Moms, please help...?

Question

I have just been disgnosed with Post Partum Depression. What was your best way to cope with it. Any tricks you had? I feel like Im the only one with the problem. What did you do when you first founf out about it? Thank you for all your help!!

I have already been to a doctor I just want to know how you coped with this. Thanks

Answer 1

I was diagnosed when my daughter was 3 months, the best way I found was and I know this is hard but ask for help!! When the baby crys and you are having a hard time coping...it's ok to put the baby down and let him/her cry for a little while so you can calm down. Let your friends and family in on whats happing with you and they can offer a hand until you get through it. One thing to keep in mind though is that 1 in 10 women suffer from post partem and you are not alone!

Answer 2

Breathe, breathe, breathe..... and congratulations ! It can be
so-o-o-o-o-o overwhelming and sort of a let down
( motherhood ). What helped me the best was the realization that this is what it is, nothing more, nothing less. Just a lot of work and exhaustion. Getting out a having fresh air on my face always helped my mood instantly ( it helped also that, at the time, I had a balcony on the 20 floor facing a harbor ) Once you get into the routine of it all, then you will see that, hey, yeah, I can do this, it's a bit mind numbing, but, we have the internet and groups and world information at our fingertips when we want it ( ie: when the baby naps ) to stimulate the brain cells. Also, get out an see PEOPLE, ADULTS. Go, take the baby in the stroller and walk around. Check out the parks, bring a book. Even if you don't get out till 3:30 in the afternoon, get out. Also, YOU ARE NOT ALONE WITH THIS ! There are self help groups out there just for PPD. Also, talk to the maternity ward of the hospital that you delivered, or to your midwife ( whichever was your method of birthing ) They usually have local chapter numbers at their fingertips.

Like everything else, this too will pass. You have to help it along, though. Good luck

Answer 3

You are not the only one to feel this way..let me assure of that fact. PPD is very serious and unfortuantly happens more than is diagnosed. I think that-in my case I had PPD-I was so used to being pregnant..feeling the baby move and knowing that the baby is no longer in utero caused some depression. I dont know if this is why you are feeling that way. I had to find a way to get back into life..being a Mom doesnt mean that your child has the right to take your life away first and foremost. Our children have a right to be loved and cared for but they dont have the right to suffocate the lives of the parents involved. If you had hobbies and interests before the baby-try doing them while the baby is sleeping-newborns sleep a long time..you could paint, read a book, even catching up stuff you cant do when the baby is awake is a way to get back into the swing of things. Start a journal. I found my old journal from when I had PPD and OMG I thought I was absolutely crazy for putting some stuff in print-the depression,,the anxiety etc. But as I read what I was saying and feeling, I came to the notion that it had gotten better..I no longer felt alone, empty and just a vessel for getting everything this child needed. I love my children very much but I also see that when the mother has no time to be herself(pre-baby) it is detrimental to the woman and her family. Make sure that you dont harp on the fact that your a MOM-be proud of it but dont say its your LIFE-you are not just a human incubator-you are a human being with desires and needs and you deserve to have those things around you and to enjoy your child in the long haul. I dont know if this helped you-I hope it did. It helped me get over my depression when I realized these facts that I just did. I wrote, I read, I talked to friends while finishing up the chores around the house..I took time when the baby was sleeping to take a nice Calgon. Going for walks with baby is a good way to get out and enjoy life. Good luck and God bless.

Answer 4

Post Partum Depression



I know for I have suffered.In the beginning I felt that I was just feeling bad but it went beyond that.It made me feel totally helpless. Then I realised that it must be an illness.The first thing I did was to see my family doctor.She cofirmed my vague fears .She said that medication may help me to cope I felt rathe reluctant to depend on medicines.. I asked her if other options were availale.


Initially I thought of just lying down carrying my cross myself.Did not Christ do it will nilly. But I felt that it would be better to share my feeling at least with my mothe and of course my husband. I was very frank and free in this. I found that this openness helped both of us to decide what to do. Had I kept myself to myself the poor fellows would not have been able to help me when I needed help most. I am not a drinker or a drug addict. Still I cut out even the occasional sip. I feel this is necessary at least to keep it within limits.Next a proper planning of my diet helped me.As they say in scriptures that it is the food that maket a man(woman). It has a lot to do with not only our physical but also the mental /emotional welfare.As I believed in nursing my child myself I had necessarily to eat a good diet which also helped a lot. Sugar, coffee(at least too much of it) and pizzas &c were all out..All mothers know that in the final analysis it is the mother who has to wake up at dead of night if the child cries. Husbands may help but the crux of the burden has to be borned by mothers. This leads to lack of sleep and the conseuen relaxation.I called my mother . My mother-in-law also came to help which was a great relief. I had never to lose my beauty sleep.But that did not mean I became slothful.I resumed my regular morning walks though I ensured that these were not too strenous. I would also taken the kids in prams and go about. In some respects I became more active than in other times.Fortunately I had no post pregnancy problems but I occasonally kept seeing the doctor to ensure that I was OK.You can also build a support group with family, friends, or community groups that deal with depression. There are many sites available online to talk with other mothers who are also suffering from postpartum depression. This attention to self is finally meant to enable you to take better care of your own. I did not fight shy of running small errands for the family such as collecting the post and even called upon friends for an occasional cup of coffee. The twins were in the interval the responsibility of their father or the grandmas in the house.I will share a secret wity you. This is the way of bonding the family members with the new arrivals. If you keep them always to yourself for fear of contagion etc. you are contributing to generate a feeling among them that the children are your primary responsibility; I also found that keeping occasional mental or written notes of changes in my mood also helped over a time, especially when visiting doctor.I also made it a point to scick to my programme. Depression is an illness that can be cured. If you feel that you are suffering from depression, don't wait, consult your doctor.









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Answer 5

Whatever you do dont take antidepressants...look at the website below...ive been there...just think about it ...having a wonderful bundle of joy and something that women have been doing since the begining of time cannot cause a chemical imbalance in your brain. But that little bundle of joy did sap you of your nutritional stores.

All of the supplements on this site and their advice is worth every penny....they are all food so they are breast-feeding safe.

Feel free to email me..i have 3 small boys...ages 4, 2, 1...i had postpartum depression with all of them even though i was on medication for 4 years.

Rebecca
[e-mail]

Answer 6

what I did was seeked help through my doctor. I also kept my mind on things all the time, distractions are helpful. It takes time but you'll get better. Some people go through it for a short time and others find out it's a different reason for getting that depression. Good luck and don't be afraid to ask for help from doctors and friends.

Answer 7

My sis in law has gotten this pretty bad, to the point that she needed medication. So, if your doctor thinks you need meds, then please don't freak over not being able to breastfeed and take the meds!

I think the best way to cope with it is to force yourself to get out and do something, ANYTHING every day. With or without the baby. There are all sorts of play groups, Mom's groups, etc. out there. I would get together with a bunch of moms from our church who all had children roughly the same age. I think just knowing you're not the only human on the planet who is dealing with sore nipples, massive sleep deprivation, and a floppy lower abdomen works wonders!!! Because every one of us who has given birth has been there! Believe me. Best of luck to you!

Answer 8

Talk to your doctor and get a referral to a counselor! Get it treated as soon as possible; the longer you go without treatment, the more likely you are to develop depression again in the future. I didn't get mine treated quickly enough, and I'll be on medication my entire life.
Having said that, counseling did work, as did looking into Buddhism. The Buddhist tenet of mindfulness helps teach you to let things go, rather than holding onto negative feelings.
Good luck! It's not an easy thing to deal with, but, with help, you can beat it.

Answer 9

after my 2nd daughter i had post part. depress. and all i can suggest is try to get out of the house as much as possible have family and friends help you with this believe me they're all happy to help and don't feel overwhelmed. forget about the housework and just concentrate on the baby. if you feel you just cant take it please call someone, anyone, your neighbor even. the important thing is to remember that you are not the only one feeling this way, plenty of us have and will go through this. stay strong,and pray, take time for yourself. if it gets really bad call your doctor.

Answer 10

I think you should talk to your doctor for options. If it is severe you may need meds to help you cope. It had been know to be detramental to some peoples lives for a long time