The pre-birth planning meeting is an essential aspect of the care of a pregnant woman who has, or is at risk of, a severe mental illness. It brings together the pregnant woman and others she wishes to involve (partner, family and/or friends) and all the professionals involved in her care. The meeting ensures that relevant information is shared so that all those involved have a good understanding of the concerns and risks and also the woman’s and her family’s strengths. It helps all the professionals work in partnership with the woman and her family to ensure she has the best possible care.
This module raises awareness of important issues to consider in the care of a woman with serious mental illness during late pregnancy, maternity admission for the birth and the early postnatal period when she may be at high risk of relapse. It offers the opportunity to develop skills in working collaboratively with the woman, significant others and the involved professionals to devise a mutually agreed, comprehensive care plan. Practical suggestions for arranging and chairing these meetings, guidance on the content of the meeting, the roles and responsibilities of the professionals involved and developing a Perinatal Mental Health Care Plan are also included.
Learning objectives
By the end of this module, you should be able to:
- describe the role of the pre-birth planning meeting and how to make best use of this model
- identify women in your team caseload who may benefit from having a pre-birth planning meeting
- organise, coordinate and chair a pre-birth planning meeting
- complete a written summary of a pre-birth planning meeting, including an agreed Perinatal Mental Health Care Plan
- explain the process and purpose of a pre-birth planning meeting to women, their families and professionals involved in their care.
Availability
We are pleased to offer this module free for those without a paid subscription. If you are a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, you can log in straight away using the same username and password with which you access the members' area of the College website. Otherwise, all you need to do is register with the College.
