Postnatal Depression Awareness Week 2013

November 18 2013 – Re-posted from my wordpress blog

This morning I attended Talks, Treats and Tea at the Narrabeen Tramshed. A Post Natal Depression event put on by Medicare Local/Sydney, North Shore,Beaches. Despite the rain it was a good turnout of mums and babies, and other health professionals including Kathy O’Donnell from Nurturing Hands, Lois Nethery from Northern Beaches Acupuncture, Tresilian, Dalwood Spillsread, Relationships Australia, State Wide Support Services and others.

All with one purpose – to use our expertise and experience to help and support parents and families in their challenging roles as new parents. Katherine Cook a child and family Psychologist gave an interesting and informative talk on Adjustment and Parental Anxiety. Catherine Knox from The Gidget Foundation gave her own personal story on her experience with PND. It was a moving and challenging story.

In fact 1-7 Women and 1-10 Men experience Postnatal Anxiety or Depression. Parenthood can be stressful, most parents experience some form of anxiety. Parenthood especially new parenthood can be a very anxious time. It is not something you can really prepare for. We need help and support from others.

I spoke on baby massage and how it can be a helpful modality for both babies and mothers with PND. Mothers with PND often have problems interacting with their babies. they can be withdrawn, disengaged, not playing or smiling with their baby, as a result the babies can become distressed and cry more which only makes the situation worse.

Baby massage is something enjoyable that is easy to learn and benefits both mother and child. Making eye contact and chatting to your baby is much easier when you are massaging. It also helps you to learn to read their cues and learn to respond to them, all the while communicating with them through touch which is their first language. Regular massage helps you to gain confidence in your parenting skills. This helps you to relax and in turn helps your baby to relax.

If you feel you would like some support, any of the above mention groups can be of help to you.

If you would like to know more about baby massage and PND please feel free to contact me. I would love to help. Marilyn

Marilyn Wilson, RN
Paediatric Massage Consultant
Certified Infant Massage Instructor
p: 0411 14 35 82
w: www.tinytouch.com.au
e: marilyn@tinytouch.com.au