Post-Partum Depression

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Princess_Abby

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My sister’s friend was recently diagnosed with post-partum depression. Her case is very serious and she’s had some frightening episodes where she desired to harm both herself and her children. I think she feels rather alone with it because she’s never heard of anyone in her circle of friends or family being diagnosed.

How common is this? If you’ve experienced it and feel comfortable sharing (no matter how mild or how strong your experience), please do so. When did you know it was something more than just “baby blues” ? Did you go on medication to control symptoms? Did that help? Does having had it influence your desire to conceive again? When does post-partum “go away”…if ever?

It just seems like this subject isn’t talked about very much.
 
Princess Abbey, Post Partum Depression can be very serious. It’s symptoms should not be ignored. The most extreme case I can think of is, Andrea Yates, who had Post Partum Psychosis.
Anyway, I have taken medication for depression, not post partum depression, and they work. However they are not a “magic happy pill”. They have side effects such as weight gain, inability to have an orgasm, constipation, etc. Also, it is a good idea to meet with a therapist while on them. A good therapist.
 
It is not too uncommon, and can be very serious. My wife had it after several of our children, and even after a miscarriage. They were all serious enough to warrant medication. Unfortunately she had to quit nursing because of the risk the medication might be transferred to the babies. If a case is serious it could quickly escalate to a situation requiring hospitalization in a psychiatric ward.

I hope she is seeing a good psychiatrist. There is nothing to be ashamed of, and nothing to take lightly.

Alan
 
This can be very dangerous. All mothers go thru this after giving birth, their body goes into a hormone shock when it stops producing all the extra hormones and pheramones. Its usually called the “Baby blues”. It easially treated eith meds and hormone suppliments. But she should not be left along with the child or even herself till she is cleared.

I will keep her in my offerings.
 
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Princess_Abby:
I think she feels rather alone with it because she’s never heard of anyone in her circle of friends or family being diagnosed.
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My wife is currently recovering from PPD. Her case was also rather severe. She felt extremely alone! It is hard for us to really relate to what they go through. I have a sugestion. My wife found a great deal of comfort from a book titled “Sleepless Days”. It is written by someone who went through it and my Wife could relate to it big time. She felt a great deal of comfort knowing that others have gone thru this and gotten better. I can’t emphasize enough how this helped her. It is also helpful for those around her to read the book as it helps to understand what she is going through.
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Princess_Abby:
When did you know it was something more than just “baby blues” ?
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My wife did not think that she felt emotionally depresed. At first. her major symptoms were that she could not sleep more than 2 hrs/day and she could not eat. I mean nothing for two weeks. She described it as always feeling that you just ate way too much at Thanksgiving. Later came the horible depresion and thoughts.
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Princess_Abby:
Did you go on medication to control symptoms? Did that help?
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YES! After 2 weeks or so on antidrepressent medication she began to be able to sleep a little and to eat. Its been 6 months now she is still on antidepressents and still needs sleeping medication to get her 6 hrs/day sleep. She is slowly but surely recovering.
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Princess_Abby:
When does post-partum “go away”…if ever?.
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It will go away! I’m not sure but I think most cases go away between 6 months to 1yr.
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Princess_Abby:
Her case is very serious and she’s had some frightening episodes where she desired to harm both herself and her children.
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My wife was lucky in this regard. She had two episodes were a violent thought popped into her head and disapeared right away. I understand that in some cases they don’t go away and the Mom can’t help thinking about them. I am not sure that it can be considered a desire. Also pray. Ask me any questions if you wish.
I will pray for her.
 
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AlanFromWichita:
I hope she is seeing a good psychiatrist. There is nothing to be ashamed of, and nothing to take lightly.

Alan
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Yes, have her go to a psychiatrist (not a therapist) as soon as possible if she hasn’t. They are typically mush better at properly perscribing the medication than family doctors of OBGYNs. Therapy can be helpfull too but it is very important to get the meds right.
 
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Lilyofthevalley:
Princess Abbey, Post Partum Depression can be very serious. It’s symptoms should not be ignored. The most extreme case I can think of is, Andrea Yates, who had Post Partum Psychosis.
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I just had to respond to the bringing of Andrea Yates into this. This woman was eagerly portrayed by the media as being a classic case of post-partum depression/psychosis. I have even seen whole news briefs in which NOTHING at all was mentioned about the fact that the woman was extremely mentally ill before she ever even had kids!
I read an article about her, and it just sickens me that no one knows the real facts. The poor gal was diagnosed with both bi-polar manic depression, and schitzophrenia BEFORE she had even ever become pregnant.
Seems to me like the media is once again just out to play up the "dangers’ of childbearing.
Very very few women with post-partum depression hurt, let alone kill their kids!
 
Anyway, this is my advice: ease up on stress! Anyone suffering from post-partum depression needs to evaluate thier life and try to figure out ways to reduce the number of stressors. Stress is anything that puts a demand on you emotionally, physically, or mentally. Not all stress is bad, and a lot of it depends on how you deal with it, but a new mom has so much of it to deal with, that any help she can get really helps! I know, I have a 4 1/2 month old.

Letting someone else baby-sit for a while, and just taking a nap or going out for a walk works wonders for the baby blues. A lot of it is hormonal and will go away on it’s own (horrible as that may be), but a lot of it also has to do with not getting enough sleep and rest.

The hormonal part is hard because thier isn’t a whole lot you can do about it. I do not personally reccomend pills because I had depression as a teenager and I’ve been on everything from Paxil to Zoloft to Prozac, and nothing helped one bit. Also they have side effects and some can end up in your breastmilk, or can even damage your unborn child should you get pregnant again quickly.

I remember the first 2 or 3 weeks after my baby was born, EVERYTHING made me cry. Sometimes I just wanted to give my baby back! It was so awful, but I got through it by just telling myself everytime those feelings came, that this is just hormones, and it will get better!

But also, if she is seriously thinking of hurting herself or others, I highly reccomend a good therapist. NOT all therapists are good, so don’t settle with one that’s so-so.
 
Christian4Life,

I really appreciate how candid you are. Thanks for sharing your experience. I didn’t need reccommendations for psychiatrists. 🙂 She is already seeing someone very capable. I think I’m just interested in knowing what to look for in MYSELF someday, or sisters and friends of mine. Everyone paints having a baby as just this rose-colored experience, and I’m sure it is…but I want to be prepared for reality, too. Being a new mom has to be exhaustingly difficult. 🙂

Abby
 
Princess_Abby,

For yourself, know that my wife and I have 5 kids and she got PPD on the last one only.
I think Christian4Life is correct about stress. My wife was under a lot of extra stress and not getting much sleep before the Baby came this time. However, I think she is wrong about the antidepressent Meds. Everyone and every case is different but my wife would be in very sorry shape if it had not been for the meds. She did have to give up on the breast feeding however.
Remember to always trust in God he will not let you down. My Wife has gained from this experience.🙂

God Bless
 

Seems to me like the media is once again just out to play up the "dangers’ of childbearing.
Very very few women with post-partum depression hurt, let alone kill their kids!
Reply With Quote​

Child birth is NOT without risks.
 
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Christian4life:
Seems to me like the media is once again just out to play up the "dangers’ of childbearing. Very very few women with post-partum depression hurt, let alone kill their kids!
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I didn’t feel the media was hyping it any more than it should have been. FWIW, it did bring PPD into the spotlight.
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Christian4life:
…… The poor gal was diagnosed with both bi-polar manic depression, and schitzophrenia BEFORE she had even ever become pregnant.
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This almost begs the question…should people who are diagnosed with severe mental illness be allowed to have children?

Bipolar disorder, clinical major depression, and schizophrenia have no cures; they can only be controlled with medication and therapy.
 
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Jermosh:
This can be very dangerous. All mothers go thru this after giving birth, their body goes into a hormone shock when it stops producing all the extra hormones and pheramones. .
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I agree post partum depression is serious and one should see their doctor if they are having these feelings. My best friend had it with her last 2 children. She was put on anti-depresants temporarily. I did not experience this so not all women got thru it, but it is common.
 
As one who had previously tried to ignore PPD and hope it would “go away,” I most definitely urge medical intervention!! I had PPD after the birth of our second child (I had had a miscarriage just before this) and tried my best to ignore it – ended up having depression through my entire next pregnancy and finally was diagnosed and treated when my youngest child was 3 yo!! Please, please don’t wait… I know that God never intended us to suffer in silence - I felt horribly ashamed of my “inability to control my own emotions” as it was put to me by some friends who obviously do not understand depression.

I am still taking meds & am finally starting to feel that I have a handle on life! Prayer is very helpful as well as the meds so I would not say the meds cured me alone 🙂
 
JamesD and Mamax,

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences!!! I really appreciate that. I will tell my sister’s friend about that book…I know one of her issues is feeling like no one understands and has never had this problem before. It really just doesn’t seem to be talked about. Thanks for sharing!!!

Abby
 
PPD is very bad and can not be ignored. The little boy we are trying to adopt – Lovell – was abused by his birth mother and she stated she had a severe round of PPD – he was her sixthi child so I will take her word for this case being the worst.

Depression is not something to be ignored no matter, but PPD is extra tricky because of the baby and children’s safety, too.

Depression is often seen as a simple case of the blues extended, but it is more. Feeling isolated and disinterested in life are very strong. Sleep is erratic and so is eating. We can be so crabby and irritable that no one wants to be near us. Our desire to even take the steps to get routine also seem difficult.

I ran out of my RX med two weeks ago. I have been trying to learn to live without an antidepressant and I have decided that this is about the dumbest idea I’ve ever had.

I have slept an extra six to eight each day to keep from biting my family’s heads off. I have also had to work hard on going postal on the county social workers about Lovell.

I think being crabby as one of the first level of symptoms. Then comes no personal care and erratic sleep, etc. The feelings of isolation are awful. We can decide that we have no friends and not even our spouses love us. It isn’t rational, but it is honestly how I feel at this moment.

I should be back on my meds tomorrow. I am one of the lucky ones who can have improvement within days – the converse is I loose the benefits quickly too. Still I am hopeful to be a better creature tomorrow. It only took me five days to call for the meds. 😛

I went on the antidepressants after my daughter died four years ago and so I guess I thought I should be able to live without them. Except they have also been prescribed to help with migraines. So, maybe it isn’t a character flaw that I take them.
 
PPD-been there, done that!

First thing I MUST say is: YOU CAN TAKE MEDS AND BREASTFEED! More on this below.
2nd, PPD is NOTHING to be embarrassed about or ashamed of! General advice is to get the help needed and get it ASAP if you or your spouse are concerned after a new baby is born. Involve a physician/counselor/therapist/psychiatrist, etc.

I had PPD after each of our first three kids. Got worse each time. Bad enough to make me wonder whether or not to have more children. For me, it was an anxious depression…insomnia, mind racing, worries and fears, no appetite, panic about just about anything! It was a horrid cycle, couldn’t sleep so got more fearful, couldn’t sleep so got more worried, and so on. Once I was able to get sleep, I rapidly improved!

Baby blues usually hits 80% of all new moms, and often starts in the first week, easing up within 7-12 days. PPD often starts at around 2 weeks, but can start sooner, and there are variable characteristics/symptoms. PP psychosis is DANGEROUS because mom often fears hurting herself or her baby.

What does ANY new mom need, PPD or not? SUPPORT, encouragement, HELP, love, a listening ear, meals cooked/laundry done, a NAP, to be in contact with others who are new moms, and/or those who have experienced some of the same emotions. Motherhood can be a VERY isolating experience!!

Medications are not always used/needed, but they CAN be a VERY helpful tool. When I felt bad about choosing to take medication, my mom gave me good advice “This is temporary. Just as a diabetic takes insulin for low blood sugar, you will take this medication because your body and mind cannot handle the huge hormone shift that occurs after you give birth. You will wean off, your baby will be fine.”

As a nurse and lactation consultant, I can tell you there are MANY meds that are compatible with breastfeeding. Approximately 1% of the maternal dose actually GETS TO the baby, and depending on the med is further broken down by baby, so baby’s exposure can be minimized, esp. with paxil, zoloft, prozac, and now, I believe wellbutrin is suggested. (Let me step on my soapbox:) **IF you have a caregiver who suggests weaning so you can take a medication, either get a NEW caregiver or ask them to find a medication that is compatible with breastfeeding! There are plenty of options. **
It is simple enough to contact a local IBCLC to get info on meds and breastfeeding, and it is a real shame, often needless, to lose that breastfeeding relationship and all the benefits it gives, due to MD ignorance. Oftentimes, breastfeeding is the **only **thing a mom with PPD feels is going RIGHT in her world - it’s the only thing SHE AND SHE ALONE can do for her child - and she may be forced to give it up and will grieve its loss as well as struggling with the depressive issue. (Ok, hopping down now.)

For me, with baby 1, I took an anti-anxiety med (ativan) which allowed me to sleep and function better. With baby 2, I repeated this, but had to drop the dosage as it was too high and gave me weird nightimes. I saw a counselor with baby in tow with both the first two kids…I think while getting some breaks from baby to take a long soak or go for a walk is fine, extended absences are NOT great for the mom-baby bond or for breastfeeding.
With baby 3, PPD was the worst and I took ativan for the anxiety and trazadone to sleep at night. Baby 4 was stillborn near term, so meds were employed for a different reason. :crying: But I have to say, I have had NO anxiety attacks since this precious child’s birth. I am not sure why, but I am extremely grateful.
 
continued…

With baby 5, my doc and I took a different approach and decided to try to prevent PPD altogether by taking a medication the final weeks of pregnancy which is a method I don’t often hear about being used. I know many women are on anti-depressants from pre-conception or early pregnancy onward, but rarely do I hear about just using one the last few weeks as a preventative. I started taking Paxil, 10mg, at 37 weeks to allow it to build up in my system. I HAD NO PPD! It was a delight to be able to ENJOY a postpartum period for the FIRST TIME EVER! :bounce:

Our next baby was miscarried, and no meds there.

With baby 7, during the pregnancy, I experienced depression due to various life events and a family death, so, I opted to go on the paxil earlier on in pregnancy, at 22 weeks. In hindsight, I would NOT have done this, but I did the best I could with what I knew. The reason I would not recommend doing this with this particular med was that there is a situation known as Neonatal Paxil Withdrawl Syndrome, which our baby had! Basically baby withdraws from the maternal supply of paxil, and even if mom continues on the med, which lessens the syndrome, it can be hard on baby (resp. distress, inconsolable crying). So, I no longer recommend taking paxil in pregnancy! Plus, research is showing that paxil can be VERY hard for a person to wean off of–eek! There are many side effects that can occur with too rapid weaning and they are NOT pleasant. Still, despite worries about baby’s resp. status, I had no PPD myself.

Oh, and I did not seek therapy with the last two kids, because I believe, for me, the hormonal shift post-partum along with the lack of sleep, are the two largest contributors to my depression. I take the meds for a few weeks, wean off, and I am good to go. I gained many tools through earlier therapy for PPD which I use after I give birth, as well as in other areas of my life!
For me, it is my heart’s desire to avoid medications in my next postpartum. I am looking at alternatives, such as natural progesterone cream or homepathics. If a pharmaceutical is required, it will NOT be paxil.

Long winded, I know, and I thank you for reading this far.
 
Ann Marie-

Thank you thank you thank you for all your sharing and information!! What a blessing to encounter someone so open and willing to share crucial perspective.

My sister’s friend is having some difficulty wanting to stay on her meds, due to the side effects. She is putting on MORE weight, post-partum, even though she is still breastfeeding–and the extra weight is adding to her poor self-image right now. I am not sure which anti-depressant she is on, though, however.

If you want to continue sharing, may I ask how long you were on meds (with post-partum issues)? And if after you discontinued, the symptoms were gone?

Thanks again for your story! And, I must say…I LOVE all your kids names!!! And yours, too 🙂

Abby
 
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