Postnatal depression!

Mine haven’t gotten better I have had it since 2021. Then had my second 2024 but it just goes and come. I am on antidepressants and in therapy. But it gets better in terms of knowing how to handle it

@Ife Sorry to hear that you’re still struggling with it. Doesn’t come and go in waves for you?

I kind of knew I wasn’t just depressed for no reason. I was depressed because I had become a 24/7 slave to a demanding baby while being in pain every day trying to recover from a difficult birth, and with almost no support from my husband who was away all day working, couldn’t breastfeed for me at night and was still out playing sports 3 nights a week. I knew things would change as my son got older, and I knew I needed to process my trauma and resentment about birth and postpartum so I started talking on here and to my husband and really anyone who would listen. And eventually things started getting better. I got a bit more support, sleep, eventually went back to work. I knew things would keep getting better but When I was in the thick of the ppd I was so worried about getting stuck that way. I wanted to love being a mom as much as i loved my son. So I promised myself to just look for good moments so I could notice and feel better as things got better

@Jessica thank you for your honest story. I too feel like a 24/7 slave to my kids and get bored a lot because it’s the same constant routine. Sorry to hear about your trauma 😣 it sounds like you went through a very tough time. Everyone’s said once they get older things get better but it’s just hard to see at the moment. I’m worried I won’t get back to me ever again, I don’t even recognise myself right now 😩

I don’t know if it’s an option for you but going back to work helped me massively to feel like I was an actual person again. Even if you can get out a couple times a week to do something you like it might make a huge difference

I was diagnosed with PND within the first 6 weeks of my boy’s life. I was in denial for a long time and refused support because I thought that would make me a bad Mum. The first year of my son’s life was bloody awful. I went back to work when he turned 1yo and I hit a low point. My boy was getting older and wanting to do more activities and I just couldn’t keep up. I had to leave my house for work. I realised I couldn’t bury my head anymore and I finally sought help, started taking antidepressents and spoke to professionals. This was the turning point for me, especially medication. I feel so much better these days. My boy is 19mo now. I think the better sleep makes a huge difference too.

@Jessica I work from home so it’s kinda of a catch 22, not that I mange to get much work done during the day. I try to catch up in the evenings.

@Lauren do you mind me asking what antidepressants and dose you’re on. I don’t think my ones are working as I’m in such a dark place right now.

I had and still have it now, 7 months older. Currently under GP for medication. I didn’t pass the criteria for perineal mental health help as I waited from August to December for an appointment - I’m in UK however I think I would have when I asked for help at 6 weeks PP. things have got a lot better since then however I have just handed my notice in at work (I am/Was a supervisor in an elderly home) and I know I’m not mentally “stable” enough to handle giving out medication without making mistakes because my mind will be elsewhere. Plus 12hr shifts are too long to be away 😂 he’s my first healthy & last pregnancy so I want to enjoy the time with him as much as I can 🩵 Please, if you haven’t already, seek help from whoever will listen to you. You’re never alone & you’re doing such a great job at being your baby’s mum 🥰

5 weeks pp with my second I feel it this time around and even while I was pregnant I was so sad a alone. Being around my family and keeping my self busy helps a lot.

I went into denial about having postnatal depression. After 15yrs living in a DV marriage leaving getting divorced then finally pregnant with my miracle boy I thought life was wonderful and then it didn't hit me till my son was 8months old. I refused meds and I refused counselling I had beaten depression before with healthy eating, exercising and finding a hobby I thought I would be ok. It wasn't till I retuned to work that I have noticed a difference in my mood and thoughts. I absolutely love and adore my son but I missing that other part of me, my identity which was my career. Been independent and capable of being a single mother and raising a son. Don't lose your identity.

I’m on 50mg daily of sertraline. It has worked wonders for me. Please seek help- you’ve got this 🫶🏻

I had hg pregnancy and it really wiped me out. After baby was born I was able to eat but I felt deeply neglected by medical professionals. All the weight on me had been water and dropped off in weeks, literally couldn't stay out of the bathroom for my life because all that water was dropping off of me which secluded me to my house, my husband didn't take any time off work and we had a daycare shortage so I didn't really have much of a choice for going back to work in the moment. A few months after birth my body was in a lot of pain and I had to keep going in to get tardol shots. I pushed for allergy testing because I was always sick and finally 2 years later they tested me and I have two allergies that I was constantly fighting against. I also had to go to physical therapy during the week, which was extremely difficult when I had no one wanted to help me with my baby. It's not like I had planned these things and my complaints my in laws just rolled their eyes or aggressively dismissed

And since I had only them to rely on for babysitting I saw their true colors and was taken advantage of and treated poorly and so that ruined relationship added a lot to my pp. I felt bad for my husband and my daughter for their actions towards me or my husband or daughter. I also was being falsely diagnosed and denied rights for testing at a medical facility and I had all my meds switched up on me without any of my say because their claim was I was bipolar.. which I am not against, but the tested said I am not (I received the tested later on) and every thing I would do they said was a part of my disease and that she couldn't explain the disease to me because I have it. You get left alone by yourself a lot in post partum, you see a lot of dark colors you never thought you'd see from close people to you. You have to fight and stay on your own path and the hard part is, you have to heal the hurts you get, because no one else will. Remember time can change things and even when things

Are bad they can be good again. Medications can help a lot of people, be good to yourself