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AMIHS Aboriginal Maternal Infant Health Service Kristen Ella & Eda Devoti What is AMIHS? • Model of providing Antenatal Care within NSW Health to Aboriginal women in a more culturally safe way. • Involves a • Community Midwife • Aboriginal Health Worker (AHW) • Provides a flexible service delivery model • Engages women earlier in the pregnancy • Is a primary health care model • Aims to integrate within the Aboriginal Community to build trust and engagement • To link Aboriginal women into antenatal care earlier in their pregnancy • To reduce the number of premature infants born • To increase the number of Aboriginal women who initiate breastfeeding with their infants • To reduce the number of pregnant Aboriginal women who smoke. AMIHS – MHDAS • Pilot project funded for 3 years commencing July 2011 • 8 sites across NSW to employ MH & D&A workers and trainees on request to be colocated with the AMIHS midwives and Aboriginal Health Workers • Focus on the provision of early intervention MH and D&A services to Aboriginal pregnant women at risk of MH and/or D&A issues • Facilitate linking women into appropriate treatment services where there are MH and/or drug use issues • Reduce the barriers to referrals into specialist MHDA services • Develop strategies and programs that assist the women to focus on the parent – child relationship Why is it important to have a Mental Health Worker involved while pregnant? • The unborn infant • The risk factors for foetal brain development during pregnancy • Potential Risks for mums and bubs Attachment • Attachment between an infant and a primary caregiver(s) begins prior to birth • Attachment is necessary for human survival • Infants are born predisposed to social interaction • The attachment relationship is built on the pattern of emotional interactions between an infant and a caregiver Medication During Pregnancy • Psychotropic/Antidepressant Medication • Pros and Cons • Mothersafe - 1800 647 848 & http://www.mothersafe.org.au/ • SwOPS - State-wide Outreach Perinatal MH Service 02 8821 4457 or 0417448314