Tommy's launches a new mental health digital tool for pregnancy and post birth

National charity Tommy's has launched a digital version of the NICE-approved Pregnancy and Post-birth Wellbeing Plan. Created in partnership with the Institute of Health Visitors, the National Childbirth Trust, Netmums, NHS England, Public Health England and the Royal College of Midwives, the digital tool is called Your baby's mum: A wellbeing plan for pregnancy and post-birth and the video can be viewed on YouTube.

The resource and accompanying campaign is designed to help all pregnant women to think and talk about their mental wellbeing in the pregnancy and post-birth period, and to plan early for support and self-care after the birth. The tool is suitable and available for all pregnant women and can be completed at any point in pregnancy.

It is intended to help pregnant women make a plan for their mental wellbeing and offer extra support to those who need it during pregnancy. It has a tailored route for women who have suffered a previous pregnancy loss or premature birth, which acknowledges the extra anxiety this can cause.

The Wellbeing Plan aims to:

- encourage self-care for emotional wellbeing

- help women identify symptoms of mental health problems

- help women prepare mentally for the post-birth period

- help women identify sources of support after the birth that can improve wellbeing.

The tool will also identify women who are at higher risk of poor mental health, offering a Tommy's midwife call-back to women who may need extra support.