PND hospital treatment - help needed

[Honeymum]

I wondered if any of you who have had treatment for either ante or post natal depression (or any other mental health issue really) could offer me any advice. My sister is currently on a psychiatric ward having had her (premature) baby last month. I am very concerned that she may not be getting the best care, but it’s difficult to know since her DH is not sharing much information with my family and my parents don’t wish to rock the boat with him basically for fear of losing touch with my sister. I am specifically concerned that there seems to be no evidence of liaison with the motherhood and mental health team at a neighbouring hospital. Does anyone have any information on dealing with the NHS in these circumstances (i.e. I am not next of kin, how much information can I expect)? I am going to ring and ask for a copy of my sister’s care plan and ask what is planned in terms of liaison with the motherhood and mental health team.

can't help sorry but will bump. Hope you get the advice you need. Thinking of your sis. xx

HI Honeymum

The best advice I can give is to contact the PNISHA web site. They offer fantastic advice and know what they are talking about as all the moderators have suffered from PNI and have gone on to make a full recovery. They gave me fantastic support when I was suffering and will be able to help you to support your sister.

Thanks Petula. I've emailed them and already had a couple of replies from a very sympathetic woman. I'm going to update her now on what's happening to see if she can help some more.

bump

Bumping for you.

I've been in a pysch hospital and it's very distressing. Your sister is lucky to have your love and support

bump. hope that spacecadet sees this, as she has worked as a nurse in a mother and baby unit for women with severe PND, so may have some useful input.

honeymum-
i have worked on an acute mental health ward which had a mum and baby unit.
im assuming that your sister has PND?
she should be in a special unit(although quite often this doesnt happen as spaces are limited and waiting lists are long) where she has a room usually adjacent a nursery where she can attend to her baby as normal.
its usual to assign mothers a one to one nurse or HCA so that the mother has support on hand 24/7, the one to one will either help when requested with caring for the baby whilst ebcouraging mum to participate or simply listen to the patent talk etc.
there should be a trained RMN assigned to do regular assessments with the patient which will involve discussing treatments and the patients progress etc, also a pschyciatrist should be liasing with the patient and discussing trteatments and progress etc.
its usual for the team treating the patient to have meetings with the next of kin too.
if you are unhappy with her care asking to see her careplan is the appropriate way forward.
HTH
i have to go out but will post again when im back.

forgot to mention that if she is in a mum and baby unit, then visiting times(certainly on the ward i worked on) are more flexible to allow partners to come in as much as possible.

Spacecadet
Thanks for your post. Unfortunately the baby was premature (and is likely to be in intensive care for quite a while - is struggling). My sister developed depression at just over 20 weeks I think which went untreated until delivery. Crap GP, crap midwife. Unfortunately sister tried counselling privately and her DH didn't push for referral to specialist mother and baby team in adjoining NHS trust til too late). Sister is in general ward as mother and baby team won't take her as inpatient without baby (how crap is that!). We have not much idea on how far mother and baby team are involved on a weekly basis in her care though we do know that the mother and baby team consultant was one of the doctors who recommended sectioning sister. My mum has gone to the weekly review today (BIL appears to be softening re allowing mum to be involved) so might find out more tonight.

spacecadet
She's got puerperal psychosis or psychotic depression - they don't seem to be able to decide which. On ADs and antipsych meds

bump

sorry only just seen this.
im so sorry that your sister is apart from her baby.
if she has puerperal pschychosis im guessing that she perhaps hasnt been well enough to visit her baby? if she is well enough then she should be able to visit her baby as often as possible as its important for her recovery.
if your mum will tell you how the weekly review went then that can give you a basis for how you can take this further if you need to.
i will say though that puerperal pscychosis can be a very distressing illness, that comes on rapidly after birth, treatment in hospital is neccassary, but is effective and your sister should make a full recovery, however there would be an increased risk of re-occurance in a future pregnancy.
its unfortunate that your sister cant be in the mother and baby unit but sadly as spaces are limited, they will give them to the mums with babies, however i would ultimately puish for her to be transferred there.
if the mother and baby team consultant was one of the doctors recommending sectioning her then it might be a good idea to meet with him/her or write to them pleading your sisters case.
has your sister visited her baby?
your bil is probably in need of support too as he is coping with an unwell wife and a poorly baby both in hospital, he must be feeling the strain, as i guess you all are.
your sister will recover and i hope things go well for her lo too.

there are ladies who have had puerperal psychosis and been in hospital for it on a few other parenting boards I frequent; www.netmums.com (has a depression board), www.badmothersclub.com and www.babycentre.co.uk (has a PND board) so you might be able to get some idea on other boards as to how your sister feels and reassurance from ladies who have been through this and recovered.

Spacecadet - yes she's begun to visit the baby about a week ago, but she doesn't believe he is hers. ECT is being mooted I think because the drugs haven't made any impact (and she's been on them 3 weeks). The baby is stable but not improving and the prognosis isn't good.....

Tearsbeforebedtime - thanks for the tips - will try.

honeymum-im so sorry that the news isnt good

Latest news - baby has been on steroids since last weekend and was showing signs of responding yesterday i.e. his oxygen levels on the ventilator have at last come down significantly. Fingers crossed it's the start of an upward trend for him. Sister still bad but starting ECT next week. Scary but it's been so long that she's been ill....

Glad that your sister's baby seems to be improving at last (fingers crossed). Hope that the ECT works well for your sister. My grandmother had ECT many years ago that worked well for her (whilst recovering from septicaemia she became severely depressed, refused to eat, drink and take her medication). One thing I do remember was that she would be a bit tearful shortly after a treatment. IIRC there has to be more than one doctor giving permission for the treatment - i.e. they do take a great deal of care and consideration in coming to the decision to give it.