Infant-Parent Perinatal Service (IPPS) — Oxfordshire

Depression Eating disorders  Perinatal mental health  Oxfordshire Adults

Important: Service update

IPPS is no longer accepting new referrals following a decision by the Thames Valley Integrated Care Board to stop funding the service.

The service is continuing, for a fixed-term period, to work with and support people who were accepted to the service prior to the decision to close.

What we do

IPPS offers support to parents (mothers or fathers) of babies in the antenatal and post-natal period (From 12 weeks pregnant up to 12 months postnatally) who are experiencing, or are at risk of developing, moderate pregnancy/baby related mental health difficulties.

This may include one or more of the following:

Depression, low mood & anxiety (related to being in the perinatal period)
  • scores on screening measures for depression or anxiety in the mild to moderate range.
  • phobias associated with childbirth and pregnancy
  • Physical symptoms (e.g. persistent difficulties with sleep, appetite, concentration)
  • Suicidal thoughts without associated plans or intent
  • Thoughts of harm towards infant without associated plans or intent
  • Occasional deliberate self-harm accompanied by suicidal thoughts without plans or intent
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Obsessions and/or compulsions associated with childbirth and pregnancy.
  • Obsessions and/or compulsions potentially resulting in impairment of ability to care for infant.
  • Intrusive thoughts (especially involving the infant) where risk of harm to self or infant is low.
Eating Disorders (for mothers aged 18 and over)
  • Symptoms of anorexia with BMI of below 18 during pregnancy
  • Occasional or mild bingeing and/or purging behaviors
  • Symptoms of anorexia and body image concerns without risk of malnourishment of the foetus.
Parent-infant relationship difficulties
  • Frequent and increasing feelings of rejection and/or disinterest towards infant (born or unborn)
  • Feelings of rejection, detachment and/or disinterest towards infant (born or unborn)
  • Doubts as to whether the infant is really their own child (often in relation to being unable or unwilling to discuss childbirth)
  • Potential attachment difficulties due to impaired emotional regulation in the parent
  • Difficulties with adjustment to parental role

 

What to consider

  • In cases where mental health difficulties in the perinatal period are moderate to severe and  more intensive support is required, please refer to the perinatal mental health team Oxfordshire Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service – Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
  • If an emergency assessment is required for a parent who has sudden onset of significant mental health difficulties (such as psychotic or actively suicidal symptoms) and they are already known to mental health services, please contact the Adult Mental Health Team(AMHT)
  • If the patient is not known to mental health services, please request an emergency appointment with their GP, who may then refer to an Adult Mental Health Team (AMHT) within working hours; if your call is outside of working hours, please see the ‘In an emergency‘ page.
  • If the patient is an inpatient at the John Radcliffe Hospital, an emergency referral to the emergency psychiatric liaison service at the John Radcliffe can be made directly

Back to Eating disorders 

Page last reviewed: