How to broach the subject of PND with a friend?

[QueenSconetta]

Hi All

I was hoping you might be able to give me some tips.

I have a relatively new friend who has a DD who is approx 12 weeks old. She just seems so low sometimes, and admits she struggles to cope sometimes.

My DD is 9 months old, so I have taken her under my wing a bit, in a bit of a 'been there, felt like that, you're normal, it does get better' kind of way, but I don't remember me or any of the other Mums I am friendly with being quite that low, so I wonder if she might have a bit of PND.

There is an informal support group in the town where we live for ladies with all levels and severities of PND, and I gather it is very relaxed and friendly. I think she might benefit from this, but I really don't know how to go about broaching the subject with her, as I don't want to offend/seem preachy or judgy or whatever.

Any ideas?

TIA

Could you offer to go along with her?

You sound like a lovely friend, I wish I'd had someone looking out for me like that when I had PND!

Also there is the Ediburgh scale you could perhaps point her to, to assess whether she might be depressed?

If she opens up to you, you may be able to ask her outright if she thinks she has PND. If you don't withdraw your friendship, there's no reason why she should be offended by this genuine question.

Aw thanks GDYWF, I'm all embarassed now, lol!

Unfortunately I'm back at work now, so wouldn't be able to go with her, I could do the 'ground work' though and get her the name of the lady who runs it.

In fact as I type this I've had an idea. We have baby massage here and the lady who organises the group came and did a little spiel at one of the classes I went to. I could say 'has the lady from been to your baby massage class?', then introduce from there, and just say 'I think its great if someone is feeling a bit down they can go and meet other people feeling the same thing, I think they meet on x day at x place'. Or do you think anyone with half a brain would see through that ?