"Perinatal inpatient. Severe PND/ Anxiety"

Hi, My daughter turns 3 in December 2021 and it's taken me this long to be able to write a review because it's been a long recovery journey for me personally. 

I was severly poorly very shortly after the birth of my daughter following a traumatic birth at home unexpectedly. By the time I was referred into perinatal services my baby was 4 weeks old and I was very poorly with postnatal depression/anxiety. By the time I was admitted she was 6 weeks old. I really don't know how I made it to my appointment as I was clinging on by my finger tips- shaking, unable to sit still and having  thoughts that were so terrifying. I was gripped with fear and did not know what was real or not. I needed specialist care.  I was a completely different person. This is what maternal Illnesses are capable of doing. 

Fortunately, I was assessed by a remarkable psychiatrist named Amy. A very special doctor. She made feel so at ease and throughout the whole of my care never made me feel judged and showed nothing but compassion and understanding. I felt condifident in her straight away but still absolutely terrified. I was admitted straight away. I was an inpatient for 7-8 weeks.

Although the experience of being on a mother and baby unit was traumatising due to the effects the illness had on me, I am able to look back and see how amazingly well my daughter and I were cared for. The nurses are wonderful on the ward. The doctors are wonderful. The manager Debbie was amazing. Debbie would always be on the ground nursing too. I remember her coming up to me one morning when all hope had completely left me. She put her arms around me and said I'm here to tell you there is hope, you will get better I promise. I couldn't believe those words for a very very long time but the nurses never stopped instilling hope in me whilst I was there. 

Leaving the MBU is just the start of your recovery. Just well enough not to be an inpatient. Then came Lousie my CPN. Wow. I wouldn't have got through the next 12 months without her visits at home. I lost my parents to cancer before I was discharged from the service, hence why my recovery has been so difficult/ complex. I am so thankful to Amy and the whole team for taking care of me and my daughter. Although I suffer PTSD  due to these significant life events, it is with fondess that I look back on how amazing the perinatal team were. The Margaret Oates unit is a blessing to Nottingham. We need more of them we really do. They are life savers.

To anybody reading this who may be worried about a loved one or considering an admission. You/ they will be so well looked after -I promise. 

I have been back to work now for 12 months, funnily enough I work in the same trust! Maternal mental illnesses do not descriminate! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart to the Perinatal Mental Health team for supporting me through the biggest time of crises in my life (particularly Amy). Regards, Kate