Post-Partum Depression

[Sweetcakes]

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Lilyofthevalley:

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!

On the contrary, I think the media emphasized the irresponsibility of a husband who knew his wife was having problems and callously ignored them and selfishly insisted on having more children. There’s nothing wrong with having as many children as you can handle but it was obvious she had serious mental health issues and shouldn’t have been pressured into having another child.

I think her husband is guilty of not taking better care of his wife. After all, didn’t he make solemn vows to God to love, honor and cherish her?**

 

[Spatulate]

Princess_Abby:

someone so open and willing to share crucial perspective.
You are very welcome…if my suffering can help ease another’s, sharing it is well worth the pain I experienced.

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.
**You know, it took her nine months to put the weight on, so hopefully she can be gentle with herself and not worry about weight issues when she has depression happening too, and give herself at least nine months to lose the weight. Switching meds may be an option, certainly better than going off everything completely! **

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?
I was on the meds from 4-12 weeks postpartum, the last time was the longest. I had been on the paxil since 22 weeks pregnancy, so it took a long while to taper off and I had to do it VERY slowly to avoid the bad side effects.

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

 

[coralewis]

I don’t feel very qualified to reply to the original post since I’m not even a mother, but I do have a history of depression. It can be extremely disarming at times. A good friend of mine who has many physical problems told me that when she was depressed, it was worse than any physical pain she had. Often depression is combined with physical pain. Sometimes I had what I called spiraling thoughts and to this day I have many memories of things that just don’t want to go away. I have seen many counselors and taken a few medications. I’m not trying to scare someone who is being newly confronted with this awful disease but please remember this: my faith in God has taken me this far. I would be nowhere without Him. I hope she finds a good Catholic therapist and good Catholic doctor and can get the help she needs.

 

[Lilyofthevalley]

I think her husband is guilty of not taking better care of his wife. After all, didn’t he make solemn vows to God to love, honor and cherish her?​

I think he should be sitting in a jail cell too!!! I seriously think he set her off knowing full well what the result would be!!!
When interviewed he said something about wanting to have another family one day. I thought hmmm, rather than divorcing her and paying a ton of child support he ended his marriage to her in another way.
It’s possible.

 

[bapcathluth]

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. 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.

This isn’t true. See Spatulate’s excellent post to see the real facts. Some women have post-partum blues which are very different from the depression. I had the blues after my second child, but I have never had depression, thank goodness.

 

[JamesD]

The following is an imformational piece my wife has written on PPDfor a local hospital. My wife is currently recovering from PPD:

As a new mom you expected midnight feedings, countless diaper changes, being exhausted and a little anxious as your newborn settled into a routine. But deep inside, you know there is something more profound going on inside your body than adjusting to life with a baby.
This is supposed to be a joyful time, yet you’re filled with intense sadness and often cry uncontrollably. Despite endless nights of staying up with your infant, you can’t fall asleep or stay asleep when you have the opportunity. Your appetite has disappeared. And worst of all, you may have horrifying thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby.

It’s fairly common to have the baby blues after the birth of a child. Seven out of 10 women will experience the characteristic sadness, anxiety and … apprehension for a few days to a few weeks after delivery. But if these feelings persist for more than two weeks or increase in intensity, a woman may have postpartum depression (PPD).

Unfortunately, women with PPD are often … masters of deception, suffering silently and needlessly rather than asking for help. “Women are afraid they won’t be ‘the perfect mom,’ so they don’t admit their problems.” “Excessive anxiety adds to the exhaustion she already feels because of the insomnia she is most likely experiencing.” A woman may also isolate herself, increasing susceptibility to PPD.

Although the exact cause of PPD is unknown, hormonal changes and disrupted sleep patterns most likely play a major role. Common symptoms of PPD include:

Sadness and persistent crying

Anxiety, including chest pain, heart palpitations or hyperventilation

Irritability and restlessness

Insomnia or excessive sleep

Inability to eat or excessive eating

Feelings of guilt and/or hopelessness

Difficulty concentrating, remembering and focusing

Lack of interest or pleasure in activities

Being afraid of hurting yourself or your baby

The importance of early intervention is emphasized. “With proper treatment, PPD can be addressed before it becomes debilitating.”

The most effective treatment includes a combination of medication and talk therapy. It typically takes three to six weeks to obtain the full effect of antidepressants. Talk therapy can help normalize the situation. Family and friends can help by protecting the mother’s sleep, ensuring a balanced diet high in protein, giving the woman time alone, helping with baby care and chores, and offering reassurance.

Women with symptoms of PPD should confide in whomever their most comfortable talking to, whether it’s an OB/GYN, … primary care physician or a mental health professional. “Every woman deserves to enjoy the precious time after her baby is born.”

 

[mommi2four]

Princess_Abby:

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.

i’m sorry that your sister was diagnosed with Post-partum depression. It is very common to get th baby blues. But it is different for everybody. I know that if you were depressed before or if you have emotional issue before the “baby blues” it tends to be more severe than another person who had no emotional problem before. I had it worse with my third child only because my husband and I were also having marital problems. it went away for me, but not without therapy. there were other issues that I had to deal with prior to the “baby blues”

 

[Mamamull]

Lilyofthevalley:

I think her husband is guilty of not taking better care of his wife. After all, didn’t he make solemn vows to God to love, honor and cherish her?​

I think he should be sitting in a jail cell too!!! I seriously think he set her off knowing full well what the result would be!!!
When interviewed he said something about wanting to have another family one day. I thought hmmm, rather than divorcing her and paying a ton of child support he ended his marriage to her in another way.
It’s possible.

Always the voice of charity and understanding. My what compassion you show. Here I am depressed and I don’t even blame my husband or the child who died. Maybe I should find someone to blame and my brain would snap out of it.

 

[Matthewsmumau]

In Australia we call it post natal depression, i suffered with it after my son was born only at the time i didnt realise what it was and neither did anyone else. I never took anything for it, like i said at the time i didnt even know what it was i just thought it was normal to feel that way. It got to the stage where i wanted my baby dead, i used to imagine myself throwing him at the bedroom wall just to shut him up so i could get some sleep, this is so hard to talk about, it is making me cry as i type, i also used to wish that he just wouldnt wake up the next morning. This went on for about 6 months, then one day i just woke up and it was like i just snapped out of it. Looking back i should have taken myself of to the doctors and got some help but i didnt. On a side note we had waited 6 years to have this baby after we were told there wouldnt be any babies for us, so it seemed a bit strange to me that someone who had waited so long for a child could feel this way.

 

[Lilyofthevalley]

Always the voice of charity and understanding. My what compassion you show. Here I am depressed and I don’t even blame my husband or the child who died. Maybe I should find someone to blame and my brain would snap out of it.​

Ma in case you misunderstood, I was referring to Andrea Yates.