Post Partum Depression?

Does anyone know anything about this? How long can it affect you after having a baby?

Anyway, i have a friend that had a baby last year and she's been SO depressed ever since. It's wierd. It's like, she loves the baby and is not depressed about that, but everything else in her life she is always totally distraught over. It could be a totally minor thing that happens, and she will be depressed over it forever... Or something good could happen (i.e., her husband got promoted) and all she sees is the negative side of it (well, now she will have to bring the baby grocery shopping with her b/c her husband won't be around to watch the baby) . . .

She has no money to get help, so I'm not sure what to do about it.

Oh I can totally relate to her I had Post partum for a little bit there but it didn'thappen right after the baby was born it came afew months later. From what I have been told you can get post partum at anytime after the baby is born. I had talked to my GYN about this and since it was minor it jsut went away on its own but he said that if it was something major that was affecting my life and things that he would of prescribed something to me. Tell her to go to her gyn cuz its all hormonal and he might be able to give her something to help her along

I also had post partum. Mine started right after my son was born. Sometimes 8 months later I feel like I still have moments that I go thropugh it. I saw Oprah a few weeks ago and brooke shields was on talking about hers and that made me feel better. The thing was, I totally didn't expect it, no one told me about it or that it is normal. I felt so alone. Now, I tell every pregnant woman I know so that they know if they do feel it they are not nuts! Mine was like I didn't want anyone to come over and I had huge feeling of guilt b/c I was so sad about everything and everyone around me was so happy over my baby...I couldn't understand it. I was also terrified to be alone with my baby. I can't explain why, I just didn't want my husband to leave to go to work or anything. It was bad. I went to see a Dr but he scared me with all the meds he wanted to put me on. It subsided pretty much by itself, but like I said, every now and then I feel it again....
brooke shield wrote a book that I might buy called 'Down came the rain.'
good luck!

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Posted by 12-3Princess

OK, I was wondering if it had to happen right after the baby was born, b/c hers seems to have started a few months after also... thanks.

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I read that sometimes it can start months to a year after the baby is born.

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Posted by sha11209

I also had post partum. Mine started right after my son was born. Sometimes 8 months later I feel like I still have moments that I go thropugh it. I saw Oprah a few weeks ago and brooke shields was on talking about hers and that made me feel better. The thing was, I totally didn't expect it, no one told me about it or that it is normal. I felt so alone. Now, I tell every pregnant woman I know so that they know if they do feel it they are not nuts! Mine was like I didn't want anyone to come over and I had huge feeling of guilt b/c I was so sad about everything and everyone around me was so happy over my baby...I couldn't understand it. I was also terrified to be alone with my baby. I can't explain why, I just didn't want my husband to leave to go to work or anything. It was bad. I went to see a Dr but he scared me with all the meds he wanted to put me on. It subsided pretty much by itself, but like I said, every now and then I feel it again....
brooke shield wrote a book that I might buy called 'Down came the rain.'
good luck!

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YEs 8 months later I still get my spurts of it here and there I am with you on that one I get into my moods sometimes just very sad and can cry at the drop of a hat sometimes I just snap and get angry at the smallest thing then I am taken back and am like whoa what jsut happend here and realize I still ahve traces of it so it can last for quite sometime

I had PPD and PTS actually it began during my pregnancy when all the difficulty started. Your friend needs to speak to her doctor asap. Having PPD does NOT mean you don't love your baby or being a mom. It is not reflection of who she is...tell her that. She probably feels awful about this.

I never had bonding issues with Molly but rather I hated myself for things I 'allowed' to happen during my pregnancy and c/s. Very few people understood it and I was shamed for not being able to 'just be happy with my baby'. I actually had one therapist tell me that I had no right to be upset at all...at least I had a healthy baby while other mothers don't. It took me months to admit I needed help and then I had that line thrown at me. Finally I was able to find a therapist that would help me without forcing me on medication. I still have up and down days but finally I have more good days.

how did you find such a thearpist? I don't want to take meds, but still I feel the pangs of PPD every now and then. I feel like you do...why can't I just be happy with my beautiful boy?? Believe me, some days(most) I'm on top of the world over him, but the days when I'm not are really tough. My husband and I want more children someday, but I'm really scared of this happening again. I feel like the worst is behond me and that having another baby will make it start all over again.....It's a very yucky way to feel somedays...

It is true that your risk of PPD should be a factor when TTC#2. You, your husband and doctor need to be aware and pay attention during another pregnancy.If you want the name of my therapist I am more than happy to share it. Just FM me.
You can call your insurance company and ask for names of covered therapists in your area but then you have to call each one and see if they can help you.
Please remember that love for your child and PPD are two totally different things...one does NOT effect that other. I love Molly...it has ZERO to do with what happened to me during my pregnancy and surgery and ZERO to do with how I felt afterward.