How did y’all cope with postpartum depression/baby blues?

Tell people, especially your best friend, exercise, shower/get dressed every day, eat healthy, do something you like to do that is just for you, and tell a doctor if it doesn’t get better.

2 replies

Thank you Toni! I find it to be worse if I have to go to work. This sounds crazy, but I can’t wait to get outta the house and have a break. AS SOON AS I LEAVE, I’m just ready to be back home. I know that sounds crazy🤦🏻‍♀️ I really appreciate it.

Experienced that exact same thing!

I’ve been trying pretty unsuccessfully to treat myself with supplements and taking walks, blah blah blah. I finally had enough today and decided to try medication. I’m gonna get a prescription for Wellbutrin and see how it goes.

2 replies

Well it’s day 1 and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I do feel more level-headed and studying is easier, but I’m also a little anxious. I can’t relax.

Keep me posted! I have been trying to get dressed everyday, go for walks, eat good foods. NOTHING is working. 😞 hope the medicine helps!!

Seek help immediately! I dealt with it for the first 6-7 months of my first child's life and it was the darkest period of my life. That was 9 yrs ago. I don't wish it on anyone! There is no need to "wait it out". Talk to your doctor, talk to a therapist and go on antidepressants for a lil while if you choose to. I never sought out help but I should have. I could've had more happy moments with my newborn. Also if left untreated, those issues or feeling could creep up in the future. I finally got help a few months ago while I was in a very bad depressive episode.. the medication and self care that I've incorporated has lifted me out of that hole. I hope you get well soon. ❤️

1 reply

I couldn’t imagine going 6-7 months feeling like this. Seriously. I don’t intentionally “wait it out,” I am just trying to make sure it’s not stress induced. There are days I feel like a million bucks, but there are others where I cry all dang day FOR NO REASON. I’m just ready to enjoy my baby again and be my happy self. Thank you so much Valentina!

Same here. My fiancé is amazing. I try my best to talk about it with my mother and sister. I also try to stay active and workout with my baby. I even purchased a jogging stroller to get out the house more. I also get pretty and fix myself up even if I’m not going anywhere. Just to feel better about myself 💕

Joined the YMCA, take baby for walks and target runs (literally 3 days a week sometimes).. And we just joined a music class it’s amazing. My babe is six months and I love that she’s starting to be able to have more fun and learn. It gets better mama, hopefully You find a natural healthy way to cope. ❤️

Please trust me, with my first I struggled for an entire 10 months before accepting treatment and it was the biggest mistake I made in my life. I tried walks, plenty of time in the sunshine, acupuncture, supplements, you name it. Once I got in to see a therapist and began taking Zoloft, the fog lifted. I just gave birth to my second child, and the experience has been night and day. PLEASE get help for yourself as soon as you can. I am soaking up every moment with my second and I am so incredibly happy- except for the fact that I am grieving about my experience with my first born. The anxiety and depression made me afraid of medication, but if it’s needed take comfort in knowing it does not have to be permanent and you CAN start feeling like yourself again. I’m sending you love and light- I know you will get through this, and I hope it will be sooner than later! ❤️

I waited several months to talk to my doctor and I wish I hadn’t it sent my marriage down a rocky path. My husband was helpful but I’m quite independent and I have a lot of pride and refused needing help. I finally saw my dr and she gave me antidepressants. We’ve definitely seen a difference. That was about 3 months ago and I’m 9 months pp

I love going to mommy and baby yoga or mommy support groups. It’s great to get out there and meet moms going through the same things.

I struggled baaaaaadddd. My little guy was born at 30 weeks and I had a traumatic delivery. I had to have a separate surgery and THEN the c section and I was awake and alert for it all- no sedation just a spinal. So it was terrifying. My milk supply never came in due to trauma so I felt like a failure as a mom. I didn’t get to hold my son for the first two weeks of his life. I left the hospital after three weeks but he stayed in for six total. So driving over an hour each way to go see him at the hospital every day After we got in the baby swing of things it got easier but I lost all Motivation. I’d sit on the couch all day with baby. I could wear my pjs for days. Not shower for days. Just didn’t care. My sex drive went absolutely out the window and i just wasn’t myself. I swept the idea of ppd under the rug. After a year of it all I talked to my doctor, got on Zoloft and haven’t looked back. It’s literally been night and day. I’m so much happier now and I am glad I finally addressed it.

Go to your GP hun, it’s a chemical imbalance and you will get better with medication. I’m just recovering from postnatal OCD and depression. The depression was cleared up after 3 weeks on a low dose of Sertraline for me. Sending love, you’re not alone and it’s not your fault xx

Hiya, definitely make yourself a appointment with your doctor, I struggled with postpartum depression for a while before seeing my gp, I thought that because I was feeling this way I was a bad Mum and people were going to judge me but infact it was so much better talking to someone about it and not dealing with it on your own, feel free to send me a message if you need someone to talk to xx.

I am 8 weeks postpartum and feel the same lonely sad and fatigued. It didn't hit me until I got back on birth control. I have been talking to my mom and sister. My sister had the same thing. Its no longer baby blues if it lasts longer than 2 weeks. I am going to make an appointment with my Dr. to talk about what options I have.

I had in home services that helped me keep my focus. I got up everymorning that I could and researched topics that would enhance my understanding of myself. post partum for me is an opportunity to figure out what your doing right and wrong and what you can do to fix your life. Most importantly forgiving yourself and others and remove those who don't need to be in your life. I took all my concerns fears and doubt and prayed on them that is what helped me the most. releasing !!

My boyfriend has been there since the day when came home and he could tell when I would black out and cry. If it wasn’t for him I don’t know what would have happened

Just echoing what many have said here. PPD is a hormonal/chemical thing. Also, PPA. The best thing you can do is go to your GP and get a referral to see a psychiatrist, ASAP. The earlier you take care of this, the better. I also have an amazing support system and things are really really good. But the PPD was crippling for me, and the meds have helped me to get back to normal. I remember the first time I laughed, or even when I had an appetite again. It was amazing. Good luck! I hope you go to your doctor. You deserve it, and remember, you have to put your air mask on first before you put one on the baby. ❤️

With my first we had a bunch of issues in the beginning with breastfeeding and I went back to work only 2 weeks after I had him (I was a nanny) and had pretty bad ppd I ended up going to a counselor and getting an antidepressant and anti anxiety and it got so much better eventually (with guidance of the counselor) I weaned myself off the meds and was back to normal. With my second it's been the complete opposite, we've had things go well and got to spend more time bonding and it's helped. My best advice is love on you babe as much as possible and talk to someone about it, you'll feel so much better. Don't be scared to take meds bc you can always stop if you don't like/don't need them! Best wishes!

I unfortunately suffered for 7 months, trying every supplement known to man and drinking wine heavily. I just got on 150 mg of Wellbutrin XL and it’s the best decision I could’ve made for my babies.

Take it one day at a time. A new baby is overwhelming and a huge change. One thing that could help is maybe at the end of the day write down one positive thing about you/your baby, to help your mind see the good. Also, make sure you’re taking care of yourself, eating, showering, etc. I had a ton of anxiety and a high needs baby, but for me, it got a lot better after 3 months.

Please please please go to your doctor. I didn’t. My son will be 1 in a couple of days. PPD and PPA robbed me of those special moments that I can’t remember anymore. I wish I got help earlier. They are only little for one season. That will never be this small ever again. It breaks my heart still. I’m just started getting help. My first therapy session is this coming Friday. It will be so worth it.

I’m with you! some days great some days I literally can’t see straight...

This may be a stupid question but can you get it 6 months after haveing your baby my mom thinks I have it but I’m really not for sure

2 replies

idk about pp specifically.but with me, although the first few months after my daughter was born were the happiest of my life, about 6 months after she arrived the isolation and feeling a lack of purpose all kicked in. i had an emptiness inside of me and i started down a long road of depression that took me a long time to recognize for what it was. so many moms struggle with depression....

Yes you can. Most cases set in round about the 3-6 month mark. Definitely go get seen by your gp

I saw a therapist and luckily only really experienced it for a few months

Baby blues is only suppose to last two weeks at the most. Maybe you should talk to someone about what you’re experiencing.

It’s definitely a struggle. I went through really rough moments while I transitioned into motherhood, I can say that after 7/8 months into it I started feeling like I was finally coming out of the woods, I guess what I learned from the experience was to talk about it with someone, anyone! I know setting an appointment with your doctor is much harder then it seems so I understand the feeling of not wanting to do that right away. personally, I found an online group of women all dealing with PPD and it really helped with dealing with everything. If you need to talk I’m here. I can even send you the link to the online site I used :) best of luck mama, it gets better.

No.

Definitely past the two week mark, so not baby blues. Talk to your dr and see what options are available. It's ok to feel overwhelmed, sad, and/or angry. And it's ok to ask for help! It does get better, but if you leave it too long it could get worse. I really wish someone would have told me that after I had my first. Go talk to your dr and I hope you start feeling better!

What’s helped me most is getting on antidepressants I’m still depressed but I’m able to get myself out of bed now and find some joy

I honestly called my mom PP and told her something was wrong. I just didn’t feel like I could mom anymore. She told me to go to my PCM first thing Monday and I’m in therapy and take Zoloft. My tiniest is now 13 months and we are doing so much better emotionally! It’s so normal, don’t feel alone and talk to your doctor! Even if you don’t need medication it’s nice to know you’re not alone!

evening primrose oil (capsules) helped me. are you taking care of your body? wating well and exercising as you are able? are toy taking care of yourself emotionally? getting out of the house and talking to friends and family? you may need to see a doctor if it gets bad or doesn’t let up. i hope it gets better!

PPD kicked my ass for almost 3 months before I went to a therapist. I was crying around the clock and felt like I was taking care of strangers assigned to me. My twin girls are 7 1/2 months now and I only have a bad day every few weeks. My bond with them is amazing now and it didn’t feel like that was possible a few months ago. Check out therapists near you.

I had the same quite bad crying everyday, could not sleep, my anxiety was through the roof! I personally didn’t want to wait every week to talk to a therapist so I ended up going into the mother and baby unit in Fiona Stanley I was there for 2.5 weeks and it was the best decision I made for me and my bub! The tablets really do help but I’m slowly coming off them and I feel so much better but yes I still have slightly bad days!

I talked to my mom about it. Just talking to her and sharing her experience made me feel normal and that I wasn’t losing my mind

I attended a baby blues and better days program.. twice actually. I also went to my doctor with my husband and we told him what had been going on and I was prescribed meds. Meds take awhile to figure though so tale your time and when you need to talk talk! ❤️

Zoloft tbh. I’m on a super low dose and I’m certain a lot is placebo (I’m not great at taking it everyday). No side effects for me so I’m pro doing what you need to so you’re 100% for you and your family