Anyone had experience with home start?

[HaychEss]

I’m struggling with my newborn baby and been told I have post natal depression. HV suggested home start as a way to support me getting out the house. If anyone has used this service could you please share your experiences.

I haven’t used the service but volunteered to provide the service and I do think it can be so so useful. The women I worked with all really benefitted, someone to chat to, someone to hold the baby so they could have a shower and a hot coffee, someone to just help get out of the house feel more manageable. I treated the women I supported exactly like I would a good friend and I do think it can be really beneficial just for some support and company while navigating new baby life! X

Similar to pp I don’t have personal experience as a service user but have only heard good things about it from friends. I wouldn’t hesitate. Take all the help you can at this stage. And congratulations on your new baby!

No personal experience, but professional experience of seeing people use the service.Seems positive, especially one lady who had social isolation and high levels of anxiety, and who i recall built up a very close supportive relationship with their worker, and found the help very useful

The girl who does ours locally is a cracker - you get taken out to nice coffees, you can get a break from the baby if you want it, and she listens to you and fixes stuff.

She knows about the good places locally to find kindred spirits and you totter off to inspect them. Obv no one who works there is remotely preachy or weird, everyone knows how gruelling the early months are.

Everyone needs a mate like this.

I had homestart. She was a very nice lady who came to help me. It was only for a couple of hours a week though so definitely look at other ways of helping your mental and physical health.