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I agree with Minouxe - please get treatment! I didn't for 9 months, partly because several doctors didn't take my pleas for help seriously. It was all blown off as "oh, all new parents are overwhelmed" or "you just need some sleep". Well, DUH, what new parent doesn't? (Thank you, Dr. Obvious!)
But that doesn't explain why I spontaneously would cry, or physically couldn't get out of bed. Or why one day while driving, I had thoughts of letting an idiot driver plow into me instead of avoiding an accident. (I live in Chicago - there are PLENTY of opportunities for that to happen!)
Please get help if you at all suspect that you have PPD. "Pushing through it" by yourself may get you through short-term, but it can have long-term repercussions, and untreated PPD can get worse over time. (Think Andrea Yates, among many others.) Trust me, I was one who believed that I would be stronger for ignoring it. I lived that way for 9 months. After getting treatment, I realized that I'm actually stronger for seeking the help that I need. It's much harder to admit that you need help - especially mental help.
It's been very hard to admit to friends and family that I suffer from PPD and am getting help. We're a tough family. We do not have emotional problems. We are the ones who usually volunteer or take jobs in the field to help others. But it doesn't happen to us. So there have been a lot of painful conversations during my treatment so far. In the long run, I'm going to be stronger for going through my treatment. This is forcing me to face issues head-on, rather than continue to suppress them.
My treatment includes both mild doses of medication (Zoloft), as well as aggressive therapy. You have to want to get better. It's a lot of work, and it's not fun. But it is totally worth it.
As a side benefit, the Zoloft makes me feel sick when I eat too much sugar. :)
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THENEWDAWN
7/30/06 12:19 A
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Just in case someone reads this and gets scared to find treatment ---- I breastfed my son thru my complete 6 month prescription of Wellbutrin. My doctor said that it was safe, and that they even prescribe it to pregnant moms.
So, please if you think you might need help, go talk to your doctor, because they have that kind of information!!!
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| I had a case of PPD after our son was born. I felt like my life was now over. He was not planned, very much wanted later in life. I love him to pieces but it just felt like everything was wrong now. I would just break down into tears for no reason and my poor husband would receive the worst of my wrath. I never did get medication for it mostly because I didn't want to harm my son, I was breastfeeding and didn't want to stop that so I could take pills. But only by the grace of God have I made it though.
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PPD came on me really fast actuallt right after my first son was born, i suffered really bad with it for 9 months until i ended up having a mental breakdown and left my husband, i didnt even know why? I ended up in the hospital for a week and then when i was stablized i came home, then a month later i found out i was pregnant again!!! Needless to say they gave me some lexapro and i was ok. But PPD is very serious, you feel sad all the time and get to the point where you dont want to go on with your life. You dont feel like connecting with your child and you get really angry or fustrated. I did some bad things, like cheating and emotional withdrawl from my family.
If you just dont feel like yourself or you feel kinda hopeless you should see your doctor. I felt so much better afterwards but i had alot of mess to clean up because i was too scared to say " somethings not right" to my doctor and my family. Dont let it go on
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NONAMENONAME
7/26/06 7:28 P
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I have a few questions for anyone that may be able to answer.
What are symptons of PPD? Do symptoms only happen after you have a baby or can symptoms happen a few years later?
Thanks in advance.
JEN
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SWEETYTLS23
7/26/06 4:33 P
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| I suffered from ppd with my two older boys and didn't realize it until it got really bad. I too didn't seek treatment until it got to the point where I was suicidal. that was after my second was 1 yr old. Don't let it get to that point for you and don't feel less than if you need medication. I took it for a few months and than weaned myself off of it and have been doing well since. What probably helped me most was seeing a counselor. it was an impartial ear to listen to whatever I had to say. and it helped a lot as well. If you need anyone to talk to sparkmail me. keep your head up!
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THENEWDAWN
7/26/06 4:22 P
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YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Please go talk to a psychologist or psychiatrist or your doctor. It will make all of the difference.
I also had depression after the birth of my second child. It took about a year for it to get bad enough where I really realised that other moms DO NOT feel as overwhelmed with life when they are pregnant or have a small baby. I couldn't hardly do anything! I kept telling myself that all I could do was take care of my babies, and then I realised what i was telling myself. Others can do more. sigh.
But, I am now officially off the medication, and feel SO MUCH BETTER. I have motivation again, I can complete tasks (whoa that aren't baby related), I enjoy do the things that I used to like doing, and I don't cry about everything anymore!
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BABYSNOOPY
7/26/06 8:40 A
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I battled PPD with my oldest. I was in denial. I never sought out help from it either. It wasn't until after my 2nd son was born that I knew I needed help. I was dx with Post Partum Psychosis with him. I missed out on so much with both of my older boys. Both times, it felt as though I was living in He**. My husband forced me to seek help after one day he came home to find I had cut up both of my arms. I was very sick. I wanted nothing to do with my son. My oldest fed him. I made bottles, but I'd hand it off to my oldest to feed him. Dylan spent most of his time in his swing. I stopped eating. I dropped almost 10 pounds in 2 weeks. It was the scariest time of my life and was also the worst 4 months of my life. I had no clue what to do. I felt as though I was in a dark pit and I couldn't get out. I was put in contact with a psychiatrist and she dx me. I am now on Wellbutrin and Lamictal. I decided to stay on them through my last pregnancy and everything has gone very well. My OBGYN and the maternity ward nursing staff knew to watch for it while I was in the hospital. I was also highly monitored through out the pregnancy. And my son's old pediatrician watched out for me. Everytime I went in, he always asked me if I was doing okay.
Please Please PLease, if you have any feeling that you might be suffering from PPD, seek help. I wish I did the first time around. I keep thinking if I had, maybe I wouldn't have gone through what I went through after I had my 2nd baby. My oldest son, Jamey, and I have almost no relationship. He and I never bonded when he was a baby. I completely blame myself because I was too much of a coward to get help.
So please, do it for yourself and your son, and get help. ((((Hugs))))
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SCHNOOGLES
7/25/06 7:36 P
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Leighr,
I have been battling postpartum depression since my daughter was born a year ago. I was in denial at first, but eventually realized that I needed help. Unfortunately, I had some very negative experiences with doctors who didn't think I had it. Eventually, I was able to get diagnosed and treated, and the treatment has gone very well.
Please get help if you are at all overwhelmed. It does indeed get better. I'm here if you want to talk. The articles that Kelly posted have great information to start with.
Angela
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SCHNOOGLES
7/25/06 7:36 P
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Leighr,
I have been battling postpartum depression since my daughter was born a year ago. I was in denial at first, but eventually realized that I needed help. Unfortunately, I had some very negative experiences with doctors who didn't think I had it. Eventually, I was able to get diagnosed and treated, and the treatment has gone very well.
Please get help if you are at all overwhelmed. It does indeed get better. I'm here if you want to talk. The articles that Kelly posted have great information to start with.
Angela
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SCHNOOGLES
7/25/06 7:36 P
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Leighr,
I have been battling postpartum depression since my daughter was born a year ago. I was in denial at first, but eventually realized that I needed help. Unfortunately, I had some very negative experiences with doctors who didn't think I had it. Eventually, I was able to get diagnosed and treated, and the treatment has gone very well.
Please get help if you are at all overwhelmed. It does indeed get better. I'm here if you want to talk. The articles that Kelly posted have great information to start with.
Angela
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Hi Leighr,
There are some really great articles on our sister site (www.babyfit.com) about this that I wanted to share with you. It is so common to struggle with this after pregnancy and there are so many women who go through this. Each woman/pregnancy can be different.
Postpartum Depression
The postpartum Blues
Life After Baby
Hang in there and feel free to reach out anytime!
Kel
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I have suffered from depression just about my whole life and it did get worse after each of my 2 kids were born. Taking care of a new baby can be an overwhelming job ! Take your needs seriously and get medication if you need it. Good luck !
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| Has anyone suffered from depression after giving birth. Life has changed so much since the little guy. I am finding that if I remember to take care of myself I have more energy and joy to share with my baby.
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