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
Prioritising early childhood to promote the nation’s health, wellbeing and prosperity Report
Written by The Academy of Medical Sciences
February 2024
New RB Update now available to members
December Issue - Parental Reflective Function (PRF). Access the new update through the members area.
The International Journal of Birth and Parent Education – Volume 11 – Issue 1
The latest edition of the International Journal of Birth and Parent Education is now available to members to download from the members area.
Focus: 'Complementary Therapies to support pregnancy, birth and early parenthood'
The AiMH UK Infant Mental Health CPD Programme
Did you know? The AiMH UK Infant Mental Health CPD Programme has now been updated and streamlined and you have access to it as a member of AIMH UK.
Recently cited in Government launch of Family Hubs, one of the five Parent-Infant Relationship priorities for Start for Life (SfL) areas the AIMH UK IMH Competency Framework has been recommended as a tool to upskill your workforce in infant mental health.
Dilys Daws receives an Honorary Doctorate from The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
AiMH UK are very proud of our founder and Honorary Advisor, Dilys Daws who received this prestigious award at the Graduation ceremony on Friday 23rd June - Congratulations
WAIMH Perspectives IMH Intern Editor Vacancy
The WAIMH Perspectives IMH team have an opening for the role of intern editor. Potential candidates are invited to email their application to the Editor-in-Chief by Sunday 3rd September.
Parent Infant Foundation Survey
Please support the 1001 days movement by sharing the survey with mums you work with. Many thanks
Congratulations to all the AiMH UK Award Winners 2022!
The AiMH UK Founders Award 2022 - Jane O'Rourke
The AIMHigh Award 2022 - Jane Dagnell
The Louise Emanuel Award 2022 - Dr Ian Robson
AiMH-Together award 2022 - The Midlothian Sure Start Team & The Cardiff Parents Plus Team
Tribute to Gwen Kirkwood, AiMH UK member and London Hub Lead, who died on 26th January 2023
A moving tribute to Gwen, our treasured AiMH UK member and London Hub Lead and link to the just giving page to celebrate Gwen's life and to support a charity of the family's choice that promotes PPIP and infant mental health.
RE-SCHEDULED – AiMH UK AGM and Awards Presentation including an interview with Dilys Daws
Friday 24th February 2023 11.30AM - 1.00PM
We are delighted to annouce that our founder and honorary trustee, Dilys Daws will be joining us at our Annual AGM and Awards to discuss her new book: 'Quietly Subversive: The Selected works of Dilys Daws'. Dilys will be interviewed by Alexandra de Rementeria, editor of the Journal of Child Psychotherapy, and co-writer of 'Finding Your Way With Your Baby: the emotional life of parents and babies'.
Become a member
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.
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