Penny Dougan - health visitor
Dr. Alain Gregoire - chair of Maternal Mental Health Alliance UK
Eileen O’Sullivan - a specialist health visitor in parent and infant mental health
Claire Spencer - midwife in London
Katie Worley - a health visiting and school nursing service manager.

📚 Related resources

> Play our episode on perinatal mental health

> Listen to our episode on the vulnerabilities of infants and their developmental needs

> Read about how our perinatal mental health services are operating during coronavirus

> See our briefing on sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI)


Intro/outro music is Lights by Sappheiros

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