Thinking of setting up a local Post-natal depression Mother-and-baby Support Group: What do you think?

[morningpaper]

I am in teh early stages of considering setting up a mother-and-baby group for women suffering from post-natal depression or stress.

It would be hosted by a local branch of a mental health charity who have a suitable large room.

There would be two members of staff who would provide breastfeeding support and mental health support, and probably the involvement of a health visitor.

Does this sound like a good idea? Does anyone have any thoughts about the pros and cons of such a scheme?

Scorpio/LilRed: How were the sessions structured?

there were about 10 in the group; 4 are close friends now. I was the youngest at 19 - eldest was 45 ish.

Did you tend to make friends within your own age group or not really?

What attracted you to the people you stayed in touch with?

about 2 1/2 hours long

asked in the beginning how we were. then activity; break for fag coffee, then maybe an outside visitor, sometime we had time for 1-2-1 whilst the others got on with jewellery making or something.

own age group really; the others i made friends with were similar to me - age, interests, child ages.

Scorpio how did the creche work? Was it onsite?

DD was about five months when I went. the first week DH worked from home to make sure I went.

There were six of us and we bonded fairly quickly and I'm still in touch with two of them regularly, one of which I see at the coffee mornings they still hold.

At the first session a set of rules was drawn up and agreed by all of us, including things such as confidentiality, allowing people to finish speaking, respecting others desire not to speak, etc. etc.

Free childcare was provided and still I still feel atouch of envy when I go for my coffee mornings and the Mums-in-Mind mum's bring their little ones in and go off for the grouop.

Tea/coffee and chocolate biscuits were aplenty and somehow very necessary to us all.

During the ten weeks, alongside the two group leaders, there were visits from CPNs, HVs and sexual health nurses (although I missed this one so can't comment, but my friends had a good laugh and chat).

About a month after the course finished the two course leaders hosted a meal for us all. We drank wine, ate and chatted - it was a lovely touch.

LilRed that sounds brill

Was it held at the 'normal' site for another Mother and toddler group then? Did they leave their children there with nursery nurses and go into a separate room?

The childcare was in the next room and if your lo was distressed they would bring them straight back to you. It felt very safe and lovely.

I'm very pleased and reassured to hear that there are some great schemes out there

Did any of the people from your groups have previous mental health problems?

the childcare was just down the stairs, with nursery staff in a proper nursery setting. This was free to us.

one woman in our group had a previous history of schizophrenia. The others (inc me) all had PND and/or family issues.

It was held at the HomeStart offices, which are in a building which has a meeting hall in it.

On a Wednesday morning (which is when the course is held) there is a coffee morning/play group in the hall, for previous course members. There are plenty of volunteers/play workers and they look after the babies of the course attendees, whilst previous attendees - like me - pootle around, chatting, playing and drinking tea.

It gives a lovely feeling of continuity - everyone there has done the course and knows how tough it is to have PND. We all support each other, even if it's just by making someone a cuppa and watching their LO play whilst they take a ten minute break.

We all had PND and a couple of us (me included) had a history of depression.

These experiences are all so interesting and really good to know about

It sounds like just the right sort of scheme to extend to other parts of the country

I have no experience but think it's a wonderful idea MP. I think it would be good to include mothers of older children (pre-school) as well as newborns, if that is not what you are already considering.

Thanks castleintheair, I think it is a really good idea too and some of these schemes sound excellent

Good idea.

Our area has one for PND/Anxiety issues for mothers, held once a week (term time) runs 1.5hrs, broken up into, first section to talk/listen for those who want to, then short break, then a visit from a HV to answer any questions (same HV) it is run by a counselling couple, and there is a free creche.

It was best thing ever when I had a few wobbly moments after dc2.

Not forced to attend loads of sessions, it's when you want to, and once feeling better there is no need to stop (I was asked to come back if I wanted because it would be positive for other mums to see it is possible to come out or deal with pnd etc.