Waltham Forest Parent & Baby Emotional Wellbeing (PBEW) Service

Learn who the PBEW service supports.

The PBEW service offers parental mental health support, enhances parenting skills, and helps to foster positive parent/infant interactions for healthy child development. If you or someone you know fits the following criteria, please use our self-referral form here

• Expectant parents and parents with children up to the age of two years old, who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health and/or parent infant relationship difficulties.
• Families seeking to strengthen their emotional bond with their infant.
• Parents who need guidance and support to navigate the emotional complexities of parenthood.
• Parents who find that excessive or frequent worries about their baby’s health is reducing the pleasure and rewards of early parenthood.

Recognise the signs of perinatal mental health concerns.The following three top tips can support keeping your children’s teeth healthy:

For those referring individuals to services or seeking help for themselves, it's crucial to recognise the signs of mild to moderate perinatal mental health concerns. These might include:

• Persistent Sadness or Low Mood: Feelings of sadness that linger, affecting daily activities and interactions.
• Anxiety and Worry: Excessive worry about the pregnancy, childbirth, or parenting, which may include fears about the baby's health or parenting capabilities.
• Irritability: Increased irritability or mood swings that are unusual for the individual.
• Sleep disturbances: Difficulty falling or staying asleep, not related to the baby’s sleep patterns.
• Change in appetite: Significant increase or decrease in appetite, unrelated to the pregnancy.
• Fatigue: Persistent tiredness or loss of energy that impacts daily activities.
• Difficulty concentrating: Problems focusing on tasks or making decisions.
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt: Exaggerated feelings of guilt or worthlessness, particularly around pregnancy or parenting.
• Withdrawing from social interactions: Pulling away from friends, family, or activities that were previously enjoyed.
• Thoughts of harm: Rare but concerning thoughts of harming oneself or the baby.

What is Perinatal Mental Health?

‍Perinatal mental health refers to the psychological wellbeing of pregnant individuals and new parents. This crucial period extends from conception up to two years after childbirth. It's a time of significant change, both physically and emotionally, making mental health support vital for the health of the parent and the developing bond with their child.

Mild to Moderate Perinatal Mental Health issues: An overview

‍Mild to moderate perinatal mental health issues are common and can range from persistent mood fluctuations to more sustained symptoms of depression and anxiety. Unlike more severe cases, these conditions do not typically include psychotic features but can significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life.

Our unified PBEW approach

• Integrated Service: PBEW is seamlessly integrated within the broader landscape of perinatal mental health care in Waltham Forest, ensuring consistency and continuity for families.
• Diverse Professional Team: Our team comprises professionals from various backgrounds, including Early Help and health practitioners, working together to deliver one holistic service.
• Personalised Support: Recognising that each family's needs are unique, we offer a range of assessments and support plans tailored to individual circumstances. Our approach is not limited to any single assessment model, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness to each family's needs.

Learn the key aspects of issues in the relationship between parent and infant.

Parent/infant relationship issues impact the emotional bond between a parent and their child, influencing the child's emotional, social, and cognitive development. Key aspects include:

• Attachment issues: Challenges in forming a secure attachment due to factors like parental mental health, past trauma, or misunderstanding infant cues. Secure attachment is the basis of healthy emotional development.
• Emotional unavailability/inconsistency: Problems arise when a parent is persistently unresponsive to their child’s emotional needs and/or when their responses are inconsistent; they may be detached and struggle to display warmth and affection or be unpredictable in how they respond; over time this can affect the parent-infant relationship and the child’s ability to understand and communicate their own feelings.
• Poor parental mental health: A parent’s mental health, including conditions like postnatal depression or anxiety, can hinder their ability to bond with their baby.
• Infant temperament and health: Difficulties in the relationship can stem from the infant’s temperament or health issues, making parents feel overwhelmed or disconnected.
• Environmental stressors: Factors such as poverty, lack of support, or domestic violence can deplete a parent's emotional resources, impacting the relationship.
• Parenting skills: Lack of knowledge about infant development or parenting skills can lead to misinterpretation of infant behaviours and may result in unresponsive or insensitive care.
• Inter-generational patterns: Past unresolved trauma or negative parenting experiences can unconsciously influence the parent's relationship with their child.