A Dubbo mum of four young children has told of her gratitude for the service that helped her family get “back on track” as it brings its support closer to parents in western NSW.
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Simone O’Neill shared how lack of sleep in the months after the birth of her twins had taken her to “rock bottom” before a visit to Tresillian made an enormous difference.
Mrs O’Neill’s personal experience highlighted the importance of specialist services during the launch of the Tresillian Family Care Centre at Dubbo on Monday.
Dubbo is one of five locations to benefit from $2.2 million committed in this year’s state budget for regional Tresillian centres.
They will focus on supporting mums and dads struggling with issues like a newborn who won’t sleep or a toddler who won’t eat.
The early parenting service proved a godsend for the O’Neill family after the arrival of twins Ellie and Halle, sisters for Milla and Sully.
Mrs O’Neill and husband Tim were dealing with “three babies who weren’t really sleeping that great”.
Halle was diagnosed with reflux at the age of four months, and was waking every 90 minutes.
“I probably hit rock bottom at that point,” Mrs O’Neill said.
With a referral to Tresillian, within weeks they travelled to its Nepean campus where nurses provided techniques for resettling babies.
About six weeks after they returned home with the new approaches, life had settled down and everyone was “happy and getting enough sleep”, the appreciative mum reported.
“I can’t describe it, it’s made an enormous difference,” Mrs O’Neill said.
“I had anxiety which has sort of settled now, which is really good.
“And to start with, I knew I didn’t have depression, but I was sort of heading that way, and didn’t really enjoy being a mum at that time.
“But now since being to Tresillian, they’ve helped sort out all of those issues and we’re back on track…”
Mrs O’Neill encouraged other parents to reach out for help, saying she could not speak highly enough of Tresillian.
“They definitely helped us, just if you’re struggling, seek out and get some help, that’s the best thing,” she said.
“We can’t do it all.”
Tresillion advises that its parents helpline is available now on 1300 272 736 and it expects its Dubbo centre to be operational by early next year.
