Post-natal depression?

Question

What are the signs of post-natal depression (3 weeks after birth)?

Answer 1

I had a post-natal depression for more than a year after giving birth but the first 6 months i didn't even realize I was depressed. I thought everything I felt or experienced was real so I almost drove my husband crazy with my ungrounded fears. My main symtom was a very high level of anxiety causing ungrounded fears about myslef and people I loved. First I thought that my baby was sick of some incurable disease and was going to die in her toddler's years. Then, when that turned out to not be true, I was plagued by fears that something bad was going to happen to my parents or my husband and they were going to die. I was having panick attacks and during each of them I thought I was going to die. So everything was going around thoughts of death. Thank God I never had urges to hurt myself or the baby but I've heard that might happen too. Also I didn't enjoy my baby. She was the cutest thing ever but to me motherhood did not bring any excitement, I took care of her because of duty but deep inside I was feeling really apathetic and tired of everything. I thought I was the worst mom in the world. I had no desire for sex whatsoever. I was really hard to live with. I realized i was depressed when my daugther was about 6 months old and I immeadiately searched doctor's help. I took Xanax for a while and it really helped but what really got me out of this situation was the realization that all those worries and bad things were not real but due to (probably) a hormonal disbalance or inexperience and inadeqate expectations about motherhood. I'm fine now and I thank God for the great husband He gave me who went through all of this and still loves me.

Answer 2

If you are suffering from 2 or 3 of the following you may have post-natal depression

Constantly feeling tired. No energy
Sleeping problems - can't get to sleep or waking in the early hours and not being able to get back to sleep
Crying a lot, often over the smallest things or for no reason at all
Can't eat or over-eating
Feeling emotionally disconnected from or even rejected by the baby or
Overly anxious and over protective of the baby
Lack of motivation to get up and do anything
A constant underlying sense of anxiety maybe escalating into panic attacks. Easily "set off" and difficult to calm down
Difficulty concentrating, say on a book or film or even on a conversation
Putting on a front. Feeling like you are playing out a role rather than just living the moment
Strange, frightening thoughts or visions popping into your head about harming yourself or the baby or awful things happening
Feeling lonely and isolated. Perhaps feeling rejected by friends, family, even your partner and your baby or children
Sense of feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope
No interest in sex
Feeling guilty about everything - especially about being a such bad mother
Physical aches and pains, such as headaches, stomach pains or blurred vision and worrying that it is something terminal or serious

Postnatal depression or anxiety can affect anyone, but will be more likely if you are already under stress - if you are moving house, have difficulties at work or home, or if you have suffered from depression before.

If you are used to being 'in control' - perhaps have a career and are doing well - then you might be more likely to suffer and will also perhaps find it harder to admit. Or if you baby was much wanted and waited for, the chances are also higher. Many wmen who suffer do so after their first baby is born (and perhaps after subsequent ones too) - others are fine with their first, but find they are sufferning with a later child.

It usually starts within a few weeks or months of giving birth, but some people suffer a year or more after.

Answer 3

check out this website. You can take a quiz to see if you may be showing signs of post natal depression

http://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Answer 4

Its normal to feel over-whelmed this soon after birth. Especially if this is your first child. If you are really concerned see your doctor or maternal health nurse