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SIL denying PND and making life unbearable

1 reply

Elderflowerie · 06/12/2021 07:11

My SIL has PND after my nephew was rushed to hospital at around 4 weeks old with suspected meningitis. Completely understandable.

But she won't accept that she needs help at all. My brother isn't allowed to feed him, bath him, he holds him wrong, pushes him in the pram wrong. This is a much wanted baby and my brother is devastated that he has no relationship with him due to her distress if he does anything.

He has called the GP, the HV, been to counselling himself etc but everyone tells him that she can't be helped unless she accepts help.

SIL is having none of it. She won't even put my nephew down to wash up or cook a meal so she eats a packet of biscuits throughout the day and waits for my brother to come home from work to cook her a meal. He then has to tidy and clean from SILs day at home as she holds him through all his naps and won't put him down at all. If my brother suggests her doing so, she accuses him of wanting her to neglect their son. I've spoken to her myself that her behaviours are extreme, but she's extremely stubborn and can't see herself from an objective viewpoint at all.

My brother's life is miserable and she won't accept there is anything wrong. The baby is now 8 months old. Are there any support services that he can access on her behalf? Or for himself even?

OP posts:
Elderflowerie · 07/12/2021 07:47

Just to add, he's a very happy baby and barely cries so it isn't that she's having to hold him all day long.
She still won't let him sleep in another room, even during the day so she can potter around. She has eyes on him constantly. She thinks this is normal. They don't do any baby groups either so she's pretty isolated.

OP posts:
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