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Caption: Babies in Mind Seminar 12th December 2016
Caption: The first #mabim Babies in Mind Seminar showcased how the Brazelton Newborn Behaviour Observation (NBO) tool can promote maternal and infant mental health.
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Caption: This was the first of a series of seminars showcasing how professionals can support the mother-infant relationship.
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Caption: Sally Hogg introduced the seminar.
She explained the wider Mums and Babies in Mind Project, which is run by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.
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Caption: Sally explained how perinatal mental illness increases the risk of poor outcomes for babies. However these problems are not inevitable.
Caption: Sally explained the importance of supporting the mother-infant relationship.
This is highlighted in NICE guidance and is a core part of any good perinatal mental health service.
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Caption: Joanna Hawthorne from the Brazelton Centre UK introduced the NBO. She showed lovely films demonstrating babies early capacities and interactions.
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Caption: The NBO promotes healthy relationships through helping parents to observe how their baby behaves and communicates.
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Caption: There is some evidence that the NBO improves both maternal and infant mental health. More RCTs are underway.
Caption: Catherine Mee couldn't be with us but Joanna delivered her slides about the use of NBO in Tameside.
Professionals from Tameside described sharing the 'magical moments' of a family getting to know each other.
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Caption: Deborah O'Dea described the challenges facing many babies in Blackpool, who are born into families facing multiple adversities.
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Caption: Deborah shared a powerful case study of how NBO had helped a family in Blackpool.
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Caption: Catherine Whitcombe spoke passionately about the value of the NBO in Gloucestershire, where more Health Visitors are now being trained in the tool.
Caption: In the discussion session, it was agreed that the Brazelton approach and principles could usefully be adopted by all professionals working with families who have a new baby, even if they don't use the tool itself.
Brazelton gives professionals a language to engage parents, describe babies' behaviour and give babies a voice.
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Caption: There was also discussion about how we might communicate some of the content from the NBO directly to parents.
Tameside have developed a DVD to do this.
The films on www.your-baby.org.uk also help parents understand babies' states and cues.
Caption: It was a great discussion, leaving us with lots of inspiration and food for thought!
We look forward to the next Babies in Mind seminar in 2017.