Hi Jus

I can really relate to your story. My baby is almost 12 mths. He has been a terrible sleeper and we went and did a residential stay for 7 nights at a Mother Baby unit which was great to give me a break. The sleep deprivation is shocking. My MHCN also suggested I might be suffering from PND and that I attend at PND support group. I didn't think I had PND but it was just a combination of adjusting to parenthood, exhaustion and the constant daily sleeping battles getting me down. The interesting thing once I started going to the group was it confirmed that I wasn't suffering from PND or if I was it was very mild compared to the issues and experiences that the other women were talking about. It was still useful though to talk about parenting issues and strategies to deal with anxiety.

The other thing the group made me realise in relation to the sleeping battle was it was more to do with him than me. I could do the same thing for 3 days in a row and get three different results. Being able to distance myself a bit helped. It's not about me, it's about him. I would give him an opportunity to sleep, if he choose not to take that opportunity my cut off was 30 mins. He would still be tired so I would take him out in the pram and if he was really tired he would sleep if not he wouldn't. Then we would start again in the afternoon. If I kept going longer than 30 mins I would get angry and upset so would he. Having a cut off of 30 mins took the pressure off. It also allowed me to start enjoying time with him more instead of carrying on feeling irriatated by the sleeping issues.

Sounds like you are starting to put some good things in place to help you through this very difficult time. It can't last forever eventually they will grow up and move out of home Good luck!