Post Partum Depression (PPD)

I am hoping to make this a sticky. But I wanted everyone to have a place to come and discuss anything having to do with ppd. questions, worries, issues , advice, whatever.

PPD isn't always extreme, sometimes it can be something as little as not having any energy to do things you used to do before the baby.

PPD does not mean you are a bad mom or that you do not love your baby.

So please, come here and share and don't fear being judged,because you won't be.

I'll start. I just started medication on Thursday and started therapy yesterday.

I hope to be back to my normal self soon. Everything is so much harder than it needs to be, I barely have the energy to do anything besides taking care of Millie.

Thanks so much for posting this!I have a pretty nasty case of PPD. I'm taking Zoloft but it hasn't helped a whole lot.

Anyone have any suggestions on what elseI should try? I'm breastfeeding.

i really think i have ppd, but dshs took me off insurance so i dont know how to get diagnosed.
i thought it was getting better, but its not.
and i tried to kill myself.
obviously, i didnt succeed.
and i couldnt go to a doctor becuase, well, i cant afford it.
i battle it every second of every day with no one to talk to because no one understands.
plus its not something im proud of.
im trying to get on medicade again.
but until then, im stuck trying to battle this thing myself.

Quoting brittaney bluegrass.:“ i really think i have ppd, but dshs took me off insurance so i dont know how to get diagnosed. i thought ... [snip!] ... its not something im proud of. im trying to get on medicade again. but until then, im stuck trying to battle this thing myself.”

aww honey. nobody should have to go through this alone. a lot of mental health facilities have programs where you can get aid to pay for their services. Before I had insurance that's what I did. You just apply for it. Look around your area, I'm sure they have something. And you are not by yourself, seriously, use this thread, we are all here for you.

Quoting ~Tattooedmama~:“ Thanks so much for posting this!I have a pretty nasty case of PPD. I'm taking Zoloft but it hasn't helped a whole lot. Anyone have any suggestions on what elseI should try? I'm breastfeeding.”

i have no suggestions apart from walking and air. i just went to the beach and sat in front of the water for a looooooong time. It will get better i promise just take it all one day at a time i have been there. Feeling so low you cant possibly think that anyone loves you or needs you.....they do.....i felt like i was dead inside i had horrible thoughts about my son and the guilt i feel now for ever feeling anything but love towards him i cant get over. i know the signs now and i hope all of you know you are the BEST mum your kids can have and they love love love you to bits good luck everyone.

Quoting brittaney bluegrass.:“ i really think i have ppd, but dshs took me off insurance so i dont know how to get diagnosed. i thought ... [snip!] ... its not something im proud of. im trying to get on medicade again. but until then, im stuck trying to battle this thing myself.”

you can talk to me anytime i ahve been exactly where you are and i can tell you i wake up everyday now happy i never would have thought that was even possible before .

I posted something very similar to this in Nov. here is the thread http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about132414-1.html#lastpost

I have suffered from PPD after the birth of each one of my three chidlren. Each time it has been more severe.

Here is a piece that I wrote for American Baby

I love my children. I always wanted to be a mom. It is the greatest accomplishment of my life, but there's a scary part of pregnancy and after that affects millions of women. Post Partum Depression During my pregnancy with my second baby I started suffering from anxiety attacks. I would get so worked up I would get phsysically ill. I'd vomit and hyperventalate. I didn't want my husband to touch me or talk to me. I was so excited for the arrival of my second child. We had everything ready. Crib, clothes, diapers, EVERYTHING. I had a lot of complications in my pregnancy. I was on bedrest for 11 weeks and had pre-eclampsia. My son ended up being born 3 weeks early due to a dangerous rise in my blood pressure. I didn't have the dream pregnancy. Reguardless when my lil bubbah was born I was thrilled. Everything was fine. Even tho I was feeling overwhelmed, I thought I could handle everything. My husband wasn't really helping with the baby. He'd be at work all day and then come home and sleep. Dawson would sleep 4-5 hours in a row, but then be up sparatically thru out the day and I wasn't getting any sleep. For the first 2 months of my sons life my husband changed maybe 3 diapers. I tried to deal with everything by myself. Tired to keep the house clean, tried to make breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tired to be super mom. Then I started feeling hopeless and lost. I never ONCE EVER thought about hurting my children, but I started thinking often about what it would be like if I could just leave and never come back. I tried to talk to my husband, but it didn't help. I was lost. I felt alone and overwhelmed. I just wanted it all to end. When Dawson was 5 months old I was completely gone. I would cry all day long. I didn't want to do anything. I would do what I had to do to take care of my boys. I played with them, fed them, bathed them, put them in bed and then just sat there feeling empty. It go to the point where I just wanted to die. One day while Tyler and the kids were gone I just lost it. Sitting there with my own thoughts got the better of me and I took a razor blade and slit my wrists. Not deadly but enough for me to realize that I needed help. There was so much blood. It was so scary. I called Tyler and told him he needed to come home right away. It looked like a homicide had taken place. There was blood everywhere. I think it scared both of us. I was in the hosptial that night and at my doctor the next morning. I started intense counseling and was started on medication. I always thought I was stronger than that. That I would be able to take care of myself no matter what. But thenI was living in darkness. Post Partum Depression, or depression of any kind can affect anyone. If you are suffering from this, you're not alone. I went thru it. I've been there. I know its hard to ask for help, but its necessary. I am so much better now. I've been in counseling for a year now. I am able to control the depression with out medication now. But after Georgia is born, I know the warning signs. Its scary to think that I could have left my children. I was sick. But I found the light at the end of the tunnel.

Quoting brittaney bluegrass.:“ i really think i have ppd, but dshs took me off insurance so i dont know how to get diagnosed. i thought ... [snip!] ... its not something im proud of. im trying to get on medicade again. but until then, im stuck trying to battle this thing myself.”

go to DSHS and apply for TANF. they'll give you medical!!!

You guys should do what I do, take vicoden or lortab with a glass of wine or more each night. It helps me.

Peace

If you can't get meds pick up some vitamin B6.
Vitamin D also might help a little.

The only other thing I can suggest is trying to get a little time for yourself as much as possible...just to relax and be calm. And make sure your SO is as supportive as possible.

I had a NASTY case of depression while I was pregnant with Jenna and PPD lasted a good year. I was to stubborn to take my meds. It was a rocky road at times (God bless my poor husband, now I know why he ran away  ) but I was able to get through it..and I acutally did not end up with ANY depression this time around.

Quoting PrncessConsuelaBananahmmk:“ go to DSHS and apply for TANF. they'll give you medical!!!”

okay, ill go down to dshs as soon as this snow stops.
i cant even leave my house.
it sucks.
hopefully ill go tomorrow.

Quoting Jenna Leigh:“ You guys should do what I do, take vicoden or lortab with a glass of wine or more each night. It helps me. Peace”

until you get a stomach ulcer.