Pre and Post Natal Counselling
Many topics within the broad spectrum of pre and post-natal care frequently cause worry and anxiety and are often not brought up with the doctor. These are areas where the counsellor can be of enormous help. Counselling also provides support and strategies for coping with expert guidance to assist with the maze of often conflicting information.
How does pre & post-natal counselling work?
Pre and post-natal counselling is a form of therapy facilitated by a professional counsellor. It helps women cope with a wide range of often unexpected issues surrounding the long journey of confinement through the birthing and into the early stages of motherhood.
The issues highlighted on this page most frequently lead to worry, anxiety or depression. The combination of physical and emotional changes can be overwhelming with even the best pregnancies. And even minor hiccups along the way can result in high levels of stress and fear. Forward planning and maintaining a realistic perspective are part of the counselling process.
What issues can pre and post-natal counselling help?
- Body Image – pre natal
- Body Image – post-natal
- Stress and Expectations
- Anxiety and Depression
- Miscarriage
- Insecurity while caring for the baby
- Low Mood/Baby blues and Post Natal Depression
- Coping with the simultaneous roles of parenthood, career, and marital life
- Preparing to go back to work
What are the benefits of pre & post-natal counselling?
Empathetic Listening
Expectant mothers sometimes feel that their body is not their own. They find it difficult or feel guilty when expressing those feelings to their friends and loved ones. Working with a counsellor will help challenge any unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that may result from a deeper issue. Identifying the root cause will help one feel like themselves again.
Manage Stress and Expectations
When you’re pregnant, you are constantly bombarded with outside influences telling you what you’re doing wrong, what you should be doing differently and everything that could go wrong. Counselling helps to separate the helpful from the not-so-helpful information and to understand and accept that it is okay to make mistakes or not know the right thing to do.
Anxiety and Depression
It is essential to conduct an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at around 30 weeks of pregnancy. Early detection of anxiety or depression can be vital in managing potential postpartum depression. Teaching clients to implement coping strategies and lifestyle changes can make a significant difference. This action may include pre-emptively scheduling postpartum counselling sessions or discussing how parenting can support mama. The EPDS can also be a catalyst for discussing sleep, mood and emotions.
Parenthood, career and marriage
Often parents are shocked at the changes a baby can bring to their life. Discussing and preparing for these changes allows for the least disruption or disappointment in other facets of your life. Preparing to go back to work opens up many stress-inducing thoughts, from losing control of the baby’s activities to managing the parent-child-helper triangle and feelings of low self-esteem.
Mitigating Insecurity
New Mums and sometimes even 2nd-time mums will feel insecure about being responsible for another human. Counselling support can allow these insecurities to be discussed and mitigated.
: Executive Coach & Leadership Consultant