CLuriaARNP

I have been a family nurse practitioner since 1969, who also does about 70% psychiatry. ***Agree the the author who focused on combination of being a relatively new mother and also a woman with sexual and other abuse in the background. ***One of the first things I would wonder about --is she getting some adult time, away from the baby where she does not have to worry about the baby, but can enjoy some "not-mommy" time? Being the mother of a 6 mo old can be totally overwhelming - and then to have her spouse entering in to new learning, homework time needed, and a lot of new experiences can indeed hit her in the gut - i.e. increase her sense of isolation. What did she do before the child was born and has she been able to keep ties with old friends. What identification does she herself have besides "mother" - i.e. you are a father AND student nurse - she is a mother AND _____. ***Do you have a regular date night without the baby? Can be helpful. ***Does she have daytime off (i.e.you or babysitter take over the childcare) so she can have some adult time or time for herself to exercise, get her nails done, go for coffee - whatever. ***Are you pulling your weight as FATHER? Even though you are a student I would expect you to be working to help with housework and babywork. ***Is she getting some un-interrupted sleep? Sometimes if parents share week-end so one has Sat AM "off" and the other has Sun AM "off" can really help (suggestion based on my daughter's way of handling this). ***Concerning the counseling - I have found the most helpful counseling for pt with history of abuse includes EMDR. Agree her own counseling is very important, as well as some couples work to negotiate this new time in your lives as parents and student nurse and ____. Best wishes.