Please tell me what you know about Postpartum Depression?

Question

I think I may have Postpartum Depression, I did some research but would like to hear it from people who have had experience with this condition. Please share your experience! Thanks

By the way, I had my son almost 5 months ago!

Answer 1

There is a difference between the normal "baby blues" and true postpartum depression.

Baby blues typically arise shortly after the birth of the baby, within hours to days, and will usually resolve itself within a couple of weeks. You get teary for no reason, feel overwhelmed, tired, etc.

PPD usually is suspected if those feelings last longer than one month. Sadness, too little/too much sleep, change in appetite, etc. are all symptoms.

Basically all you need to know is that if your baby blues last longer than one month, you need to talk to your doctor.

Answer 2

My Best Friend had Postpartum depression that seemed to last a little while.. her daughter was in the NICU for a few weeks & she had previously lost her son the year before when she was 5 months pregnant so she didn't have an easy transition into motherhood.. but from what I understand depression can come from many reasons.

I had what they call the baby blues afte my last daughter.. it only lasted for about two days after I had her and they told me it was due to the hormone levels changing so much after brith. I just felt like crying all the time, I was so tired and just couldn't really seem to get it together. I had trouble staying awake to even nurse her.. but it went away very soon.

My friend however was really negative towards her baby and her husband. She would have bad thoughts and entertain those thoughts.. she did get better with time.

If you feel you are depressed seek the advice of your doctor also they have several natural things you can try like Evening Prim Rose oil or St.Johns wart.. please seek first medical advice!

Also if you don't already you should start to keep a journal, be honest with your self and your feelings.. write how certain things are making you feel and then read them back the next day or a few days later. Sometimes when we reflect we have more perspective them when we are in the moment, this may help you to feel better. Also it will be great if you ever have another child to remember what it was like.. those memories fade quickly.

Best of luck

Answer 3

Well my baby died during labor @ 37.5 weeks and I did not have Postpartum Depression I mean I grieved a lot but they watched me closely. Really only a doc. can tell you weather they you really have it. I had depression as a older teen due to chemical imbalance which is exactly what Postpartum Depression is. This is what I had and is very common with depression....
1. I slept a lot ( even woke up sleepy)
2. Cried a lot
3. Did not find joy in anything even the things I normally enjoyed doing I just could not get "happy"
4. Thought about suicide or just wanting to disappear
5. I was always sad and hurt
AND...
6. I felt cold all the time (has to do with imblacne in the body)

I'm preg. now and worry a lot about if I will have PD after the baby comes because I feel so sad even now! But when I took medication I was fine the good thing about PD is it usually goes away after a few months so if you get treatment it won't be long when your body balneces back to normal you'll be fine! Good luck!

Answer 4

Many people experience postpartum depression. When you have a baby the hormones in your body go crazy. For the first two weeks after birth it is called the baby blues. You are exhausted and overwhelmed and trying to transition into your life with your new baby. If these feelings last for more than two weeks it is postpartum depression. There are things that you can do to help feel better. First, remember that postpartum depression is a hormonal and chemical reaction in your body and it is not your fault. It happens to many people. Go outside for at least ten minutes a day and get some sunlight. The sunlight will help you, plus it is good for the baby. Be sure to eat healthy and regularly and drink fluids and continue to take your prenatal vitamin. Not getting enough nutrition can make postpartum depression worse. Avoid sugar. You know how you get that energy rush with sugar and then you crash? When you have postpartum this crash can be much worse that it would regularly be. Get some time for yourself and some time to socialize. Call a friend on the phone or invite someone over. If friends come over, ask them to help cook or do laundry. Don't have them hold the baby while you do these things. If they really want to hold the baby, use this time to take a shower or go for a walk baby free. These things may sound like things that you don't want to do, so get a buddy to help keep you on track. This could be a friend or partner who will help you with this list of things and make sure that you are taking care of yourself. It is very difficult to take care of yourself when you first have your baby so it is good to have someone help look after you to help with meals and showers and to be a friendly face to talk to. If these things still don't help, talk to your doctor. There are drugs out there that can help.

Answer 5

Like regular depression, all the symptoms are different. I'm a guy...so I don't have personal experience, but I took a parenting class, and we were taught alot of people become detattached from reality like they're living in their own world basically.

They can think some pretty crazy things, and postpartum depression can often lead people to murder or suicide, or something else crazy.......that was not taught in parenting class, that is from observation from the news....

Answer 6

I just want to say that the nurses shoved the whole postpartum depression speech down our (mine and my husband's) throats. The nurses had even taken my husband aside and told him that I would probably get it (I have no idea where they got this idea; it was ridiculous of them to make this assumption, because I was a very happy new mommy), and to watch me closely.
Well, for the next two months, every little thing that happened that seemed the slightest bit "off" to him, he said that I had PPD, and he went on a tirade about it.
I really think it was the nurses shoving it down our throats that made him think this ( I was really quite fine).
Note: There is a difference between being overwhelmed, and sleep deprived, and being depressed.
The best thing for you to do is to talk with your doctor; you will feel better knowing, and if you do have PPD, he/she can help you cope with it.
Sorry to ramble. Good Luck!

Answer 7

I cried and felt sad a lot of the day, and felt as though I wasn't really bonded with the baby. It started to slowly go away at 3 weeks. If you still have it at your 6 week visit, let the doctor know.

Answer 8

Call your doctor. I had PD after my daughter was born, and needed to take medication for a while. There are also support groups you can try.

Your precious baby will grow up so fast, and you don't want to be miserable the whole time she is small.

Answer 9

I know it's real. I know it can be helped, but only by a doctor. I know that lots of rest is usually needed, but not easy to get, and I know that if you have it, and you don't get treated, it can make bonding with your baby more difficult.

So, please see your doctor, and talk to family and friends, and know that you are not crazy, this is a purely physically based problem, you will get better, the sun will shine again.

Answer 10

for me it's like a paralyzing feeling where i cant talk on the phone or clean or even go out and everything seems like an obstacle i even had to call my hubby to have him helpme get the groceries off the car (and he was at work) just cause i didnt want to leave my two babies in the house alone.