Sil Pnd

[petal80]

Hi guys

what do you do if you suspect that you Sister in law has post natal depression??

I love her to death and I only want what's best for her!

She had first baby via emergency c-section (as did I) ... but it seems like it was a HUGE issue for her and she is still getting over it ... (feels some failure in NOT having a VB)

At first I thought that it was a sex issue BUT They had a Boy the first time round and have found out that they are expecting a little beautiful girl this time in May ... Im worried for her as she really does seem down about the whole thing and is focusing on the birthing process rather than the baby to come .... I hope that I am not over reacting but am genuinely concerned ... she is a good friend to me
when I ask her how she is going she pushes it aside.....
help me to find the right words ... PLEASE

Brooke

[SweetSerenity]

Hi Petal
Its so good that your looking out for your sil...
Unfortunately a lot of women who suffer PND only admit it when they're ready to or when they recognise that everythings not "ok"....
It took me 9mths after petey was born to even tell my mum that i felt like i was suffering...
I think if you try and make it clear to her that your able to listen about anything she needs to talk about, or your just there for her. Even aske her in a gentle way "has she thought that she may be suffering"???
She may not even know much about it so she may not recognise any symptons of it.
If she thinks she may, get her to just chat with you and maybe go see the gp together...
He will be able to suggest things to help her...especially if she's having another one soon, that will make things 100 times worse...
Try and get her to open up as much as possible if you can...thats the only way you can get her some help!
Good luck!
Love and Light, Nat xxx

[Melissa1983]

I agree with Nat. It takes the person who is suffering to realise they have it. I didn't think i had it to i told my sister who told my mum that i was feeling. Abby was just 1 when i got help. They think it all started when i had Mikayla, as i had Pre-Natal Depression really bad as well.

But like Nat said, just tell her that you are there to listen and to help her all you can. It might take time, but aleast she knows that you are there to listen.

I still have my down and out days as Nat knows, but talking about it does help!

[Mummaof2]

Petal80

Well what i was going to say has already been said but if your SIL lives on the central coast maybe you could invite her to the central coast meet up.

[petal80]

Girls thanks so much for you advice - Im just going to be here for her...

Mum_2B - they move up the coast mid this year (YAY)

Brooke

[Chickadee]

Petal,
It's so good that you're looking out for your SIL.

I think if she experienced her last birth as being traumatic then it's not very strange that she's focussing so much on the coming birth. So long as her focus is positive, that is, she's preparing her birth plan and getting ready to have the birth she wants. As opposed to feeling negative and dreading the birth.

JanetF has posted some information on here before about mums having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after birth, and that it is different from PND. I don't entirely understand it but you might want to look up some information on it. Janet gives some good information in this previous bubhub thread: Help for PND and Bonding (http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=8673)