The good enough mother

03/05/24 • 19 min

Donald Winnicott was a paediatrician and psychoanalyst whose work had a profound influence on our understanding of psychological development. In today’s episode, Lynsey and Chrissy discuss Winnicott’s concept of the good enough mother and the importance of parent-infant relationships for healthy psychological development.
If you would like to learn more about Winnicott’s work, we wholeheartedly recommend reading some of his original work: The Child, the Family, and the Outside World is a great place to start.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health difficulties, there is lots of help available. You can contact your primary care provider in the first instance, or if you are based in the UK the NHS perinatal mental health website will help you to find support in your local area.

Previous Episode

Postpartum psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency that can start very suddenly in the days or weeks after having a baby. It can happen to anyone and often occurs completely out of the blue.
In this episode we are joined by Sally Wilson from Action on Postpartum Psychosis to talk about her experience of postpartum psychosis and the work that she is doing with APP to support and advocate for women and families who have been affected by this serious but treatable condition.
If you would like to learn more about this topic, you can follow APP on twitter @ActionOnPP and check out the resources on their website.

Next Episode

Perinatal depression

Perinatal depression is one of the most common illnesses to affect people during pregnancy and the postnatal period. Its effects can be devastating and, if left untreated, it can have a huge impact on women and their families.
In this episode we are joined by Leanne Howlett to talk about her experience of perinatal depression, and her incredible work as a nurse in a perinatal mental health service.
If you would like more information about the issues discussed in this episode, here are some useful resources:

Content advisory: this episode contains content that might be distressing to some listeners, including content about self harm and suicide.