Western Sydney LHD Mother and Baby Unit

The Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) uses a multidisciplinary approach to meet the unique needs of parents and babies.

Our team includes:

• mental health nurses
• Aboriginal mental health clinician
• child and family health nurses
• psychiatrist
• paediatrician
• peer worker
• social worker
• clinical psychologist
• occupational therapist
• exercise physiologist.

All staff are qualified health professionals. They support the mental health needs of the parent, provide appropriate care for the baby, and encourage healthy parent–baby interactions.

Patients will have their own room with an ensuite bathroom. Rooms are generously designed with a queen-sized bed, cot and a daybed.

Within the unit, there are also communal areas including lounges, dining, kitchen and courtyard areas to accommodate multiple families. Therapeutic spaces include group activity rooms, play areas, baby care rooms and a retreat.

The Mother and Baby Unit is a purpose-built unit located at Westmead Hospital with eight inpatient beds. The unit is open 24 hours, 7 days per week. Inpatient services are available for mothers who are experiencing significant mental health problems in the perinatal period (before, during and after birth), and who are the primary caregiver for their baby (up to 12 months of age). The mother and their baby are admitted together to facilitate maximum opportunity for healthy attachment and to minimise the trauma of separation. Partners or an alternate support person are encouraged to stay overnight to assist with caregiving and to support the mother-baby relationship.

Our philosophy of care

Our philosophy of care is a framework of goals and values to help provide the best care for you and your baby during your time with us. The care you will receive is underpinned by the concept of recovery, framed by your story, what has happened to you in the past, what is happening for you now and how you would like to see your future.

The care team will endeavour to support you to achieve your best life by working with you, your partner and your family to support you and your baby during your stay, on discharge and in the future.

• cots, highchairs, baby baths, baby change mats, play equipment
• baby food
• laundry facilities
• disinfecting and sterilising equipment.

• our baby's Maternal and Child Health book (the Blue Book)
• Medicare card
• clothes for you and your baby
• wraps or swaddles for your baby
• baby carrier or sling
• nappies – disposable
• dummies (if required)
• breast pads (if required)
• bottles (if required)
• infant formula (if using)
• pram or stroller
• breast pump
• if your baby has a special comfort item/toy we encourage you to bring this with you.

All referrals are to be via NSW Health mental health services or designated specialist perinatal mental health services.

Referral eligibility criteria:

• Mother with complex and severe mental health problems that are unable to be managed in the community.
• Mother must be the primary carer for their infant, or infants, under 12 months.
• Woman who is in the last trimester of pregnancy with unstableand sever mental illness may be considered

Referrals are prioritised according to acuity of mental health problem, age of infant and availability of alternative outpatient management.

Exclusion criteria:

• Primary clinical problem is substance/alcohol abuse or dependence.
• We do not admit for assessment of parenting capacity or child protection or forensic reports.
• There is no capacity to admit infants or mother who has significant physical health problems.
• Women must have capacity to provide care or support the infant.

Referral process:

• Complete the Westmead Mother and Baby Unit Referral Form.
• The referral will be reviewed for appropriateness and triaged by the Intake Clinician.
• Referrals will be reviewed by the multi-disciplinary team.
• The intake clinician will make contact for further information and if required complete an assessment to discuss suitability for admission; this may be face to face or via Telehealth.
• Intake team will inform you of the outcome.

The Mother and Baby Unit are unable to provide care in the ‘waiting for admission’ period. Parents, children, partners and their families are likely to require ongoing support from mental health and child and family health services whilst waiting for admission.

MBU will prioritise referrals according to clinical need. For example: Women with severe mental health problems and who are breast feeding young babies have a higher priority for admission.

When a bed becomes available a MBU staff member will contact you and your patient.

During the waiting period MBU takes no responsibility for the setting up of alternative supports. It is the referrers responsibility to ensure that appropriate care is provided in the interim.

As a family-focused service, Mother and Baby Unit strongly encourages partners, or an alternative support person, to stay over. Staying over requires you to play an active role in supporting your loved one and assisting with the care of the baby. Our team understands this may be a challenging time for you. We will work with you and be available to provide support and guidance around how to care for yourself, your partner and baby. All parents and family members and support people in the unit are asked to respect each other, act with tolerance, integrity, and compassion.

Bedrooms

Each bedroom has a double-sized bed for the mother, a baby cot, and daybed with an ensuite bathroom. The rooms have capacity to put clothing and a safe for personal belongings.

Common areas

You and your loved ones are welcome to use the common areas of the unit.

There may be times when some common areas are being used for meetings or groups but there are other spaces where you can have some quiet time.

Meals

Partners and support people can access breakfast, lunch and an evening meal in the family dining space. Dietary requirements may not be catered for.

There are also local cafes and a supermarket on Darcy Road within a short walking distance of the unit. Please ask staff if you require directions.

Overnight stays

One support person can stay overnight: this support person must be over 18 years old.

If the support person is unwell, they must not visit or stay, especially if experiencing flu-like symptoms or within three days of having diarrhea or vomiting.

Partners would be expected to come and go from the unit at reasonable hours (8am to 8pm) to avoid disruption to the women and infants.

For safety reasons, there are some items that can not be taken onto the unit (for example, sharp objects, tobacco and alcohol) please speak to staff if you have any questions around this.

Day visitors will be able to access the unit between 8am to 8pm depending upon the daily ward programs, therapeutic sessions, and activities and/or as negotiated with the clinical team during care planning.

Fire safety and security

You will receive a formal orientation to the unit on your arrival. All visitors will be asked to sign the visitor register each time they enter and leave the unit.

This is a fire safety requirement to ensure it is known how many people are always in the facility.

Appropriate dress

Visitors must be fully and appropriately dressed at all times.

Photos and videos

NSW Health does not allow photos or video footage within a health setting, with a mobile phone or other recording device. This is to protect the privacy of other individuals in the unit. For more information about privacy in hospitals, please see our staff.