Parents’ emotional health and physical wellbeing
Important: Concerns
If you are having concerns about your mental health, with low mood, feeling depressed or anxious or feel that you don’t have a bond or an attachment with your baby, you can contact your health visiting team. The health visitor will chat with you about your symptoms, advise on what services are available and signpost/refer you to the most appropriate service to meet your needs. You can also get support from your GP.’
It is quite normal for some parents to take a while to feel attached to their new baby/infant. If this is affecting you please discuss with your health visitor or you can self refer to OXPIP. Please check their website for further details on their service.
LGBTQ+ – Our services are accessible to all new parents. Information on becoming an LGBTQ+ parent can be found here LGBTQ+ parents mental health support | Ask DadPad (thedadpad.co.uk)
Where to turn if you are unsafe
Information and support If you are concerned about your own safety at Reducing the Risk
Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Services (ODAS) – Oxfordshire Mind Guide (oxmindguide.org.uk)
Support for emotional health
Institute of Health Visiting: Understanding-your-mental-health-and-emotional-wellbeing-mothers-
TalkingSpace Plus is a free, confidential NHS service for adults in Oxfordshire, to help people when they’re feeling stressed, anxious or low. Talking Space Plus Oxford
Information from MIND (mental health charity) on mothers Perinatal and postnatal mental health
Oxfordshire MIND: Oxfordshire Mind | Your Local Mental Health Charity
Best Beginnings: Emotional health videos for parents: Mental Health Videos | Best Beginnings
Information and support for mums with anxiety and worry from Open Paws
When you are feeling low and/or anxious and need a bit more support
See the video below and check out these local groups our specialist health visitors run
Support for dads or partners feeling low
Dads emotional health and wellbeing: Understanding-your-emotional-health-and-wellbeing-following-the-birth-of-your-baby-fathers
Information from MIND on Partners mental health
See also our Dads and Partner’s monthly supportive group: Dad’s and partner’s group
Advice for your relationship as new parents
Looking after your relationship as new parents: -Looking-after-your-relationship-as-new-parents-
Sex and intimacy after childbirth: Sex-and-intimacy-understanding-changes-to-your-sexual-wellbeing-
General information for parents and carers
Family Lives is a valuable source of information on a range of parenting topics for all ages and stages of parenthood. They also have a parenting helpline and online forums: Family Lives
Oxfordshire Family Information Service: Family Information Directory (oxfordshire.gov.uk)
Information and parenting leaflets from the Institute of Health Visiting: iHV Top Tips Public Health;
Birth to Five book: Birth to five 2021
Support for single parents
Gingerbread (for single parent families) Home | Gingerbread
Health promotion for parents
Eating well for new mums: Infants & new mums — First Steps Nutrition Trust
Weight loss support Oxfordshire: Home | Weight Loss Support | Achieve Oxfordshire
Stop Smoking Oxfordshire
Stop Smoking In Oxfordshire, Quit Smoking Today – Stop For Life Oxon
FGM
Female Genital Mutilation: Female genital mutilation (FGM) – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Page last reviewed: 19 August, 2022