New mums in Leeds say midwife-run groups helping mental health
At Leeds Baby Bank in Armley, baby raves and play sessions are drawing parents in, but we're being told the mental‑health support is changing lives
A "new kind of support" for families is being offered in Leeds.
On a Monday at Leeds Baby Bank in Armley, a drop-in service is 'providing accessible and inclusive support for pregnant women, families and their babies.'
One mum, Olab who attends the group weekly said how the weekly meet ups have helped to improve her mental wellbeing.
She said: "It really helps because being pregnant due to my age. it has really affected me a lot."
She goes on to say that an age gap between her children is tough on her mental wellbeing, but the support at the baby group has helped.
It's being funded by Leeds Hospitals Charity, and it brings together specialist midwives from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust alongside partners from across the city.
This includes Bosom Buddies peer support volunteers, West Yorkshire PATHS specialist midwives, 0-19 Health Visiting service, Leeds City Council children's centres and Money Buddies.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife for Health Equity at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Through speaking to you and unpicking your different situations and problems, you might disclose that you have mental health problems and we work with lots of different people who we can signpost to and get the support that is tailored to you."
The new service has been co-produced with local families. The midwifery team said they worked closely with Leeds Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership to ensure the service reflects the real needs and preferences of the community.
A focus group was held with women who were pregnant or had young children whose first language was not English.