Post Partum Depression or Stress? Need Some Advice

You have real issues going on! It could definitely be something that you'd be struggling with regardless of whether you'd just had a baby or not. BUT, I do think with all the changes going on with having two little ones and having just had a baby that it can be affecting you even more.

I'm not a big believer in meds for stuff like this (no offense to anyone who takes them, it's just my personal feelings on it). I think finding someone to talk to and share your stresses with can do wonders, like a counselor of some sort. It's something to take seriously. I struggled with a similar thing after my first baby. She had unexpected open heart surgery when she was five days old and then diagnosed with an awful disease, and I couldn't tell what was PPD and what was real. I think it's a combination of the two. All the changes are a bit to take in anyway (just adjusting to another baby and lack of sleep from that are stressful enough) and then your issues of hubby being deployed. That's rough! I would stress majorly over that, even if I had no kids!

Also, as goofy as it might sound, making sure you are getting enough of the right vitamins can really do wonders. Vitamin B's are really helpful and especially vitamin d3 has been known to help with depression. It won't "cure" your problems, but it can help you deal with them better. And, of course, enough sleep can do wonders...but like that's going to happen for a while! (((hugs)))

I wanted to add that I totally agree with the previous poster. Thank you to you and your hubby for his service. I'm so touched by the sacrifice of families like yours. I know it has to be SO HARD. But we are so grateful for what he (and you) are doing for our country and freedom.

definitely call your doctor and talk to them. i had a really tough time adjusting to two kids and wish i would have called my doctor but sucked it up and had the worst year of my life looking back on it. it sounds like you have a lot on your plate and a big change coming up so tackle this now! another thing is to make sure you are drinking lots of water and taking naps/getting enough sleep. sleep deprivation can cause all sorts of problems. hang in there!

Sound slike you're dealing with depression. let's face it having kids your kids' ages is tough with both parents around - and your hsuband is deploying soon. Stress results in the release of hormones that are not good for us, and can also trigger depression - so it's a cycle that can just keep building. Go to your doctor and have ahonest discussion. I expect he'll put you on a low dose antidepressant for a period of time to give your brain a jump start to get your endorphins going. Also try to get the kids in a stroller and get out and move a little.

I'm dealing with a lot of stuff now too - my kids are older but there's so much going on that I've made a doctor's appt too - lots of stuff to talk about and I'm hoping he'll suggest anti-depressents for me - not forever but to get my brain chemistry going.

Cut yoruself some slack - having two little ones age 3 and under is tough - there's never a down moment. Consider if you can go stay with family like your mom or sister while your husband is deployed - or at least for a few months at the beginning? How nice it would be for you to have additional support and your kids could have another layer of love. Just a thought.

Thank you for yours and your husband's service - I am so appreciative of families like yours who sacrifice so much for all of our freedom. We owe a great debt to you all. May God's protection & blessings go with you and your family in this year to come.

I would go to the doctor ASAP since you have a lovely little one to care for.
Make an appointment tomorrow. Call first thing in the morning.
Ask your Army office for help!
And I forgot....ask your doc for an MRI for your headaches. If it's life threatening, you don't want to let that go. I had an issue when I was pregnant and I could have died. I was lucky!
Can you get some help from a friend or neighbor for a few mins of rest?
You are probably anxious about your husband deploying as well.
Understanably.
Take it one day at a time.
Take help when offered.
Ask for help.
Let the housework go.
concentrate on your baby and on rest for yourself.
Try to enlist the help of your fellow military wives.
I will be thinking of you

If my husband were leaving for one of those horrid places where the country we are trying to help hated us I would be one stressed out migrained, unhappy whining, emotional hag.
A three month old and a 3 year old you have really full hands. Reach out to other military wives. Call your sister if you have one. Once he leaves make sure you go out somewhere everyday. The park, the zoo, the ferry, take the kids everywhere. Have friends over for dinner.
Get someone to watch your children so you and your husband can go to dinner and a movie.
Love strong. He needs it and you do too.

I think you do have some PPD but the headaches concern me. I think you may need to just stop in and see the doc maybe a blood test to see if all is well with your iron and so on.

go to the doctor. They will ask you several other questions and then you will know

It could be PPD, stress, depression related to deployment. Try to see your DR before your husband deploys...so you don't have to take the kids with you to the dr. If you really don't like dr then at least take time for yourself. Get a massage- pregnancy, labor, stress all could be adding up and maybe contributing to your headache.
Check with Child and Youth services- they offered free or reduced child care during the deployement at the CDC's on Fort Lewis when my husband was deployed. A few hours a week for cleaning or grocery shopping or clothes shopping was a lifesaver.
I know it is tough and you probably can't imagine the next year. Take it from someone who has been there. It is tough, but you can make it through. Get a great support network who will help with kids, give you time with other adults or just listen to you over the phone. Other military moms, MOPS, church or your extended family are some great places to start.

The two are often intertwined. Talk to your doctor. Talk to your friends. Start getting some help. It could also be hormone imbalances... too much estrogen, thyroid imbalance (hyper- or hypo-thyroid), too much cortisol (a stress hormone produced by your adrenal glands). I think you could benefit from some more rest and help around the house and also some medical/nutritional help.

I also have a 3 month old and this past week I have been getting some headaches. When I think back over the day about what could have caused them, it's usually because I haven't had enough water to drink or possibly haven't eaten enough that day. Being spring with everything blooming isn't helping me much in the headache department either. I have also been a little stressed because my daughter's sleep habits have recently changed and I'm a little tired.

Call your OB and make an appointment to talk about how you are feeling. You have a lot on your plate on top of the deployment of your husband. That would make me cry even if I didn't have kids. See if you can arrange a playdate for your 3 year old and maybe you can lay down and take a nap with the baby during that playdate time. Napping with my daughter helps me tremendously.

Good luck friend, I wish you the best of luck!