We expect ourselves to mother
Without stumbling
To fall in love instantly
To instinctively know
What our babies need.
But the truth is our babies are
Little strangers
From the off
Never the ideal babies
We have carried in our minds
And hearts.
And to mother
We must allow ourselves to learn
To fail
To grieve
To meet our babies
Where we least know or understand
Them
Or ourselves.
Staying close
Love-laden efforting
To understand
And put words to
The earliest vocalisations
Ensures the warp and weft
Of neural pathways
Are laid down
To mother is
To become familiar with
And less fearful
Of this not-knowing
So that in gentle repetition
Of our sometimes synchronous dance
We are strangers no more.
Julianne Boutaleb
Consultant Perinatal PsychologistDirector of Parenthood In Mind Consultancy
London Hub Lead to December 2022
Other News
AiMH UK Autumn Newsletter
Discover the latest updates in the AiMH UK Autumn Newsletter! Packed with news, upcoming events, and resources to support infant mental health professionals, this edition is a must-read. Stay informed and connected with the AiMH community!
Calling Baby Room and Early Years Professionals!
Boost your Professional Development.
A unique opportunity to join a Work Discussion Group led by Peter Elfer, Early Years Team, University of Roehampton, and Ruth Seglow. Consultant Child Psychotherapist.
Reflection on AiMH UK events by Susan Gault MBE
AiMH UK influences practice and Policy: Susan Gault MBE, Head of Public Health Nursing in NHSCT attended an AiMH UK Lunchtime Skills Box which has now influenced the work they are doing within their regional child health programme.
Welcoming Our New Trustees to the AiMH UK Board
We are thrilled to welcome three exceptional individuals to the AiMH UK Board as our newest trustees. Their diverse expertise, passion for infant mental health, and commitment to our mission will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts and broaden our impact; Dr Helen Simmons, Emily Gandy & Sarah Sturrock.
1001 Days Update
As a member of the 1001 Days Movement, we are pleased to share an update following the recent Government election.
Help us receive £1000 from the Benefact Group.
Please nominate us for a chance to win £1,000 as part of Benefact Group’s annual Movement for Good Awards, which is giving over £1million away to charities and good causes.
Baby Communication Week 2024
The Brazelton Centre is holding Baby Communication Week from July 1st - 5th.
Understanding Babies ♥ Affirming Parents ♥ Nurturing Relationships
1001 Days – A Manifesto for Babies
The First 1001 Days Movement of over 200 charities and professionals has launched the ‘Manifesto for Babies’ to highlight 5 urgent recommendations for all political parties
Children at the Table Campaign
AiMH UK are proud to be a supporter of the Children at the Table Campaign. Read more about this worthwhile campaign
New toolkit launched by the MMHA and Mental Health Foundation
Amplifying Maternal Voices (AMV) Toolkit. The resource is part of the two-year AMV project to spotlight mothers' maternal mental health experiences from seldom-heard communities.
Early years trial on the ADBB Study released
Royal Foundation-backed early years trial on the Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB) with iHV reveals overwhelming positive results.
Become amember
Join AiMH UK and your local hub to develop your knowledge, skills, and confidence, and access a wealth of specialist information on the AiMH UK website.
Sharing expertise on how we work with infants and their families increases the effectiveness of our work.
Register a training provider
Reach a wider audience and promote your education or training course on our dedicated IMHDirectory. The AiMH UK IMHDirectory serves as a valuable resource showcasing infant mental health training and learning opportunities.
Register today and join our community which attracts learners and practitioners from all around the UK
AIMH UKDonations
We’re using JustGiving, for donations to AiMH UK. Your donation enables us to continue our work, promoting the importance of infant mental health and making a real difference to improve outcomes for parents, babies and toddlers. Thank you for making a difference!