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Kate Middleton put her baby bump firmly on display during her visit to the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute at King's College London on Wednesday, January 24. Sporting a baby blue coat and blue floral dress, the Duchess of Cambridge was briefed on the challenges surrounding the mental health of women who have just given birth.

Kate also stopped by a laboratory at the institute, where she learned about perinatal research and new treatments to help patients affected by Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and epilepsy. "She was interested in the fact that we look at the whole range of issues including PTSD and self-harm," said Professor Louise Howard, who teaches women's mental health. "She was interested in understanding the whole breadth of the issues and how to make people more robust."

Inside the Institute's laboratory, The Duchess receives a briefing on its work in perinatal research before meeting with academics leading research in perinatal psychiatry. pic.twitter.com/gdAzrhxPZR

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) 24 Januari 2018

Later, Kate stopped by the Mother and Baby Unit at the Bethlem Royal Hospital, which houses mothers who have suffered severe mental illness in late pregnancy and early motherhood. Kate spoke with the patients there, telling them that she was "so glad" to know that they are getting the help they need.

Next this afternoon, The Duchess visits the Mother and Baby Unit at the Bethlem Royal Hospital, part of @MaudsleyNHS Foundation Trust. pic.twitter.com/SWw1szulPS

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) 24 Januari 2018

Kate then visited a sensory room where patients were playing with their children as well as a video room where mothers are filmed interacting with their babies. After that, she joined a meeting with experts to discuss the country's maternal mental health services and the importance of turning research into clinical practice.

The Duchess meets patients who can be treated @MaudsleyNHS with their babies to minimise the disruption of mother-infant relationship. pic.twitter.com/hRbdZrPRFs

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) 24 Januari 2018

"There's an expectation you're going to be super happy all the time, and one in four of us aren't," the Duchess said after being briefed on a research which found that one in four perinatal women experiences mental health issues. "These statistics are there. The research is there, but actually it's getting the awareness out there for mothers to take it [help]."

Before she left, Kate was presented with a bunch of flowers and gifts for her children. They were three books and cuddly toys.