How to help a woman with PND

It can be both difficult and frustrating to live with someone who has PND. Perhaps the most important thing is to recognise that someone suffering from PND may need encouragement to seek help, and support to get it. Help her to find someone to talk to in depth, and reassure her that she is not going mad and that she will get better. Make sure she knows that you will support her, and not abandon her.
Practical steps include helping her to get enough food, rest, and exercise. Try to ensure that she doesn’t spend much time alone to cope with the baby. A sense of isolation can be the most stressful aspect of mothering. Support the idea that she deserves to have a daily treat, and enable her to get it. Above all try to listen to how she feels and be patient.

There are many useful organisations try: www.pni.org.uk or www.mama.co.uk

Tips to help PND

Below are some simple tips that may help:

• Try to get at least half an hour a day me time as often as possible every day if it is possible. All mums need a little space to themselves it is not a crime
  
• Try to get as much rest as you can.
  
• Ask for help with the house work, most partners or families will not help if you don't ask, they don't want to offend or interfere.
  
• Try to get as much fresh air as possible, go for little walks with the baby
  
• Try to get help with the feeding routine if you are breast feeding then express the milk and let someone else feed them this is especially good at night as being tired worsens the symptoms.
  
• Try to be flexible, e.g. with sleep times, feeding times etc - it's less stressful for you and your baby.
  
• Sometimes its hard but try to see all the amazing things about your child just look at them and remember that they are a little miracle.
  
• Above all else give yourself a break, new mums are often their own worst critic, just remember that there is no such thing as a perfect mum.
  
• Go to mother and baby groups, meeting other woman in the same position as you will give you a chance to share skills and experiences and to realise you are not alone. Some of our mum don't enjoy these clubs because the mums have been competitive and false but if you feel that try another group, most are great and you can find life long friends
  

Above all to get some emotional and practical support try to speak to your partner, family or to a mid wife or a G.P

If your symptoms are severe there is no point in ignoring them or trying to be brave they will only get worse as time goes on. The first thing to do is to admit how you are feeling and then tell someone who can help, the first step is often the hardest but once you take that step you are on the road to recovery. There is no shame is admitting how you are feeling you are suffering from an illness like any other. Your child needs a mum who feels well and for that to happen you will need help.

Treatment

You may well not need medication to begin feeling better. If your symptoms are mild our mum's say that often just talking about how you feel can make a huge difference, many have turned to self help books or groups and found them hugely beneficial. Medical experts suggest that the best treatment for PND may be a combination of practical support and advice, counselling or psychotherapy, and if necessary, antidepressants.

Puerperal psychosis

Warning: IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS BELOW YOU NEED IMMEDIATE HELP:

severe Insomnia (i.e., no sleep at all )

loss of control with huge mood swings

loss of confidence ( e.g. fear of leaving house, of social interaction, or seeing friends, fear of or withdrawal from looking after baby, fear of being on alone)

thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

scary fantasies

manic behaviour (e.g. cleaning in the middle of the night)

hallucinations or delusions

It may be that you are suffering from puerperal psychosis, fortunately it is fairly rare, affecting only one in 500 new mothers, but it’s the most serious kind of postnatal illness. It can come on suddenly a few weeks after the birth, and starts with the mother being very restless, excited or elated and totally unable to sleep. She may have delusions or hallucinations. She may be manic or have wild mood swings from high to low. Her behaviour may become increasingly bizarre and disturbing to those around her, and she may lose touch with reality. It soon becomes very clear that she needs help, and medical and social support and it is very important that she receives it.

Treatment of Puerperal psychosis
Treatment often involves a hospital stay and the use may include stabilising drugs, strong antipsychotic, and antidepressants. In extreme cases the doctors may want to use electroconvulsive therapy. It may take a long time to recover completely, but the sooner it is diagnosed the better the prognoses.