Maternal Mental Health Scotland
  • For those affected
    • How can pregnancy affect my mental health?
    • What is postnatal depression?
    • Why is this happening to me?
    • How can I support her?
    • What is postpartum psychosis?
  • Getting help
    • What will happen if I need help?
    • If I need medical advice, who do I contact?
    • Who will be helping us?
    • What’s a Mother and Baby Unit like?
    • What if I have had mental health problems in the past?
    • Links to ongoing support for women, partners and families
  • Resources
    • FAQ
    • Multimedia resources
    • Guideline Reports
    • Reading List
    • About Us
  • News and Events
    • News
    • Christine’s tour
  • Everyone’s Business

Reading list for professionals

Bereavement Care for Childbearing Women and their Families
by Caroline Hollins Martin & Eleanor Forrest
Published by: Routledge
ISBN: 978-0-415-82724-9
Although this workbook is primarily about providing support and information to those professionals working with bereaved parents, it has relevance to the mental health of childbearing women. Although grief conventionally focusses on the emotional response to loss, it also has physical, behavioural, social, spiritual and philosophical dimensions. The terms bereavement and grief are often used interchangeably and this book addresses issues surrounding loss not necessarily related to death, but which women have grief reactions to. For example, childbearing women experience a variety of losses such as expectations, (of pregnancy, birth, labour, infant feeding choice, sex of their baby, well-being of their baby), personal and partner relationships and their sense of self. These type of losses can evoke a sort of disenfranchised grief as parents feel that society does not understand why they may have negative emotions or become depressed as a result.

Specific information about perinatal bereavement can be found at www.uk.sands.org

Life after birth
by Kate Figes
Published by: Virago
ISBN: 978-1844084661
Kate Figes draws on medical and historical research, the invention of ‘good’ motherhood as well as personal testimony to reassure new mothers everywhere that they are not only normal if they find things difficult, but also doing fine.

Post natal depression: Psychology, science and the transition to motherhood
by Paula Nicolson
Published by: Routledge
ISBN: 978-0415163637
The author’s use of the case material conveys how well she can bring together different types of information to make key points and to do so with great clarity.

Perinatal Psychiatry: Use and Misuse of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
by John Cox & Jenni Holden
Published by: Gaskell
ISBN: 978-0902241688
The text covers all perinatal psychiatric disorders, as well as their effects on infants and partners. The book includes 11 translations of this scale, along with instructions for its use in different cultures. This text should be of interest to psychiatrists, health visitors, psychologists, midwives, nurses and social workers.

Eyes without sparkle: A journey through postnatal depression
by Elaine Hanzack
Published by: Radcliffe Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 978-1857756555
This book made me feel that I’m not alone in my suffering and that other women are suffering the same as me. I am truly grateful to Elaine for giving such an honest account of what happened to her. It has given me hope for the future which I didn’t have before. In my opinion, every GP, health visitor, mental health worker and midwife should read this book.

Modern Management of Perinatal Psychiatric Disorders
by Carol Henshaw, John Cox, and Joanne Barton
Published by: RCPsych Publications
ISBN: 978-1904671367
An essential text for trainees in perinatal psychiatry, this book is also aimed at general adult psychiatrists with an interest in the field. It is also a useful resource for nurses, psychologists, obstetricians, midwives and health visitors.

Overcoming post natal depression: A five areas approach
by Chris Williams, Roch Cantwell & Karen Robertson
Published by: CRC Press
ISBN: 978-1444167504
Uses the proven and trusted five areas model of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). By bringing together specialists in postnatal depression and with the use of self-help resources, this book addresses all the common challenges faced by women during times of low mood after having had a baby.

Coping with birth trauma and postnatal depression
by Lucy Jolin
Published by: Sheldon Press
ISBN: 978-1847090393
Excellent information on birth trauma, its effects and adaptation to motherhood.

The Social Baby: Understanding babies
by Lynne Murray & Liz Andrews
Published by: CP publishing
ISBN: 978-1903275429
The knowledge and understanding gained from “The Social Baby” will help all those concerned with the care of young infants to relate more sensitively and responsively to the babies who depend on them. It will also enrich their own experience and enhance their enjoyment.

Treating postnatal depression: A psychological approach for health care practitioners
by Jeanette Milgrom, Paul Martin & Lisa Negri
Published by: Wiley-Blackwell
ISBN: 978-0471986454
A very readable book which presents an excellent overview of this important topic, and allows the authors to share their wealth of clinical experience in the clinical management of depressed mothers.

Why love matters: How affection shapes a baby’s brain
by Sue Gerhardt
Published by: Routledge
ISBN: 978-1583918173
Why Love Matters is a lively and very accessible interpretation of the latest findings in neuroscience, psychology, psychoanalysis and biochemistry. It will be invaluable to psychotherapists and psychoanalysts, mental health professionals, parents and all those concerned with the central importance of brain development in relation to many later adult difficulties.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Print

Find information

Our journey with perinatal mental health

Video still
Watch a film featuring Scottish mothers affected by perinatal mental health issues. The film was made as an educational resource for those suffering from these issues as well as the professionals who care for them.

External Resources

  • Association for Post Natal Illness
  • Bluebell PND Counselling Service
  • Maternal Mental Health Alliance
  • Mellow Parenting
  • National Childbirth Trust
  • Royal College of Midwives
  • Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
  • Royal College of Psychiatrists

Donate to support us
Please donate to support our work.

We have created this site to provide you with information and resources. However, this site is not medical advice and is provided for your information only. Maternal Mental Health Scotland cannot provide medical or health advice through this web site.

If you need assistance, please speak with your GP or contact the resources available to you within your local health board.

Find who can help me in my community

Third sector web design by Idea15 Web Design
Maternal Mental Health Scotland is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. No: SC044891
Registered Office: Studio 1015, Mile End Mill, Abbeymill Business Centre, Seedhill Road, Paisley PA1 1 TJ Email
©2014-2017 Maternal Mental Health Scotland