Question About Postpartum Depression

I would definitely keep your appointment and get a professional opinion on all of this you are going through. I know with my second baby (they are 15 years apart) I cried and cried for silly reasons and when I look back I do think it was exhaustion as well as all the crazy hormonal changes my body was going through.

Your doctor can probably recommend a different sleep aid as well if they think it would be better than what you are taking.

I wish you lots of luck and strength.

Hi J.,
I think you should keep your appointment but the largest factor in PPD is not only the hormones, but the exhaustion that goes with a new baby. Some people respond better than others to exhaustion and lack of sleep but it was one of the leading causes to PPD. I hope you're able to keep getting sleep because I think it will definitely have positive affects on you and your child. Good luck.

Hi J.,

I would agree with Lori. Keep the appt. The docs may tell you to keep doing the same or change what you are taking....just to be safe, for you and your baby, seek help.....it won't hurt.

Wishing you the best!

P.

You should most definitely keep your appointment. Could you have needed sleep definitely but that doesn't mean that they have completely gone away. They may be gone but it would be better if you spoke to your doctor to be sure. He or she will be able to give you the best advice and course of action. I believe insomnia may be part of ppd. It affects everyone a little differently. Good luck.

Hi,
probably a little of both...you should keep your appiontmnet with your doctor. Are you seeing your OBGYN..or someone else. Do you have family that can help you out until you feel better. I had the same thing happen to me, i did not see anyone but it was really scaring feeling....like i was drowning in sadness....men don't get it either...my husband was like you should be happy you have a baby....it lasted for about two months...hope you feel good soon. get some sleep!

Sleep deprivation is a major contributing factor to PPD, so I would still keep the appt. You should not rely on sleep aids to keep your mood up. They can be very addicting, so using them often can cause longer term problems. Your doctor can determine if you just need more sleep or if it is something more.

Hi! I just wanted to encourage you because I felt very similar to what you're describing and I did NOT have PPD. Your hormones are still out of whack and of course exhaustion will contribute to all of those things. Because I'm not a doctor though, I would say keep your appt just to be safe... but know that what you're going through is completely normal. Best wishes to you and CONGRATS on that new little baby!! :)

I would say to keep your appointment. PPD as I understand it is caused mainly by hormonal changes but I believe that a contributory cause to hormonal imbalances can be sleep deprivation. And as you are aware, new moms are sleep deprived. I believe that if it is PPD, your regular family doctor/OB can treat you.

It won't hurt to keep the appointment. You can go over what has been happening and what you did that has helped. They may be able to give you other alternatives, also. Also of importance, they can document what is going on so that if things should get worse they can track it and know how to treat it.

Good luck and hang in there. Happy Holidays and Congratulations on your new one!

Are you *really* depressed, or are you showing signs of overexhaustion? A new baby - whether your first or fourth - brings about major changes in your body, other children, and daily routine that require time to adjust to. My exhaustion level with my second was way off the scale compared to my first, because "sleep when the baby sleeps" simply wasn't possible with a 2-year old running around the house. Set up a "famiy nap time" as soon as possible and stick to it like it's your mortgage payment - in fact, it's more important!
Don't rule out PPD - but anti-depressants won't get rid of your exhaustion. Only sleep will do that!

I too had PPD with my second child, also a girl. I say you keep your apt. What can it hurt? If you were tired than that is great, but chances are this is just a temporary pick me up. So don't feel bad if some of those feelings come back. Sleep is a priceless thing, but at the same time do you want to be taking sleep aids all the time? Not that they are bad but its hard to sleep with out them once you start (trust me I know far to well about that one!) The best thing you did was talk about it. I had no idea what was wrong with me. Know you are not alone and good for you for realizing somethings not right here. Good luck, and were all just an email away!
E.

Yes, keep your appointment. IT is possiable that your problems were because of sleep depravation...that can get to the best of us. But go to the doctor and see what she/he has to say. Better safe that sorry. You have to take care of yourself so that you can take care of your girls!! Have a great Christmas!!

Hi J.

I totally agree with what most Mom's have already said. Keep your appointment. After my first baby, I felt much of the same things you are feeling, and it was overwhelming. Sleep did help oh so much, but so did talking about it and how I felt about what was happening. If you don't have PP depression your care provider can tell you and also will know what is going on if you have a recurrance of symptoms in the future. Talking to someone is what helped me most, sleep second, and falling in love with my baby was easy as pie. Don't be embarassed, ashamed or afraid to tell your care provider everything you have been experiencing, he or she will really help. Congratulations on your new little blessing and have a wonderful Christmas!

S., a PP depression survivor!

Hi J.,

It may be that you just needed some sleep, but I would recommend keeping your appointment anyway. PPD can be very serious and it is better to nip it in the bud early than to wait too long.

Congrats on your new baby!

J.
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Yes, you should keep the appointment. It can't hurt to talk to someone about what you have been experiencing and worst case, the Dr. will just confirm that you were just sleep deprived - which will make you feel better!

keep the appointment; sleep helps a lot, but that may not be the only issue; it's better to have two strategies. good luck -- i know how it feels

I think you should definitely keep your appointment. A professional can evaluate you and the sleep aid that you took. I would hate for you to have PPD and have it go untreated. I would also hate for you to get dependent on a sleep aid. I wish you all the best.

hi J.,

i do think you should follow up with your primary care physician...its important to get the appropriate help and feedback, esp. because you well-being is essential. as another small piece of advice...take a look at my website...www.missinginactiononline.com i have interviewed hundreds of mothers and i host many speaking engagements. what you are experiencing is not at all unusual. MDs usu. jump to the conclusion that it is PPD, which it could be, but i offer an alternative perspective that mothers support wholeheardedly. if you read through my book, "Missing In Action" you would see that i experienced something quite similar to what you are experiencing...you are NOT alone in this "syndrome." BUT, i always think it best to check with your Dr., as PPD can have very serious consequences if left unattended. i wish you all the best. remember, this is probably the most dramatic life-changing transition of your life...its bound to have a dramatic impact.
take care of your "self" (literally)
A.

From my own personal experience, I think I had a touch of PPD, mainly due to sleep deprivation and hormones. When the baby started sleeping thru the night and I did too, I felt like a new person. I didn't use antidepressants or anything, just vitamins and sleep and I'm my old self again. I pray this is all you need.

Hi J.:

It was very brave of you to admit your feelings of guilt, depression and exhaustion. (Also to mention the 7 women that have responded as well). PPD is something not many women want to admit, though something like 80% of us experience the symptoms.

KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENT. Anytime you have the opportunity to talk about your feelings, and possibly get helpful advice from a trained professional, is a blessing.

I too am seeing a profession regarding my (PP) depression. Thing is I denied it for over a year (seeing as my son is now 16months old). Maybe you don't have PPD, but either way, I know that "not feeling like yourself" or not being excited about another day is no way to go on.

Do it for you, do it for your kids.... not enough people talk about their feelings anymore.

best of luck,

C. nine

I had a slight case of PPD after my son was born, but didn't realize it until he was about 9 months old. I think that a good night sleep can help a lot of things, but I would still talk with your doctor about it. It can be very overwhelming adding another child to the mix and you should just make sure your doctor is aware of your symptoms. Best of luck!

Barbara Murtaugh
www.lovingworkfromhome.com
###-###-####
____@____.com

get to the Doctor but keep in mind that after the birth of the baby your hormones are adjusting. If you are breastfeeding then the hormone change won't be as drastic more of a slow release. I found less ppd after my second child whom I breastfeed and am still nursing. My hormones are dropping off now at 14 months postpartum and I'm feeling depressed too, but after 14 months of no rest it is surely a combination of things. If you want to harm the baby or have do take something.

YES! Keep your appt. I had PPD with both my sons. Some of it was exhaustion, but why take the chance. Get the dr.'s advice. With my second son I waited too long to get help. I ended up in the ER with a panic attack, which I have never had before. Even if you have to go on medication, it's not forever. You might only have to be on it for a few months. Nothing is worse then not being able to enjoy your children and life.

hi J.,

First i want to say congratulations on your new baby girl! I was never diagnosed with having PPD, but i did have some of the symptoms after I had my son. I think that it was primaraly a lack of sleep issue for me, however, there were some other issues going on at home to for me. What I would suggest to you is to keep your appointment and talk to your doctor just as you did here. Let him/her know that the sleep aids did work for you. It mat turn out to be just that, but to be certain, I would still go through with the appointment just in case. It would only help to have a doctors opinion to be sure. For me the symptoms did come and go, and were more intense on some days then others. My friend is currently talking to her doctor about PPD, she definitly has PPD and she has been getting help for approx. 3 weeks. She says that she feels 10 times better and it really is helping her to get back to herself again. I wish you lots of good health and happiness for you and your family.

I think you should keep the appointment. I think that all moms feel depreesed and have those similar feelings after giving birth. Maybe all you truely need IS a good night's sleep, but it is not going to hurt to go tell how a Dr. how you feel. Let the Dr decide. Maybe the Dr. would prescribe you a sleep aid as well. Good luck. And remember you are not alone. Every one has a hard time with these things. And I think it is especially hard this time of year.