preconception counselling

[Jp124]

Hi

Has anyone ever had preconception counselling and if so, what exactly does it entail?

I had PP last year with my first baby and we’re hoping to start trying for another sometime soon. The psychiatrist from the perinatal team recommended we did preconception counselling with their team before doing so which we have now been referred for but just wondering if anyone had experience of this service.

Thanks!

[RachelK_at_APP Moderator]

hi Jp124,

I’m Rachel, I had pp back in 2016 with the birth of my daughter, I went on to have a second child in 2020 with no reoccurrence of pp.

I did get referred for preconception counselling before having my second.

The hardest part for me was actually having to go to the mental health department of my local hospital as that was near the ward I had been on.

I spoke to the doctor about what had happened when I got pp, so be prepared to go through it in detail. I was able to take the day off work as I didn’t feel I’d be able to work after my appointment.

The doctor also spoke about what would happen if I were to get pregnant again and the monitoring that would be put in place.

(It didn’t happen like the doctor said it would for me, but that was because of Covid- but there was still lots of support given).

I saw the same perinatal doctor throughout my pregnancy when I got pregnant.

Good luck with trying for baby #2.

Take care

Rachel

[Barnowl18]

Hi,I have just recently done pre-concrption counselling with psychiatrist in peri natal team. He just spoke to me and my husband about what our concerns/thoughts were about having another baby and what my preference would be I terms of medication etc. He then discussed the options available and the support that would be in place if I did get pregnant again.

I hope this helps and good luck

[Jp124 in reply to Barnowl18]

That’s great! Thank you so much x

[Isabella5991]

oh this is fantastic! Is it through the nhs? I had an appointment with my psychiatrist the other day and I asked about possibly trying for a third child (pp with my second 4 years ago) and if I could with olanzapine and what support etc. I knew we could get a perinatal team, but pre conception counselling sounds super good. I know I would need a lot of therapy before even thinking seriously about a third. Still so traumatised. Let us know how it goes. I may ask my gp for this xx

[Jp124 in reply to Isabella5991]

Hi

Yes, it is. Your GP just has to refer you, mine is through GMMH services due to my area but I’m sure there will be similar in your area.

[Alpav]

That’s fantastic that you’re getting it through the NHS! My GP tried to refer me, but as I was no longer under the perinatal team or CMHT, they refused to refer me for this so we ended up going private to Dr Lucinda Green. This was when considering a second pregnancy after PP with my first (I also have bipolar I which adds to the mix…). She was really thorough on taking us through all of the research on the topic which gave us confidence in weighing up the risks and in particular staying on lithium.

I understand that Professor Ian Jones at Cardiff University also offers a second opinion service. Good luck!

[Ellie_at_APP Partner in reply to Alpav]

Hi Alpav

I’m so sorry to hear you couldn’t get pre conception counselling through the NHS and had to go private. That seems really strange as all perinatal teams should be offering pre conception counselling for anyone who has experienced pp so sorry you didn’t manage to be referred to your local perinatal team. If you got pregnant the perinatal team should support you in pregnancy and up to 2 years postpartum so I hope you won’t have any problems being referred to them at that point.

Take care

Ellie