Postpartum Depression Advice Please

Hi J.,

I understand what you are going through. Talk therapy really helped me because I was able to speak to someone on all the ups and downs of becoming a mom. It tremendously helped my anxiety, fears, and depression. Also, buspar is a good anti-depressant that doesn't make you feel drugged or wierd. I used it short-term and it helped me through the rough times. Also, exercising helps and deep breathing, relaxation cds at night and getting a network of other moms who you can relate to. Good luck and stay strong.

Molly

J.,

I am so sorry you are suffering. I had a small touch of PPD with my first child, which resolved itself when I finally started getting a little more sleep as she matured. I had no issues with my second, but I had much more help and did not get as tired.

I've always thought it cruel that they say "get some rest," since that is the thing that seems most impossible to do. It did seem to make a difference for me, as did not being alone, so if there are things you can let go, or have anyone that can help and make sure you get naps, try to ask for that.

Along with all the other changes of new motherhood, we often find ourselves very suddenly isolated. With my second, just having my younger daughter around seemed to improve my mood, so if your older child is in school now, you also may be suffering from isolation. Try to make sure you visit with other Moms of babies around your age, who understand what you are going through. The human (speaking) company, along with the support of others who are also experiencing the same things can definitely help.

I don't want to frighten anyyone, but this can become a very serious issue. I lost a friend to PPD through suicide when our daughters were around one, and to this day I wish I had stayed in closer touch with her after we moved away. Please, please, if you have any feeling that your depression is moving from light to moderate or severe, make sure to talk to your doctor, and your friends and family to get help. I would also urge you to include people close to you in what you are going through so they can help you, since we are not always the best judge of our own health when dealing with depression.

I wish you a healthy recovery, and much joy with your children.

Hi J.,

I don't know how much help I'll be, but I want you to know that you are not alone, I too am going through post-partum depression, and just like you it comes and goes. My daughter is already 14 months and sometimes I still get my anxiety attacks where I feel like I don't have enough time, nothing is organized, my body is so different now, not enough time with husband, etc. So yes I do understand what you are talking about and I am also trying to figure out ways to cope with it. I never did tell my doctor how I felt, mostly because I was unsure if I was even having a problem but now I'm pretty certain I am. I'm thinking I need to focus more on me, by eating healthier and excersing...maybe after baby goes to sleep. But hang in there, it does get better. I've recently started working again and I've already noticed a change, that little time is MY TIME. When I get home, I try to really give my family quality time so its starting to balance out a bit more. Please email me if you want to talk: ____@____.com.

Hi J.,
This sounds sooooo familiar! I am prone to depression myself, as are most of the women in my family. It can be genetic, and can be very difficult to overcome on your own. I think a lot of people misunderstand depression, and think that if we would just "pull ourselves up by our boot straps" things would be fine! But as you know, that is not the case. Wanting to feel happy does not make it so. The chemistry in your brain is off-kilter, and once you start down that slippery slope, it's really hard to make it back to normal without help of some kind.

What worked for me, almost instantly, was when my doctor prescribed Zoloft in a very small dose. That was all I needed, and it worked like a charm. I felt like myself again! It is safe to use while breastfeeding, if that is a concern to you. Whatever you decide to do, please realize that it will probably not get better on its own. You have taken the first step in reaching out for help. Please speak with your doctor about it, or a therapist, or if you are part of a mom's group, do not be shy about telling them. So many of us go through this, and you are not a lesser person or a lesser mom for having gone through PPD. Best of luck to you!

I highly recommend just even going to see a counselor. With any sort of depression, it often is a huge help just to hear a "professional" tell you it's normal and you're OK. And also to just get it all out - I call it "verbal vomit!"

I also had a mild case of postpartum, but felt that it was bad at the time and the doctor gave me zoloft and I was very nervouse about the meds, but they do work and I would strongly suggest it. It will help clear up some of the fog and let you focus and help reduce the anxioty. Good luck and just remember you are not alone!

Hi, it sounds like what I went through after my 2nd son was born. I tryed to deal with it on my own but after 6wks I needed help, my obgyn put me on zoloft and I haven't had any problems since. Being a mom again after 8yrs or in your case 6yrs can be hard, it sounds like you've tryed everything you can and may just need some meds. Call your dr. and talk to him/her and see what they suggest.

Hi J.. I am still struggling with this myself, but not to the extent as I was in the first year. My son is now 18 months old and it is a lot better, but I don't know if I would have been better off trying medication. I was afraid and generally steer clear of meds so I tried B vitamin complex and fish oil with DHA while breastfeeding. I do feel like I missed out on a lot of the joys of being a first time mom by thinking that it would just go away or get better with time. I did reach out to close friends and I highly recommend you do that as well as a support group or therapy. If therapists insist on meds and you really don't want to take them, you can refuse, but it may still feel good to have some counseling. It helped me to join a local mother's club and I finally have started doing Weight Watchers and going for walks on a more regular basis. Nutrition, rest and exercise, meeting some other mommies, and some time to yourself is really important. I wish you the best. Please email if you want to chat.

Hi J.....I too had PPD after the birth of both my children. The first time I tried to tough it out, and I wish I hadn't. It robbed me of truly enjoying my baby. My advice is to make an appointment with your doctor today and get on an anti-depressant. You will not be sorry. I took a low dose of Zoloft with my first, and Celxa with my second. Both are OK to take while breastfeeding if you are concerned with that. Don't feel like you have to fix yourself! That's what medications are for. It is so easy to take a little pill every day and totally worth it for the amazing difference it will make in your outlook on life. I think it's sad that so many moms feel all this pressure to fix themselves and feel like a failure if they turn to medication. Do what you need to do, and don't feel bad if you can't do it alone. Here's hoping you feel better...

It's great that you have asked for help and are reaching out. This is an important step to recovery. It sounds like you would greatly benefit from talk therapy, here's a link to Postpartum Support International. They have local support and resources, as well as a support line you can call. I believe they will be able to advise you in other steps you can take:
http://www.postpartum.net/index.html

Here is a link that describes PPD and the symptoms:
http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about...

I'm also posting a direct link to Karen Kleinman's website, The Postpartum Stress Center. Check out the entire site, but this is a link to things you can do to feel better:
http://www.postpartumstress.com/things_you_can_do.html

I'd like to point out that most of the time PPD (or actually any type of depression) doesn't get better on its own. Sometimes it becomes necessary to seek professional help, whether it be therapy, meds, or a combination of both. It can get worse if not properly treated. Make sure that your Dr knows what you are experiencing, so it can be monitored. Please involve your husband in this as well, it is very important to have a strong support system in place.

Please feel free to email me! I am involved in a local support group as well as one-on-one therapy and meds. I would love to just chat if you need someone to talk to.
A.

Hang in there, J.!

First of all, please don't fault yourself for not being strong enough to overcome pospartum. And second, please make sure that someone you know knows you're going through this. Sometimes, us women try to overcome these obstacles alone, when there is usually somebody there willing to support us along the way.

It sounds like you're doing everything you can. Just try to get ready every morning, makeup and all.

When I had P., I cried soooooo much. Everything was dramatic, but felt so real inside. I didn't tell anyone I was going through it because I thought I could overcome it on my own. But as it continued to last, I finally told my mom. She stepped right up and helped me! Basically, she would just come watch my boys in our house, & allowed me to feel that I had enough time for myself to do whatever I felt like I needed to do. Which was usually shower & rest. Of course I would cry during my whole shower because I felt guilty for having my mom there because i couldn't overcome it on my own. But after 5 visits or so, I stopped crying about it, which told me (later) that my mom's help was helping me "settle down".

Anyway, J., I hope there is someone who lives close to you that you consider a trusted friend. Please let them know that you need some help to get through this. Don't wait....call them today, and if even you're crying while you call them, just do it.

It will go away eventually, but having a support system, will feel as if it goes away faster.

Blessings to you.

:o) N.

As long as it's not severe like psychosis, the most natural remedy is, time. After 11 months it may not even be postpartum. It may just be exhaustion having two kids and a husband is a tiring job. Hang in there.

Dear J.:

I have not suffered from postpartum per se, but have suffered from depression following hysterectomy and related to innumerable hormonal battles throughout my life. I now manage a medical spa in Redding, CA and also own an organic farm where I make therapeutic Essential Oil products for people and pets.

Two of my products might be of interest for you (they've certainly helped me and a number of others!). One is my "sleep salts". It is a vial of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) and Dead Sea salts infused with a blend of oils renowned for their calming, sleep inducing properties. You simply inhale deeply several times before lying down to sleep or when trying to return to sleep ... I and many of my clients have had excellent success with this. The other is my Gingergrass Bath Salts. They are an exceptionally cleansing therapeutic soak. My Gingergrass blend is designed to stimulate the endocrine system, which aids in rebalancing hormonal production, and detox the body. It's a highly concentrated blend that requires only 1/8 cup salts to a bath. You can also benefit from just a foot and hand soak since we detox so effectively through palms and soles of feet, but full soaking ensuring at least 15-minutes of foot/hand saturation is best.

Please let me know if you are interested in trying any of these products ... my sleep salts are $8 for a 1/3 oz bottle and $20 for a 1 oz bottle. Since you only inhale and recap, the product will last 6-months to 2-years or more depending on the size purchased and frequency of use. The bath salts run $8 for a 16-oz jar.

I wish you well! V. Taylor

I can tell you that it didn't improve with time only for me. I am currently suffering from post partum as well. My baby is eight months now.....we have had two babies practiclly back to back so my mind and body really didn't get a break. I was afraid to admit it because I thought everyone would think that I wanted to hurt my kids but once I talked to my husband and my doctor about it they were very supportive and my doctor explained that it is psycosis if you want to hurt your kids and what I have is just post partum depression. I am so happy I sought help for it and it is an ongoing process as I waited until just seven weeks ago to get help. I started having anxiety attacks and that was my breaking point that I needed some help. I am now on meds and they are starting to work but more importantly it isen't a secret anymore and because of that I am getting great support..........my husband takes over if I am tired and having a bad day......he pushes me to get out of the house in the evening without the kids (he has even been giving me giftcards to Target) to get out of the house. I have joined weight watchers and am excersising now and have made contact with other new moms and that helps. The excersise makes a HUGE difference, my doctor says it allows your brain to release more seritonine into your brain which is the "feel good" hormone. Post partum is a chemical thing and remmember your brain is a organ just like any other part of your body, you would get help with a kidney infection and go to the doctor right? Go talk to your doctor and talk to your husband they will be more help than you think!! Email me if you ever need to talk

Hi J.,
I too prefer natural remedies as they don't have the side affects and liver damage that man-made drugs have. One thing that works well for hormonal balancing is Black Cohosh, and Dong Quai (also known as Angelica Root). Soy is also great as a result of the isoflavones.
I don't want to forget the most important and that is the Lord. I will keep you and your family in prayer and when you are feeling most anxious, you can cast your burdens upon Him for He cares for you.
Whether you choose to use medication or herbs try to remember all of the laws of health....good nutrition, excercise, water, sunlight, temperance, fresh air, rest, and trust in God.
May the Lord bless and keep you and your family and we will keep you in prayer.

:o)

Hi J.,

I was 36 when my daughter was born, she is 7 now. I was diagnosed with postpartum when she was 2. I know that sounds like a long period of time for it to be postpartum, but in my case, I didn't recognize the signs. I have always been a little of an introvert, recharging myself came from having time for myself, so I didn't realize that after my baby was born that any thing really was wrong staying in the house all day, not talking with anyone because I was too tired to talk. In hindsight, I felt like all I wanted to do was to hibernate. It wasn't until an acquaintance of mine, who had just moved her from Texas, asked me what i and/or my family did for fun. I stared at her blankly. I couldn't for the life of me come up with a single thing. I was completely empty. That simple question was the catalyst for me to realize that I needed help.

When I spoke to my doctor (she is in private practice and believes in a wholistic approach to medicine) she educated me about serotonin levels and endorphins and that depression is caused by severe reduction of these chemicals that naturally occur in our bodies. Added to this was the depletion of my estrogen which makes for the postpartum. She advised an estrogen patch and a very low dose of Celexa, (1/2 of a pill which is tiny) to help get me over the hump. The plan was to clear the head of all the negativity and get to a "positive" mental state. Once achieved, I would then be able to recognize the signs of when I was going to have a "down" day, moment, etc. thus being able to see when I was on the verge of a downhill spiral. The theory was that I would be able to recognize the signs and then do something to recharge or raise my serotonin levels, with exercise, reading, knitting, by doing something that I like to do. In my case, I felt like I didn't have the time to try the natural remedies. I really was desperate. I would wake up in the middle of the night and cry because I was so overwhelmed with "doing IT right" and all the implications of not doing "IT" right. Worry, anxiety, sleeplessness, lethargy ... empty! It was awful!

Looking back, I wish mamasource was around, because 5 years ago, I still felt I couldn't talk about it. All I can say is that you have to go with your gut. If you feel you need intervention with prescription medicines, then that is what you need to do. Time is precious. I've enjoyed watching and being with my daughter (and still do) but how much more joy I would have had if I had caught the PPD sooner. As your baby grows, time becomes that much more valuable. 18 months is a precious age!

Once you feel you have a handle on the PPD, or if you feel you have the time to experiment with the natural methods, then use them to help maintain your positive energy.

After I was on the patch and the celexa, it was amazing how clear my head was. I just became more positive and it was gradual. When I realized that I was "happy" it was like an epiphany, an "aha" moment.

God speed on your journey to find the right solution for YOU so that your "aha" moment will be sooner rather than later.

Hi J.! I'm a 40 year old mom of an 8 year old boy and 3 year old girl. Yes, children are a wonderful blessing! It's also a lot of extra responsibility and work, so it's no wonder you are a bit depressed. You are on the right track with working to eat right, exercise, and get more rest. I am so proud of you for taking stock of what is going on in your life, and working to fix what isn't working for you, rather than jumping on the pill bandwagon - BRAVO! When this happens to me, sometimes I need some herbal support to help me get rebalanced. I have a very good friend who has an herbal health products business, I've used her organic & wildcrafted products since I was pregnant with my son - we met through my midwife. She is an intuitive healer as well as a very proficient herbalist. Check out her website: www.herblore.com, and give her a call, her name is Pam. She is an absolute LOVE and I'm sure she can help! Hang in there! You're doing great!

Hugs!

D.

Hugs!!! You are not alone! I really like this site: http://www.drshosh.com/
Shoshana Bennett is a world renowned expert on postpartum depression and is in San Ramon (or Castro Valley--can't remember). She is pricey but worth it, and has struggled with postpartum herself.

If you're not breastfeeding, you can try Evening Primrose Oil Capsules. You can get them at Trader Joe's or Target. It really helps me during the PMS time of the month with water weight gain, mood swings, abdominal pain, etc. I felt fine after giving birth (didn't breastfeed) and took it daily. Hope this helps!

Hi J.:

I like you believe that natural remedies are best, I totally stay away form medicines and I've been doing very well.
I had also pspartum depression and a couple of things really helped recomended by my naturapatic doctor:
The Organic super Blue Green Algae, I take the Alpha Sun and the Omega Sun, 2 capsules of each a day.
you can get it here
http://www.simplexityhealth.com/

besides getting rid of the depression it really balaced my hormones and gic ves me so much energy, it also boosts my inmune system, I never get sick.

i 've been taking it now for 14 years and I'll always will.
You have to be refered by someone so If you are going to try it, please give m them my name Helena Guerrero and my ID# 439924.
I know they have a 60 day return policy.
Another excellent product is the Aloe Vera Gel, not the regular juice you find at the sores, by ut the gel.
I take 2oz every day and they have different flavours being Peach that i like best, it's delicious and like the Algae it's great nutrition too, gives you lots of emergy. I've been taking it for 3 years.

i didn't take it for the depression but a few of my friends have and it helped them. They will also ask who referred you my Id # there is 001002264216.

They have excellent products the Multi- Maca also helps with hormonal unbalaces.
this is their site:

www.foreverliving.com

and this is also a great product, the 100% certified organic Acai berry, with no added sugars or preservatives.
I buy it at this site:
http://www.amazonthunder.com/members/anjana/

i hope this helps and please go natural, prescription drugs really damage your liver and kidneys in the long run.
they are chemicals, synthetics, very bad for the body...

J.,

Let me just start by saying, I understand what you're going through. With my first son I was diagnosed with long term post partum depression and placed on Zoloft. It did work, but now two more children later I've learned some things that have helped me. One of the biggest things I do is makeing sure that I get time outside in the sun. If it's a gloomy day there are special UV lights you can use (some people use tanning beds, just be carefull with those). If that doesn't take care of it, I've also used Sam-E. It can be purchased in most stores in the vitamin/joint department. It is a mood enhancer and while it is medication, it's at least over the counter. I don't know if any of this will help you, but with the rest and nutrition you've already started maybe this will be enough. But remember, if these at home fixers don't work, this is an actual medical condition and no one will think less of you if you do need medication. Please know that we've all been there and are here if you need anything, even just to talk.

J. - I so feel your pain on this one. I had a bit of postpartum depression as well, my doctor prescribed medication which I never felt helped me so I discontinued use. Really what helped me was getting out and about, exercising and being around people that cared about me. It is tough, I will keep you in my prayers. Please feel free to contact me if you need to talk. M.

medicine is not a bad thing. i tried going without it, but since I have started taking a low dose, my life is totally different. i have no anxiety, i'm happy, i try new things. sometimes people have a chemical imbalance and med. really helps. hopefully for you it's just a temporary thing. i understand how much hormones can wreck your daily life.

Make sure you are still taking your prenatal vitamins and also take an omega 3, fish oil, and calcium. I would and still do sleep when every my 17 month old is sleeping. I am full time working mom and need all the sleep I can get, since my son still doesn't sleep through the night.

Good luck, Rae

Hi there,
I had ppd after having my second child who is now 10mon old. I found that one thing that really helped me was to try and get out and walk every day. Whether you bring your child or not, it really helps to get fresh air and clear your head a bit. Also, try and get out by yourself more often if possible. Even just to go to the grocery store or the bank without your children can feel like such a treat sometimes. I always made it a point to take a shower and get dressed (in regular clothes, not sweats) every day. Put some lipgloss on and dont forget that you are important too. Good luck with everything.

Try soy milk.
Seriously, the phytoestrogens in the isoflavones mimic estrogen, and so it levels out the hormonal issues. I drink about two to three cups a day to help my post birth control depression.

Take omega3's. Nordic Naturals is a good brand. That may help a good deal. My therapist and many other's recommended them to me. Also, naps if it's possible - having some sleep and time to be independent may help.

Exercise, diet, lots of sunshine and talk to someone about it- friend, family, professionals. I had it before but didn't know and now I have major depression which is harder to deal with.

I don't have any advice for you but have tried to do the same thing you are doing. My son is now 13 months & I still struggle sometimes but it does come & go. I've been debating on going back to the Dr to see if I should do something else since I've given it this long to fix itself. Good Luck!

J.,
I take L-tyrosine, it is natural, and over the counter.
It helps a great deal.
W.

I would recommend a good vitamin that covers all the needs of your body. I have a listing in Member Perks under Mother owned business. I suggest that you go look at the Vitalizer Vitamin. I've been taking them for four months now and feel better than I have in years. (I'm 54 years old.) I have more energy, sleep better, have been able to get off some of my medication. It seems I even have an easier time losing weight. Vitalizer Vitamins have 100% money back guarantee. And I promise you will be able to tell a difference in about two weeks. My phone number is listed there as well, if you have any questions or need more info, I'd be glad to help.

Good luck, B.
An Indepedent Shaklee Distributor

Wow! It seems like you have a lot of great advice. I hope I don't duplicate...
I had PPD with both of my girls and had problems with depression before and after as well. I am now depression free and what helped me most was St John's Wort. I recommend not getting the herbal extract but pills with the whole herb in it. St. John's Wort helps the body create more seratonin which is basically what anti-depressants do. The difference is anti-depressants (Zoloft, Paxil, etc...) don't facilitate the body's natural ability to do it in fact it hinders it rendering many people dependent if it is taken for too long. I was on Paxil until I realized I was physically addicted to it and I weaned myself off of it and onto St. John's Wort.
If I had to do it again, I might also look into acupuncture. I had an ectopic pregnancy that left me reeling with hormones and grief and acupuncture helped quite a bit. It balanced everything out so I felt normal and calm again.

Good luck!!!

Hi J.,

I would try a good form of Mexican Wild Yam - the plant diascorea (sp?) is food for the hormonal (endocrine) system, and really helps in mood swings - as well as other hormonal systems. It really made a difference for me.

D.

I know you already got a lot of wonderful advice and from your follow up, you have a good plan on how you are going about this challenge in your life. I'll add the recommendation for the book "Postpartum Depression for Dummies" by Dr. Shoshana S. Bennett. I think this book will be a great reference to you and will support you in this. Dr. Bennett has also written a few other books on this issue but this is the one I own. I have had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Bennett, she suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of her son (who is now a wonderful young man) and made it her life's work to help other women with this issue. This book is so complete and one of the best written books I've ever read on any topic. Take care and all the best to you and your family!

Hi J.!

I'm sorry to hear you're going through this- it can certainly be tough. I had it w/ my first and I think a lot of it stemmed from some unexpected things that happened at birth, isolation, and having a high-needs baby. It took a while to shake it, but I never took meds- what helped the most was getting out and connecting w/ other people (starting co-op pre-school when she was 18mos *really* helped with that- lots of new parent friends to hang with) and YOGA! I now teach yoga because of the amazing impact it had on my life.

The other thing I want to mention is that new research is showing what a lot of medical doctors call "postpartum depression" is actually incorrectly diagnosed Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I have a close friend and colleague who is a Marriage & Family Therapist specializing in birth issues. I HIGHLY recommend her- she does one on one counseling as well as mom's groups. Her name is Sharon Storton and she has an office at Harmony Birth in Campbell. Her number is ###-###-####.

HTH! I've been there and know how difficult it can be.

Love, J.

Hi J.,

just remember that this is totally hormonal, but resting, eating, and sleeping patterns will help. I also used a product called Calm (all natural) it's magnesium, which is a natural relaxant. You use it like a tea. Whole foods or a small store called the beehive (off of blossom hill road on Winfield rd in san jose) has it. It helped me alot. Remember that if things don't get better soon that it's totally ok, to get help from doctors. Good luck to you and know that we are all pulling for you here at mamasource!

Warmly,
O.

Hi. I went through a mild case of depression after I had my son. Sleep and diet helped alot. I also took schizandra berry, which is a Chinese herb, which you can get at the health food store. I is a female balancer and helps deal with long term stress. so it is the best of both worlds.. I also breast feed my son, which I know can help too. make sure you are drinking lots of extra water and walk if you can.

Hi J.-
My friends would consider me a natural type, queen of natural remedies, organic foods, natural skin care products etc. but my depression was one I could not kick with whatever I tried. I will say I had a history of it in my teenage years also which greatly increases your postpartum chances. I went to medication, I haven't felt better in years, don't get me wrong I still have bad days but not the constant negativity, lethargy and sadness. My girlfriend had the type as you, anxiety & lack of concentration, trouble sleeping. She kept saying she thought she'd be ok if she could get some sleep, a break etc. I don't think she realized how bad it was when she was in the midst of it. After about 3 months, she tried medication & regrets not doing it sooner. She was only on them for 9 months or so. I hope you haven't been going through this for 11 months, that's a long time. Your kids will benefit from having a calm happy mom & you will be able to enjoy them 10 fold when your healthy! Just don't exclude any options. Another you might try is acupuncture. I just started for allergies because I'm 30 weeks pregnant and yesterday at the gym I had the best workout since I've been prego! I've heard good things about it with depression. It's not as expensive as I thought either especially if your insurance covers it. Mine covers $25, plus I found one of my insurance's providers which gave me a discount, so I pay $40 each time.
Take care of yourself J.,
it's important for everyone!
K.

36 yr old Momma to 2.5yr old boy and little girl coming in June!!

I haven't tried it but a friend tried flax seed (or flax seed oil) and said it really helped her alot.

It happens to most of us, its like monthly periods. My sister came to stay with me when I had my son. She told me she never knew women can be so grumpy. The rest is the most important thing, try to avoid stress of any kind. Listen to peaceful music. I had a rough time with an alcoholic man so my situation was nerve-racking.Getting that rest is very important, even a hot shower to relax those muscles. Good luck.

I am sorry to hear about your situation but commend you on asking for help and reaching out to other mamas. Mother hood is hard and does a number on our emotional beings with hormonal fluctuations that do not help. I know that takng higher doses of Omega 3 fatty acids especialy from fish oils- DHA and EPA, Nordic Naturals is a great clean brand to try. These fats a re essential for brain function and have shown benefits for depression, also they are good for your skin and also have antioxidant properties
good luck

I am a 34 yr old African American first time mom of a 12 week old girl (Tena. I have issues with anxiety and depression through out my life and was a prime candidate for postpartum depression, however I was depressed while pregnant unstead of after. Take it from someone who knows, you are doing EXACTLY what you should be doing. Especially the sleeping. I would suggest a day to yourself. I am a stay at home mom and leave every Friday night to my moms. Not only do I get a break (and a full nights sleep) but my husband gets in bonding time that he does not get during the week. Trust me you will feel great! So also can help even out hormones. GOOD LUCK!

While I have found Vit B (50mg or 100mg+) tablets and Magnesium (Dolomite or Epsom Salt baths or tablets) and Sun to be the most fabulous tools for me; I recently found something new. The Thyroid handles a lot of hormones in the body... since my body temperature, and my daughter's, are consistently low (96.8 instead of 98.6); my get-up-and-go had got-up-and-went, one daughter lost half of her eyebrows at puberty, etc, etc, we recently got some herbs to support the Thyroid - WOW, it is like Springtime for the body! So, keep looking for what is right for you. Vit B, Magnesium, Sun and Thyroid herbs are not expensive - and then you have nicer hair, calmer days, better focus and energy. Not bad things when you have two children!

I know you are trying to do this medication free, but I went on Wellbutrin for my last 2 pregnancies and it worked great. It is non addicting as many of them can be. It had a lower chance of decreasing the libido, which for me at the time was very little, so that was important. It also I think helped in weight loss. Working for a hospital, I was able to have a pharmacist do some research on all the different meds out there and this one came back with the lowest percentage of weight gain. This was also very important to me.
Don't be ashamed at needing some help. I used it for 6 months, easily weaned myself off of it and have been great ever since. good luck T

I applaud you for recognizing your situation and rectifying it yourself. You are definitely on the upturn if you know where you are with this and have a plan to get yourself out of it. I didn't even realize I had depression until I started to come out of it and nobody noticed that I had it because I did such a good job of hiding it (not even by OB). My problems started after my last check up with her.

Sleep is vital, but even 11 months old don't always sleep through the night. I found that even when my son started sleeping through the night that I would still wake up! - for no reason. So getting your sleep pattern back is essential.

Combining exercise and relaxation was also helpful and I found that the remedy for that was a simple yoga class. If you can find a class that is for new Moms too - that is even better as it will be more of a female group type for support as well. Having a forum for discussion whether with girlfriends or in a group like that is very helpful.

Other than that - good nutrition is the key. Everyone has something that really works for them. For me, it was a good multivitamin and a daily dose of GoChi which is a fruit juice made from Goji Berries. Very delicious and densely nutritious.
If you give your body the right foods, then it can heal itself.

I hope you continue to do well.

S.

Hi J.:

Sorry to hear that you're suffering. Like other women have mentioned, it's important to remember that you're not alone, this is very common and there is help available. First i would try connecting to a support group in your area. They are out there. Day One in SF would have referrals - they may even have a group that meets there. Also - i know it's difficult, but it's essential to get some exercise. As an acupuncturist i'm biased, but i know that acupuncture and herbs can help considerably. I suggest finding a practitioner in your area. Someone focused on women's health and pregnancy/postpartum issues could be especially beneficial. Acufinder.com is good b/c you can read practitioners' profiles.

Warm regards,

D.

D. Bowden Acupuncture
2601 Mission Street, Suite 201
###-###-####

For emotional issues, you can safely try any of the flower essences such as Rescue Remedy or any made by the flower essence society, check out their site at www.flowersociety.org for more info. You can fine-tune your symptoms to determine the best essences for you, or feel free to email me if you have more questions. I use them for my friends & family & have had good success in gently melting away issues.

Sleep is your best weapon which is difficult to do with a baby but...try to find someone who can watch your little one for an hours or two so you can rest, maybe get a pedicure or something just for you. I would definately recommend seeing a counselor. Personally I wish I would have done that after my son was born.

Hang in there!! I too suffered from postpartum depression for almost a year after my second son was born. I went so far as to get the prescriptions for meds, but never took them. I did find taking a walk to be very calming and helpful. The exercise and fresh air were beneficial, but the time to think and organize my thoughts were what I believe helped the most. Also, be sure to get time for yourself, even if it is going to Starbucks for 20 minutes!!

I went through something similar and what really helped me was getting enough sleep at night. I suggest you find someone you trust willing to take over night duty (your husband or mother for example), and you should do something relaxing before bed, and go down early. I took either benadryl or tylenol PM which helped me stay asleep. Then my husband & I would trade off who woke up with our daughter at night, so I wasn't always the one doing it. I also saw a therapist for a short while which was helpful. Once I started getting enough sleep, though the problem quickly went away. Best of luck...I feel for you!

Hi J.,

I got a bit of postpartum after my second child too; I can relate.

Rest is important and is the main issue I suspect. You can get through it without medication, I think, if you get plenty of rest and support from friends and family so you CAN rest. The hormones are another big player and stress comes into play by virtue of the other two problems.

Try to get together with female friends because their hormones will help you level out yours.

Plenty of fresh-air outdoors is ideal. Walking is an excellent exercise; it gets you outside and is simple to do when you're caring for the little one.

Drink plenty of water and this is the biggest tip, ready?-
Trust your intuition and listen, really tune into your body, and listen to what it has to tell you. That's the best I can share with you to help you through this problematic phase.

All the Best,
M.

We have dealt with a number of people with depression. NUtrition has everything to do with it, and we offer a money back gaurantee. Please call my wife A. ###-###-####.

I have suffered from depression most of my adult life. I have two boys who are 7 years apart. I suffered from post partum depression severely with my first born. I did finally try medication which helped tremendously. Since then I have been off and on different medications over the years. With my second son they started me on Prozac before he was born and it kept the pd away completely. Over the past couple of years I have been researching and trying different therapies. I read somewhere that magnesium and chromium deficiencies can cause depression. I currently take these supplements and have gone off all my depression medication. I still have some anxiety but try to work on that with diet and exercise. If you are breastfeeding I would check on these supplements with your doctor to see if it is okay, but it has worked wonders for me.

Hi J.,

I'm glad you brought this topic to the forum, it's so common -- yet so few women actually talk about it. A good friend of mine, a bay area mom named Rebecca Kaminsky, writes a fabulous column about her experience with PPD (through two pregnancies) in the online magazine Literary Mama -- you can find all the archives of her column here: http://www.literarymama.com/columns/downwillcomebaby/arch.... She's also been a guest blogger in the Washington Post about PPD -- her Bio. at the bottom of her column has some very good resources in it.

As she writes, Rebecca and her docs found that her PPD was connected to her hormonal swings as well. She was referred to a Psychopharmacologist who ended up prescribing her meds only for a few days each month around when she had PMS -- it turned out to be VERY helpful. I've shared this info with many mom friends who had never heard of this type of low dose targeted treatment-- and I hope that everyone who read this passes it on too. There are options out there, but as women we have to be very proactive -- which I know seems an insurmountable task when you have PPD! In the end though, it is totally worth it.

FYI -- Also, from my own experience, I started feeling kind of tired and generally not quite well when my daughter turned 1, it turns out I had thyroid disease (very common: 1 in 8 American women will have a thyroid disorder in her lifetime!!) At the time I didn't know that, so I got acupuncture which helped treat the symptoms (heartburn, exhaustion, aches and pains, depression, weight gain, rashes). But then I moved and stopped going to the accupuncturist. In the end it took 18 months for me to get diagnosed with thyroid disease -- because some days I felt okay and others not. Depression symptoms sometimes overlap thryoid problems. Luckily it's treatable, and I feel SO much better now. I wish I had seen a doctor from the beginning. That said, acupuncture is a proven treatment for mild depression and it has no side effects. But I do recommend seeing a med. doc. in conjunction. In fact, my health insurance now covers 30 acupuncture visits a year w/ only a $15 co-pay! I just need a referral from my regular doc. - which she happily provides.

Good Luck!

Hi, I would just really recommend to read Brooke Shields' book about her experience! Very interesting and you really get a feeling for how many that suffer from this! And she really recommends medication.