During pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, women and their partners can suffer perinatal stress and difficulties adjusting to the role of parenthood. Amidst these changes, women may experience feelings of alienation and isolation (Slade 2005), which can become heightened and exacerbated. We now understand that up to 20% of new mothers develop depression.

From birth, the infant is completely dependent on their parents to meet their needs. Within this first stage of development, the infant quickly learns how much they can trust and/or mistrust. They begin to form early attachment patterns in order to adapt and survive. Any disruption to this critical period of development can impact on the infant's emotional wellbeing.

Pericare adopts a dyadic approach by supporting the parent's perinatal emotional wellbeing and their nurturing attachments with their infant.

According to Slade (2005), the process of reflection or ‘mentalization’ enables women to give meaning and reorganize their perinatal stress. Making sense of their powerful feelings enables them to reconnect with their infant – ‘for together we care, together we can.’

The importance of reflection or ‘mentalization’ is intensified when there is a risk that the infant may be removed and placed in care. For Pericare has a special interest in supporting those women and partners who have had previous children removed. I work collaboratively with women to help them re-organise their loss and trauma so that they are more emotionally available for their infant (Fraiberg et al 1975) – ‘for together we care, together we can.’