To support new mothers requiring specialised perinatal assessment and treatment, the Lavender Mother-Baby Unit was opened at Gold Coast University Hospital in March 2017. This is a statewide public service and the first of its kind in Queensland catering for women with severe mental illnesses (and their infants under 1 year old) requiring admission to an inpatient program. The Lavender Mother-Baby Unit has four adult beds, and treatment is provided by a multidisciplinary treatment which facilitates the improvement in maternal mental health, as well as foster positive mother-baby attachment and parenting skills.
Improving Maternal Mental Health while Fostering Positive Mother-baby Attachment and Parenting Skills
Summary
Aim
Inpatient admission aims to improve maternal mental health, facilitate the development of favourable mother-baby relationship and parenting skills, and support the daily functioning of mothers.
Benefits
A variety of group and individual sessions are provided to the mother-infant dyads, such as infant massage groups, mother-infant interaction, sensory modulation and cooking skills.
Background
At least 20 per cent of women have significant mental health problems, with suicide being the leading cause of maternal death during pregnancy and the first twelve months after birth. Maternal mental illnesses have been linked with a range of longer-term adverse outcomes, such as difficulties with daily functioning, decreased mother-infant bonding, and suboptimal infant development.