New group supports mums and dads adjusting to parenthood

A new group is helping to support mums and dads adjusting to parenthood as part of an innovative community-based programme.

Swansea Bay’s community psychology service aims to strengthen community resilience around mental health and wellbeing.

Psychologists are based within the health board’s Local Cluster Collaboratives (LCCs) to gain an understanding of community needs, assets and factors impacting on the wellbeing of people living in each area.

Pictured: Health visitor Natasha Brain, Jemma Parfitt with baby Leo, Catherine Hayman with baby Maisie, Sarah-Marie Gregory with baby Tobias, and community nursery nurse Isabel Baker.

During scoping work within Bay Health LCC, which covers areas including Sketty, Uplands, Killay, Mumbles, Gower and the university campus, it was discovered that new parents wanted more support for topics including stress, self-care and confidence, understanding emotions after birth and more.

Dr Laura Davies, lead psychologist for the community psychology service, liaised with health visitors and other early years professionals who mentioned parents had been experiencing adjustment difficulties.

As a result, a six-week parent and infant group named Amser i Fi, Time for Me was developed and launched.

It provides a space for parents to connect, share experiences and take time for themselves while focusing on bonding with their baby through fun activities.

It also encourages parents to explore what makes them feel happy, confident and cared for in a welcoming environment.

Laura said: “Through discussions I was discovering that a lot of parents were experiencing challenges adjusting to the birth of a new child.

“Health visitors in particular mentioned that during visits they were told about issues around self-care, managing sleep and a daily routine, and more.

“The health visitors could see some parents were finding it difficult but the majority of the time they didn’t meet the threshold for perinatal or mental health intervention.

“Despite that, we were concerned that these issues were having an impact on parents’ confidence and wellbeing, and in turn impacting their ability to bond with their baby and the attachment process.”

The community psychology service compiled a survey and consulted parents from the health board area regarding their emotional needs.

Based on the feedback, it was decided to introduce a parent and infant group in the Bay Health, Afan and Cwmtawe LCC areas.

There are now plans in place to roll the group out across the remaining five clusters.

Answers from the survey also helped influence the topics covered during the sessions too.

“Parents can bring their baby and partner with them and the facilitators, who are early years specialists, guide them to develop ways to regulate their emotions, sleep, mood and more,” Laura added.

“We developed a booklet for the parents which informs each weekly session and can be used by parents during and after the group as a self-help guide.”

Jemma Parfitt is just one new mum who has benefited from the group after attending one held at Tesco Llansamlet’s community room with her son Leo.

She said: “As Leo is my first baby, I thought it would be good to attend to help be more aware and prepared to cope with different scenarios.

“We followed different chapters each week and built on different techniques and coping strategies we had learned and linked them to real life situations.

“It was good that the group was run by the health visitors who we already know too.”

Catherine Hayman also went to the Llansamlet group with her baby girl Maisie and found it very helpful to talk to other parents.

“I wanted to join the group to meet new people and learn ways to cope,” she said.

“We learned ways to self-soothe, find time for ourselves without guilt and understand our baby’s cues.

“It has been fantastic to have the group in the community. After the sessions we have a chat with each other.

“It has been nice to connect with other mums, and you don’t feel like you’re on your own. I would have been lost without the group.”

Sarah-Marie Gregory, who attended the group with her baby Tobias, added: “I was particularly anxious, so it was great to be in a room with other mums who understood.

“I enjoyed the group and found it helped to get me out of the house, which can be hard sometimes.

“The booklet was helpful for me to understand and communicate how I was feeling.

“I was aware of some of the techniques but having them reiterated in the context of being a new mum was very useful.”

Early years nurses and practitioners from Swansea Council’s Early Help Hub and health visiting staff received training from the community psychology service to be able to deliver the group sessions in the community, with more training planned to take place this year.

The sessions are delivered in partnership between the health board and Swansea Council staff.

“Our aim for these groups is to deliver them as an early preventative intervention to enhance resilience and wellbeing in new parents and infants by providing information, resources and fostering social connections between new parents,” Laura said.

Natasha Brain, Swansea Bay health visitor, said: “The transition into parenthood can be an overwhelming time due to issues including hormonal changes, lack of sleep, lack of confidence, worry, lack of support and more.

“Working through the six-week programme which is based on compassion focus therapy, discussions, realistic scenarios and peer support, the group supports mothers to recognise that many parenting challenges are a normal part of the transition to parenthood.

“Those who have attended the groups report they provide a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment where they can develop self-compassion and emotional wellbeing and resilience, while also enhancing their relationship with their baby.

“As health visitors, we recognise that early intervention and support during the first years of life are essential in promoting family wellbeing.”

Follow this link to a Microsoft form registration form where any parents who would like to attend any upcoming groups can sign up.