The Scotsman

Mental health advice added to baby guide

● ‘Ready Steady Baby’ guidance updated with perinatal mental health informatio­n

- By KEVAN CHRISTIE Health Correspond­ent

NHS Scotland’s pregnancy, labour and birth handbook ‘Ready Steady Baby’ has been updated to include the latest informatio­n on perinatal mental health support.

A refreshed edition of the popular resource for pregnant women and their families was launched yesterday by Minister for Public Health Joe Fitzpatric­k.

It will be available in hard copies to all pregnant women at their initial booking appointmen­t and will contain guidance on mental health support during or after pregnancy.

For the first time all midwives will have their own copies of ‘Ready, Steady, Baby’ and the publicatio­n will also be available in Polish, Mandarin and Arabic. The material contained in the guide is also available online and, in addition to mental health, it covers issues such as antenatal care and planning for birth.

The update comes after the Scottish Government announced a £50 million cash boost last week for services to help pregnant or new mothers with mental health issues.

The new money will provide access to treatment for an additional 11,000 women who experience mental health problems during and after pregnancy.

Mr Fitzpatric­k said: “I want to thank everyone who was involved in delivering the updated version of ‘Ready Steady Baby’. It’s a valuable source and contains in one place all the maternity and neonatal informatio­n families may need. The newly extended advice on mental health, which builds on our recent announceme­nt of £50m to increase perinatal mental health support, will help ensure the best start for mothers, babies and families.”

An easy read version is being prepared for people with difficulty reading.

The Scottish Government provides funding to NHS Health Scotland for a range of public health work and initiative­s, including this new edition of ‘Ready, Steady, Baby’.

George Dodds, NHS Health Scotland’s director of health and equity, said: “We’re very proud that by working with parents, carers and expert groups across government, the NHS, third sector and academia we’ve been able to develop this updated printed guide and new microsite. This has ensured that a wide variety of views and expert opinions have been represente­d in this universal resource.”

The Scottish Government is currently working with NHS Health Scotland, NHS Inform, and National Education Scotland to update the guidance for parents with babies eight weeks old and upwards.

Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs said: “I welcome the inclusion of perinatal mental health support informatio­n in ‘Ready Steady Baby’. Mental health can be a huge challenge for new mothers and it is right that mental health support is available.”

Lynne Huckerby, NHS24’S director of service developmen­t, said: “‘Ready Steady Baby’ allows us to provide quality health informatio­n through the NHS inform website, supporting people through their whole pregnancy.”

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