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And so to the final sessions of an incredible day to launch my new book ‘Another Twinkle in the Eye – contemplating another pregnancy after perinatal mental illness’…

I must say that I liked the way that Hotel Football catered for us. At lunchtime they served a great savoury buffet. That left us all then eager to enjoy a cake, biscuit of pastry mid-afternoon!

I know that I wasn’t alone in anticipating my next speaker, Dr Jane Hanley,
Hon Senior Lecturer at Swansea University and author of ‘Listening Visits in Perinatal Mental Health: A Guide for Health Professionals and Support Workers’. Jane is also the most recent past president of The Marcé Society (an international society for the understanding, prevention and treatment of mental illness related to childbearing) and I attended the amazing conference that she, along with a team, held last September in Swansea. I blogged about it here.  Jane mentioned the next international conference that will be held in Melbourne in September 2016 – I intend to be there and am actively looking for how this can happen!

Jane has been heavily involved in many aspects of training in perinatal mental health and one of her key areas of expertise is in the importance of true listening. She shared some of her tips.

Sadly my next speaker was unable to attend due to being unwell. Dr Dawn Edge was going to speak about cultural aspects and the additional challenges faced by Black and Minority Ethnic women and their families around perinatal mental illness and the decision to have another child. She has written a full chapter in my book on this (Chapter 28). Get well soon Dawn!

When I suffered puerperal psychosis (PP) in 1996/7 (gosh I feel old!), there was very little information about it. When I researched for my first book in 2005 I found reference to Action on Puerperal Psychosis (APP) who at the time were a research department based at the University of Birmingham. They have come a long way since then and I know that they have personally supported many women and their families. Nicola Muckelroy, one of their trustees and a UK regional co-ordinator spoke to us about her illness and the work of APP.  They recently missed out by a very narrow margin in winning a huge National Lottery Grant. Please do see their website for many resources and information about this illness. It was great to have Heather and Penny there too from APP with a stand. I am very grateful to Penny who also acted as a literary advisor and morale booster early this year as I wrote chapters of my book!

We then moved onto a session that had us all literally tapping our heads! Well done Mum (in the centre of the photo) for joining in!

In my book I have compiled many suggestions of activities and treatments that women and their families may find useful in maintaining positive mental health. One of these is a technique called EFT, or acupuncture without the needles. Dr Liz Boath from Staffordshire University is involved in research in this area and it is being shown to be helpful for many conditions, including perinatal mental health. You will find full details in my book pages 118-119.

We heard then from Catherine Mee, Operational Manager, Parenting Facilitator, Early Attachment Service – Tameside & Glossop. One large topic that we simply did not have enough time to go into today was the impact upon the foetus/baby/siblings regarding an additional pregnancy. There are many references and information on this in my book and ways to help. I asked Catherine to talk about their Parent Infant Mental Health Strategy and Early Attachment Service. For mothers who had difficulty bonding with a previous child, this may be a concern with an additional one. She also brought some copies of the ‘Getting it Right from the Start DVD and booklet.

One lady at the conference shared these thoughts with me on this topic:

‘I was especially thrilled to meet Marius, partly because one of the long lasting effects of PP comes from the guilt-inducing research articles about how children get so “damaged” socially, developmentally, academically etc. Yet your son is living proof that children of PP sufferers can grow into lovely, well-balanced, confident and successful individuals. I’m sure I wasn’t the only lady who was reassured to see the type of young man he is now. You must be so proud of him, and I could tell he’s proud of you too.’

Thank you – I am very proud of him ..

My son Marius and I

My final speaker was added to the programme after I met up with her one very wet day In London earlier this year. Jess Warne is another incredible lady who suffered postnatal illness and has since worked tirelessly to help others. When she shared some of the creative ways they use at Cocoon Family Support, I simple had to squeeze her into the day! She showed us some stunning photographs and artwork taken by ladies who attend their support groups. These show how creativity can so powerfully and effectively be used to unlock emotions and feelings that words sometimes are unable to.

Often at conferences the session after the afternoon break is when a majority of attendees leave. One way I encouraged (!) people to stay until the end was to award the winner of the exhibition stand questions to someone ‘left in the room’! Although several people apologised that they needed to go to catch trains, I was thrilled for all the final speakers that at least 80% of the delegates stayed until the end. When I drew the winner of a £100 voucher kindly donated by SpaBreaks, it was for Carly Galpin. Here she is with her prize! Thank you SpaBreaks for your generosity – having the activities at Spas is something I highly recommend for mental and physical health!

Carly added the perfect comment to the close of the day as she said the night before she had a dream that she was going to go to a Spa! That gave me the excellent quote to finish on that ‘dreams can come true’.

For the last few years my dream was to write a second book to help others. The rewards I have from my first book ‘Eyes without Sparkle’ have been immense in many ways. It is the feedback from that book and subsequent talks that inspired me to write this second one. With support and encouragement from many people over the years along with hours and hours of work at my desk … the dream became a goal with many steps. Taking each one, little by little ‘Another Twinkle in the Eye’ was created. Every delegate left the conference with a signed copy – please do let me know what you think of it and how you can use it. Remember that both my books are currently available at a discount and with free postage via my publishers at CRC Press – follow links above.

I can honestly say that the ‘birth’ of it on Wednesday 23rd September was so very, very special in many ways. It surpassed all my expectations and I am so grateful to all that made it so. Thank you if you were part of it.

Please do leave comments here if you were there.

I look forward to whatever may come my way due to this next chapter of my life and as an outcome of this book.

Elaine x