Does this seem like post partum depression to you?

cenicienta · 05-22-2006, 03:20 PM

Hi All!

I had my beautiful baby girl about three weeks ago. Immediately after birth, I was fine, relieved actually, since my pregnancy had been filled with a lot of depression, indigestion and nausea. Then about the third day after I gave birth, I started with the weeping. The weeping isn't constant, but comes and goes. Some days I don't weep, somedays only once, other days it comes and goes all day long. Then there is the irritability. I get really irritable and end up being really short with my other kids and my husband. I have just a total lack of patience for anything or anyone.

Does this sound like post partum depression to you?

randtbrown · 05-22-2006, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cenicienta

Hi All!

I had my beautiful baby girl about three weeks ago. Immediately after birth, I was fine, relieved actually, since my pregnancy had been filled with a lot of depression, indigestion and nausea. Then about the third day after I gave birth, I started with the weeping. The weeping isn't constant, but comes and goes. Some days I don't weep, somedays only once, other days it comes and goes all day long. Then there is the irritability. I get really irritable and end up being really short with my other kids and my husband. I have just a total lack of patience for anything or anyone.

Does this sound like post partum depression to you?

First of all, congrats on your new addition! Mine is almost 4 months and I feel like I just barely survived the first 12 weeks! Your hormones are just out of wack right now and what you are experiencing is TOTALY NORMAL! If you are breast feeding it could even be worse because of extra hormonal issues. I did this for almost 12 weeks. My doc told me to give myself 12 weeks and if it didn't get better he would treat me. It really was almost overnight for me around that 3 month mark that I felt better. Just try to get as much rest as you can and know you are not alone. It is normal. This early is is often called the baby blues. Talk to your doc about it if you have any scarey thoughts or are really concerned, for sure mention it at your 6 week appointment.

If you are interested, we have a new mommy support group on the challenge thread. We are all there to help each other through this! And if you ever need to chat, PM me. I've been there!

Pamalee63 · 05-24-2006, 06:25 AM

What you're experiencing is perfectly normal and due to the sudden drop in hormones after giving birth.

I remember crying at the Oscar Meyer weiner commercials and feeling silly for it! Another thing is I remember feeling like I was held upside down and shaken around for the first 6 months or so after having my first baby. It takes a while for life to get back to normal again.

If you're still feeling weepy and irritable several weeks later, OR if you start having feelings of wanting to hurt yourself or the baby, then it's a lot more serious and indications of postpartum depression, which can be effectively treated in most cases by your doctor.

Congratulations on your new baby!

2006 · 05-24-2006, 07:22 AM

I think the general rule of thumb ...if you have to ask... Lol. Definitely bring it up with your doctor it's not a bad thing and is very normal.

Epi_Doc · 05-24-2006, 08:06 AM

I had the weeping at everything for 5 weeks or so. By my 6 week appt it was better. I did mention it to my doctor and she said normal as a result of hormonal upheaval (and lack of sleep). The irritability is part of those 2 factors too.

But if it gets worse, to constant sadness or crying, bad thoughts, lack of interest in yourself, baby, or family, etc call the doc. Otherwise see how you feel at your 6 week appt. And even if feeling better then do mention it.

Congrats on the little one!
Niccole

I_Write · 05-24-2006, 08:15 AM

Hi!

You know, I KNEW I didn't want to deal with PPD. I started taking antidepressants immediately (like within a couple hours) of giving birth. I believe that was the right decision for me. I really believe I have escaped the throws of depression because of it. I gave birth 10 days ago and I feel really good.

However, I still have weepy days. Monday I seemed to cry off and on alll day. I wasn't really depressed... just hormonal and tired.

I would advise you to talk to your doc. I would NOT suggest you wait 3 months and see if you still feel bad. That's a lot of unnecessary suffering. Also, depression is a disorder that gets worse, not better, the longer it goes untreated.

I wish you the best!!!

~~Kate

cenicienta · 05-24-2006, 02:24 PM

Thanks for your replies. I have to say that this is the second day now without any weepiness. Maybe the hormones are regulating themselves- finally. I do suffer from depression when I am not pregnant and usually during pregnancy as well, so when the weepiness started, it alarmed me that I might be falling into depression again. The thing is that weepiness is not usually part of my regular depression. With my depression, I just don't want to get out of bed, do anything, see anyone and am extremely irritable. Crying is usually not part of it. I have had energy to do stuff and don't just feel like staying in bed, which is a good sign. I went for a run yesterday afternoon and came back with my "runner's high". I think the fact that I couldn't go for a run for a very long time sort of was frustrating and depressing me. I am sort of a running nut.

I did end up calling my psychiatrist and have an appointment with in three weeks. When I spoke to him on the phone, he said that what I was describing sounded like the start of post partum depression and advised me to start on Lexapro. I decided to just wait it out a little while longer and see how I feel. Like I said before, I think that the run I went on yesterday actually helped me. Now if I could do something about my impatience and irritability, I would be set. For this, I may have to take a little Lexapro. But still want to wait it out and see if getting a good night's sleep will cure me of that issue. Getting a good night's sleep is difficult for me since I wake up a lot and have a hard time falling back to sleep - and this happens without having a newborn in the house. Maybe all I need to avoid this problem is a little Lunesta to help me get a good night's sleep. Of course I can't take any Lunesta until the baby sleeps through the night since I would probably be knocked out pretty good with the sleeping pill and not hear her crying. I am not breastfeeding, so adding in a little Lunesta down the line shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks again!!!

05-22-2006, 03:20 PM	#1
cenicienta Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 623 Gallery: cenicienta	Does this seem like post partum depression to you? Hi All! I had my beautiful baby girl about three weeks ago. Immediately after birth, I was fine, relieved actually, since my pregnancy had been filled with a lot of depression, indigestion and nausea. Then about the third day after I gave birth, I started with the weeping. The weeping isn't constant, but comes and goes. Some days I don't weep, somedays only once, other days it comes and goes all day long. Then there is the irritability. I get really irritable and end up being really short with my other kids and my husband. I have just a total lack of patience for anything or anyone. Does this sound like post partum depression to you?

05-24-2006, 08:15 AM	#6
I_Write Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Home Posts: 376 Gallery: I_Write Stats: 361/220/165 WOE: My own	Hi! You know, I KNEW I didn't want to deal with PPD. I started taking antidepressants immediately (like within a couple hours) of giving birth. I believe that was the right decision for me. I really believe I have escaped the throws of depression because of it. I gave birth 10 days ago and I feel really good. However, I still have weepy days. Monday I seemed to cry off and on alll day. I wasn't really depressed... just hormonal and tired. I would advise you to talk to your doc. I would NOT suggest you wait 3 months and see if you still feel bad. That's a lot of unnecessary suffering. Also, depression is a disorder that gets worse, not better, the longer it goes untreated. I wish you the best!!! ~~Kate __________________ My LowCarbLosers Blog

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05-24-2006, 06:25 AM	#3
Pamalee63 Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,734 Gallery: Pamalee63 Stats: 246.5/240.8/175 (highest 260 in 1999) WOE: Atkins Start Date: 11/15/2008	What you're experiencing is perfectly normal and due to the sudden drop in hormones after giving birth. I remember crying at the Oscar Meyer weiner commercials and feeling silly for it! Another thing is I remember feeling like I was held upside down and shaken around for the first 6 months or so after having my first baby. It takes a while for life to get back to normal again. If you're still feeling weepy and irritable several weeks later, OR if you start having feelings of wanting to hurt yourself or the baby, then it's a lot more serious and indications of postpartum depression, which can be effectively treated in most cases by your doctor. Congratulations on your new baby!

05-24-2006, 07:22 AM	#4
2006 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midwest USA 27yo 5'7 Posts: 107 Gallery: 2006 Stats: -255- On May 15th Biweekly stats 241/241/110 WOE: low carb/ low sodium (Under doctor's supervision) Start Date: May 15th, 2006	I think the general rule of thumb ...if you have to ask... Lol. Definitely bring it up with your doctor it's not a bad thing and is very normal.

05-24-2006, 08:06 AM	#5
Epi_Doc Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 606 Gallery: Epi_Doc Stats: 236/159/149.5/140ish WOE: Atkins and now LFL Start Date: Feb 2005	I had the weeping at everything for 5 weeks or so. By my 6 week appt it was better. I did mention it to my doctor and she said normal as a result of hormonal upheaval (and lack of sleep). The irritability is part of those 2 factors too. But if it gets worse, to constant sadness or crying, bad thoughts, lack of interest in yourself, baby, or family, etc call the doc. Otherwise see how you feel at your 6 week appt. And even if feeling better then do mention it. Congrats on the little one! Niccole

05-24-2006, 02:24 PM	#7
cenicienta Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 623 Gallery: cenicienta	Thanks for your replies. I have to say that this is the second day now without any weepiness. Maybe the hormones are regulating themselves- finally. I do suffer from depression when I am not pregnant and usually during pregnancy as well, so when the weepiness started, it alarmed me that I might be falling into depression again. The thing is that weepiness is not usually part of my regular depression. With my depression, I just don't want to get out of bed, do anything, see anyone and am extremely irritable. Crying is usually not part of it. I have had energy to do stuff and don't just feel like staying in bed, which is a good sign. I went for a run yesterday afternoon and came back with my "runner's high". I think the fact that I couldn't go for a run for a very long time sort of was frustrating and depressing me. I am sort of a running nut. I did end up calling my psychiatrist and have an appointment with in three weeks. When I spoke to him on the phone, he said that what I was describing sounded like the start of post partum depression and advised me to start on Lexapro. I decided to just wait it out a little while longer and see how I feel. Like I said before, I think that the run I went on yesterday actually helped me. Now if I could do something about my impatience and irritability, I would be set. For this, I may have to take a little Lexapro. But still want to wait it out and see if getting a good night's sleep will cure me of that issue. Getting a good night's sleep is difficult for me since I wake up a lot and have a hard time falling back to sleep - and this happens without having a newborn in the house. Maybe all I need to avoid this problem is a little Lunesta to help me get a good night's sleep. Of course I can't take any Lunesta until the baby sleeps through the night since I would probably be knocked out pretty good with the sleeping pill and not hear her crying. I am not breastfeeding, so adding in a little Lunesta down the line shouldn't be an issue. Thanks again!!!