Whilst you are at The Mother and Baby Unit

We understand this is a common worry but it is very rare for a baby to be removed from their familiy. Many women are able to care very well for their baby despite experiencing mental health problems; others will need additional support at times. It is possible to have severe mental health difficulties in the perinatal period and make a full recovery. The wellbeing of all infants is essential and where appropriate we liaise closely with Children's and Young People's Social Care in order to provide support to keep families together and to safeguard children.

• It will outline your current difficulties.
• Time set aside to talk through your problems with your primary nurse usually at least twice a week (called 1-1).
• The reason staff are monitoring you what they are looking for and why.
• How much childcare you will do – most mums on admission are asked to do as much as they feel able to and staff are there in a supportive role. Fathers and family are encouraged to be actively involved in all aspects of your child's care.
• You can contribute to your recovery by engaging in therapeutic activity, discussing with your primary nurse what helps you and what does not.
• Therapeutic activities are a part of your treatment. These groups are usually held between 10 am and 12pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm. Relaxation sessions are usually in the evening.
• Being involved in the formulation of your care plan promotes recovery.

• Whilst on the unit you will be prescribed a level of observation by the doctor and nursing team, this is to ensure you are safe and well. It enables staff providing the observations to determine if you need additional help or support. This can be from having a member of staff with you all the time to only needing to be seen hourly. 
• Observation levels tend to reduce in line with recovery.
• It is our policy to observe babies every hour throughout their stay on the unit to ensure their health and wellbeing.

MDT - Multi disciplinary team

This is a twice a week meeting attended by the consultant, junior doctor, qualified nurse, nursery nurse and pharmacist.

Community professionals attend these meetings to keep in touch with their patients and ensure continuity of care following discharge.

The team discusses your progress, changes to your treatment / care plans.

You are offered the opportunity to attend one of these meetings to discuss your needs and home leave when you are ready.

We are a teaching hospital and regularly have nursing and medical students on the unit.

CPA (Care Programme Approach) Meeting

A multi professional meeting is held as early as possible following admission.

All community professionals involved in your care e.g. health visitor, CMHN (community mental health nurse) social workers are invited to this and other members of the MDT.

We discuss your presentation prior to admission, progress to date and plan the support you will need when you go home.

Breakfast, lunch, evening meal and snacks are provided on the unit for mums.

Cereals and bread are readily available for mums to help themselves to for breakfast.

For lunch, there is a choice of a hot meal which is served by the housekeeper.

Evening meal is a sandwich or salad.

There are yogurts, fruit, cakes and biscuits for snacks or supper, which mums can help themselves to.

Visitors and other children are not catered for. There are a number of cafes located in the town and a Co-op and Asda are a short walking distance from us.

Brockington Unit has a protected mealtime policy. We respectfully ask you to keep visitors and activity to a minimum at these times. Visitors should not be in the dining room at lunchtime or evening meal.

Mealtimes

Breakfast: depending on you or your baby

Lunch: 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Evening Meal: 5:00pm - 6:00pm

While you are recovering we want to enable you to carry on your life as normally as possible, caring for your baby and keeping up personal interests.

For most mothers and babies, the purpose of admission to the unit is to ensure they receive professional care from a specialist expert team 24 hours a day until they are well enough to be at home. There are a number of important differences between being treated at home and being treated on the Parent Baby Unit, including:

You have experienced staff available for support, care and treatment at all times.

We have designed the unit to be as safe as possible, whilst being as homely as a hospital can be.

While you are away from the usual pressures of home, you can focus on your health, your baby and the care you both need.

We will support you and your baby to develop and maintain healthy routines for meals, recreation, rest and sleep.

In addition, we can provide the full range of treatments which you could have at home, including:

• Opportunities to talk through your difficulties with your primary nurse and other team members to obtain information and advice regarding treatments. This can help you find your own solutions.
• Group programmes can help with your own illness management. "Relapse planning" and anxiety management are examples. We also offer groups for mums with their baby – relationship, play or baby massage.
• Relaxation activities.

Staff aim to enhance your experience of motherhood and will support you towards recovery.

You will be provided with a care plan in regard to your follow-up care in the community.

We are a no smoking site and we can provide nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Smoking can take place off the hospital grounds if leave is granted.