Perinatal mental health

When you have completed this course, you will be able to:

• explain the normal changes in mood that can occur following childbirth
• describe the clinical characteristics of the different psychiatric conditions that occur in pregnancy and the postpartum period
• describe the management of serious psychiatric disorders through pregnancy and the postnatal period including the options for treatments in pregnancy and breastfeeding
• identify the risks associated with psychiatric disorders
• understand the need for multidisciplinary working and a close relationship between obstetric and perinatal mental health services.

Dr Mohammed Nabhan (2025)

Dr Emer O'Donnell (2025)

Dr Rosinder Kaur (2022)

This course is intended to help clinicians gain core knowledge for O&G training and the MRCOG examinations. It can also be used by O&G consultants to refresh their knowledge of the area or for teaching.

The content of this course relates to the following Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) and key skills:

CiP 1: Clinical skills and patient care
Relevant to all key skills

CiP 6: Developing self & others
Commits to continued learning

CiP 9: Emergency gynaecology and early pregnancy
Manages complications of treatment
Manages other early pregnancy complications

CiP 10: Emergency obstetrics
Manages concerns about fetal wellbeing

CiP 12: Non-emergency obstetrics
Relevant to all key skills

Further details about each CiP can be found within the O&G Core Curriculum 2024 Definitive Document, available here.

Bambridge GA, Shaw EJ, Ishak M, Clarke SD, Baker C. Perinatal mental health: how to ask and how to help. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2017; 17:147–53.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Antenatal and Postnatal Mental Health: Clinical Management and Service Guidance. CG192. London: NICE; 2014 [Updated 2020].

National Institite for Health and Care Excellence. Intrapartum Care for Women with Existing Medical Conditions or Obstetric Complications and their Babies. NG121. NICE; 2019.

Medland V, Nechowska A, Prevezanos P. Perinatal mental health: an overview of pathology, services and the law. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2025;27:57–67.

Petrosellini C, McAlpine L, Protti O, Siassakos D. The use of psychotropic medication in the perinatal period. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2024;26:127–38.