Riverton experiences - please share!

[Tea Lady]

Hi,

I'm getting to the end of my tether with my baby's lack of sleep and I'm thinking of getting a referral to the Riverton centre in Bris (by the way, how do you actually get a referral?). BUT I'm not sure if I really want to go because I've heard that they make you let the baby cry quite alot and I'm not quite desperate enough to want to do that yet. Could anyone who has been there let me know what it was like? How long do you go for? What do you actually do there? Did you find it hard? Can your husband go too? Did it make things easier when you got home?

I'm really worried about going there and then not being comfortable with how they want me to get Jo to go to sleep, but not feeling able to tell them that. On the other hand I'm so tired I'm getting depressed, so obviously I've got to do something. I'd appreciate any feedback!

Thanks.

Lucy

[Harmony83]

Hello. We went to riverton when Brayden was 3 months and found them to be a HUGE help!!! We went to the Community Health Centre to get a referral, (i too was at the end of my tether!)We were lucky and got in the next week, but the usual waiting period is a couple of weeks!
You and bubs stay there for a week (5 days) your partner can come visit whenever he wants for as long as he wants, but can't stay the night! Meals are provided (and are pretty good) You and bubs share a room.
The ladies there are wonderful and very understanging. They never make you do anything you feel uncomfortable with. What usually happens is when bubs is ready for bed you wrap him up and pop him in bed, then ssshhh him till his quiet and pat his belly, when he stops crying you stop, sometimes (if you feel comfortable with it) you stand outside the bedroom while bubs has a cry to give him the 'opportunity' to fall asleep, you decide how long for... They help you for the first couple of days and then its up to you! You also watch videos on settling, tired signs, growth and development etc, and on the wednesday night the fathers get together to talk about life after baby! It is reaaallly good and I'd definately recommend it to anyone... You can go there for other 'issues' too, when I was there, there were some parents trying to get rid of the dummy, or wean bubby onto a bottle etc... They even do a footprint of your baby to take home! And its all free!!! :D
If you need an more information please PM me!!

[Aprilsmum]

I don't have a personal story, but a friend of mine went there and she thought it was fantastic. She was there to help her 12 wk old with settling and feeding issues. She also said that they don't make you do anything you don't want to.

Hope everything works out.

[Mahjong]

........................

[Harmony83]

I am so sorry you had such a rotten experience, I couldn't imagine what that must have felt like... :(
I had a similar experience with them (no where near as severe as yours), When I was at the Community Health Centre I admitted that yes I had thoughts of hurting him, but that I would never do it (they were just the thoughts of a fustrated, very sleep deprived mum). At the Riverton Centre they offer for you to speak to a social worker, which i did, and it was in the paper work that I had previoulsy suffered depression and had these thoughts (which is very common), the social worker was very understanding and knew that I would never hurt my child, but had to report it to her superiors, who reported it to dep of child safety, but because the social worker and the ladies at Riverton had told the department that I had a very close bond with my little one and they knew for certain I would never hurt him, it was never taken any further... I was very upset for a few days after that incident.
After Riverton Brayden has been sleeping so much better and the ladies there were so understanding.
I would still recommend it to anyone with sleeping issues.

[Aprilsmum]

Oh Bepibarina, What a nightmare you've been through. I was very emotional just reading about it. I really hope that you can move past it soon, so that you can enjoy the important things in life like being a mother, as I'm sure you're wonderful at it.

[Mahjong]

Edit Edit EDit

[Tea Lady]

Thanks for the replies. It sounds like you must have got the dregs of the staff there Bepibarina - very sorry to hear about your bad experience.

We went to the doc yesterday - he seemed to think that the bad sleeping is probably linked to the constipation she has, but since she's never a great one for going off to sleep he gave me a referral to Riverton and I'll wait till she finally does a dirty nappy and see where we are then with the sleep before I make up my mind.

I meant to ask you Harmony - what do you actually do all day there? I'm assuming from Bepibarina's post that there must be other "activities" organised (sounds a bit like school camp!). Is it a good chance to meet other mums in the same situation? Were there other babies of different ages or were they all about your babies' age?

Thanks everyone.

Lucy

[Mahjong]

Edited. :mad:

[Harmony83]

They didn't organise activities as such, they had 'discussions' daily and videos, but mostly you concentrated on learning how to settle bubs and mingling with the other mums! It was really good to know their was other mums with the same probs!! They have prams you can borrow to go for a walk anytime you want. I would take a book with you though just in case, by the end of the week Brayden was so good at settling I had more time on my hands! They have a telly in the lounge/dining area and plenty of mags. Whilst I was there all the bubs were under 6 months (I think there were about 6 or 7 others) which is pretty standard! :D Let us know how it goes for you!