Pre-Empting PND

[sifreynir]

Having had such a horrible time with my first child and the complete and utter lack of support and because of my abusive circumstances, any chance I had for maybe not having a second child were removed from me. So i figured I should be prepared.

Having previously picked myself up out of PND, I had a few coping mechanisms. Realised that PND was an illness....like a cold, it could be got over you just had to endure the symptoms in the meantime!

So I got in touch with Homestart, built a relationship with a good doctor at my surgery and my health visitor. I was lucky this time, both my doctor and HV were great. I was refferred to a CPN for pre-diagnosis, but during my pregnancy i was fine.

Somehow I was missed in the loop at my maternity unit by their PND team They eventually came out to speak to me but made me feel like a complete looser...but did refer me to a psychiatrist.

Each person will have things that they found during a first bout of PND that helped. You can set these up ready just in case the PND comes back with further children. Things like mother and baby groups to get your bum out the house to go to. Getting more information for your partners and relatives about PND whilst you are in a more positive frame of mind.

You can try talking to them about what they could do for you that may help, you have perfect insight now into how you MAY feel if it hits again. So share it with those closest to you, it will help them as well as you and your child.

Speak to your doctors, midwives and carers about what other help is available in your area. Many hospitals now have extra support for PND mums as it is becoming sadly more common.

Keep in your mind too...that even if you do get PND again, or it gets worse...its just a cold....you'll get over it!

[naomi]

Thanks for the great ideas sifreynir - it's probably a long way off til we think about another baby, but i'll need to be especially careful in terms of PP relapse. Thanks for jogging my mind with things that have helped this time that I can bear in mind if we do have another bub.
Love Naomi x

[lovebug]

hi. Can i ask what home start is please?

julie x

[Veritee]

Dear Julie

Home start is a voluntary organization and a charity that is available in many areas of the UK, that will send you your own personal home volunteer to assist you in any way you feel you need ....

from helping with housework, just talking with you and supporting you, taking your children or baby to the park or a walk, even watching TV with them so you can have a bath, me time , go shopping or just have a bath.

What they do to help is negotiated between you and the volunteer
( I trained as a Home Start visitor so I say this form first hand experience)
The only criteraia is you have at least one child under 5 years and you feel you coudl benefit from a such a volunteer in your life

To access this you do not have to be referred by a professional or have any contact with social services as any women can refer themselves .

The service is very discrete, no one need know who your home start visitor is so if friends and neighbors call you can with your home start visitors agreement refer to them as a new friend or whatever you would want them to be know as.

Unfortunately as many services in some areas they struggle for funds - but to apply you can go on their web site and find the Home Start nearest to you and see if they have places

Home start Web site is: www.home-start.org.uk/

to find your local one: www.home-start.org.uk/findus/

I do hope this is helpful, I will email the information to you if you like

All the best

Vertiee