Beth's story
"My volunteer loved playing with my son and her delight and his giggling unrestrainedly was plain to see."
Beth was diagnosed with post natal depression after her son, Alexander was born two years ago. Although Beth's family were supportive, they lived far away from Beth and as her husband worked, Beth often felt that she struggled to cope with her son on her own.
Beth found out about Home-Start from her health visitor and gave her local scheme a call. She was matched with her volunteer, Dorothy, when Alexander was three months old. Beth said: "The fact that our wonderful volunteer came to us at home was hugely important to me because at various points in my illness I found that I couldn't leave the house, so other forms of assistance such as the health clinic and mums and babies groups were simply impossible."
Dorothy helped with simple things like getting Beth out of the house for short walks to the local shops or even out to the country. "Having someone to go out with made it a possibilty and one that filled me with less dread each time, until I was able to start going out on my own again with my son. Knowing that people have been through the same issues and importantly, they survived and have been strengthened by them, is a great help." said Beth.
Having a Home-Start volunteer helped Beth to discuss all kinds of issues from sleepless nights to coping with the inevitable bumps and bruises when Beth's son was learning to walk. "There were times when it seemed like I would never get a full night's sleep ever again and having someone reassure me that it wasn't going to be like that forever helped." Beth said.
Having post natal depression affected the relationship that Beth had with Alexander. Things such as playing games, singing songs or reading books seemed like a chore, something that had to be done to keep her son quiet. Beth said: "Dorothy loved playing with Alexander. My mum came to stay with us and when she arrived she said that she could hear my son all the way down the street. Being a part of that much joy is infectious and helped lift my spirits enormously."
As Beth's volunteer and son got on so well together, Beth was able to use some of her home-visiting time getting little jobs done, such as hanging the washing out, preparing tea or making an important phone call.
Home-Start family groups have lots of days out so Beth was able to make news friends and talk to other parents who were going through similar things.
Beth said:"Home-Start helped me through one of the toughest times in my life and I can't imagine how it would have been without them. They gave me support, encouragement and reassurance and helped me to learn to laugh and enjoy myself and my family again. I hope that when my son is older I will be able to become a volunteer myself so that I can help others through their time of need."
