Delayed Post Pardum

Have you started taking any new meds? I have had anxiety problems lately but mine was due to a medication I was taking. Try camomile tea and/or meditation, that has helped me.

Hi K., Im a mother of 4 grown boys. Are you sure this is post pardum hun? Or is there something else that maybe causing this depression? Take a day off, get a sitter and have a day to yourself and think about it. That right there might be your answer:). Keep your head up, children are wonderful and alot of Mothers go through this at some time or other.
M.

K.,
As many others have told you, this is totally possible. I went through the same thing and was about to ask my Dr. for some meds. I decided to really focus, and think about things and I realized that my depression was due to the huge changes in my life...DUH!, right. I knew that things would change, but sometimes it takes a while to understand how much. The biggest change for me was not working outside the home and feeling like I was not contributing financially. I worked since I was 16, and it was hard for me to feel "helpless" in this area. Once I figured things out, I felt better and was able to talk to others and was able to avold medication. Whatever you decide, just take care of yourself. Remember, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"

hi K.: that is common. the time for the symptoms to show are usually the first 18 mos. i would suggest contacting your doctors regarding the symptoms etc. it all depends on the severity of symptoms if you will need medication. seeing a therapist helps too. i see a wonderful woman in chicago - dr. mara tesler stein ###-###-#### - i have been seeing her since i suffered postpartum depression and anxiety with my first child.

i hope this helps. also, babycenter.com usually has message boards regarding postpartum depression and their is a national organization depression after delivery you can probably find on the web.

take care, L.

K.,
You really shouldn't hesitate to talk to your physician about this, or even your baby's doctor. If there are no outside reasons why you are feeling this way, then it could be post partum or something else. I see you are from Chicago, with no regular sun for months now, we are all feeling a little depressed.
Please seek some type of help soon, so that you can be the best mom possible.
Good Luck!
Stacy

I feel the same way and I have a 18 month old as well as a 3.5 year old. I dont know if its a combo of winter blues and baby blues but something really has to give. Lately , I have tried to do a few more things for myself ie: highlight hair, spend a bit more on myself when shopping and just making time to do things that I like, like scrapbooking.

Hi, K.,

Baby blues are real, and you could be experiencing postpartum depression. You could also be feeling the stress of isolation and being in the house too long. Without knowing more about your situation, I am thinking of my own experience when my kids were toddlers (they are now 8 and 10). Especially during February and March I would get depressed and really moody. I attribute this to the isolation that was forced on us by the weather and by illness that is so prevalent during these months. Once I came up with a "winter survival plan," life became much happier. We'd have one day a week where we went to the children's museum (if you get a membership this becomes a great deal), one day a week where we'd hit the library, and one day a week for a play group. Also, being an introvert, I didn't always think to call friends during the day and found myself counting the minutes until my husband returned from work. I don't know if any of this speaks to your situation, but the things that helped me were to make a list of friends to try when I was feeling down, and to make a weekly plan to get out of the house.
Hoping this is helpful to you in some way,
S. C.

I know it's classified as PPD for up to 2 years PP. I suggest you go see a doctor.

Postpartum depression is usually considered to happen up to 1 year after giving birth. Clinically, postpartum depression and regular depression are not different- just that postpartum depression occurs after giving birth.

If you think you are having symptoms of depression, please see your healthcare provider. If you feel most comfortable with your OB or midwife see them and discuss this.

The best treatments for depression always include counseling even if medications are used. So if your provider prescribes something make sure you set up counseling as well- the purpose of the medication is to help you until through counseling you are able to feel better.

By the way I am an RN studying to be a nurse-midwife and I just happened to have a lecture on Postpartum depression today so this info is all very current. Good luck!

Hi K.. I had some anxiety in the beginning, and I got really depressed when my son was over a year old. I am a full-time stay at home mom and had little to no outlet.

I too was surprised and thought it was have happened near the beginning, but that wasn't the case. I did start taking some anti-depressants for four months. It did help me get through the rough patch. I felt like I could deal with my "stuff" better at that time. I still have my days, but overall, it's become much easier and less overwhelming.Hope this helps.

When I was 9 mo post pardum I got anxiety issues amoung other things. It ended up I became Hypothyroid. Suggest to your Dr. to take some blood to check for your TSH. Hypothyroidism has almost the exact symptoms as depression. If your TSH is normal then you can rule that out.

Its common , your body and mind goes thru so many changes and this could be combined with your probley real tired to from being a new mom and all the work

How is your sleep? After an extended period of poor sleeping, your brain can start to get foggy and it can lead to depression. After hitting the end of my rope, a nurse gave me a sleep aid and after a few days, I started to feel human again. I'm not an addictive type person, though, so this may not work for someone who gets hooked on stuff. (You also have to have someone in the house who's willing to get up with the little one while you sleep.)

I would talk to a health care provider as soon as you are able or maybe check out some books about mommyhood from bookstore/library. My chilren are 19 months and I still have bout's here and there... motherhood is really hard!

Yes it can happen. Usually a deep underlying reason why you have this. It could be a number of reasons. Get some help if you need it before it goes out of hand. Couseling w/out drugs is great. Being a dr myself, I went through it and my dr. immediately whipped out drugs(antidepressants) no no- do do it. I did and gained 30 lbs. Instead, work out, exercise, eat good/healthy- do things to improve mental health, read on it, educate yourself, do yoga. Now, I do not take drugs, exercise, eat right etc. Lost the weight too. I got some counseling and most impt of all try to figure out why? and combat it w/ natural remedies. Baby blues r a natural part of the process....

Talk to your family doctor about Post Partum Depression, which can occur for up to 5 years after the birth. Doctors often prescribe Zoloft at 50mg a day. This is a fairly low dose and safe, but you want to make sure you're done breastfeeding before taking (which at this point I would assume you are). I took Zoloft for about 8 months and it helped dramatically. Do not feel embarrassed about taking meds. A woman's body goes through dramatic chemical changes when pregnant, and you deserve to be at your best. Once your body adjusts to after-birth life again, you will find the drug inactive or you don't really need it and can wean yourself off fairly quickly.

-S.

Hey K....My name is Christina. I have 2 kids ages 2 and 4. Ever since I had my 4 year old i felt depressed. Well I finally went about 6 months ago and got on Zoloft. Its wonderful. My depression lasted for almost 4 years! So I know where you are coming from. Talk to your doctor and just ask for some help with it.

Get out! Get out! Get out!
Wether you get involved with some toddler group once a week or go out of the house by yourself once a week. I found that, especially during the winter in Chicago, I was coped up in the house all the time. They have some wonderful, and inexpensive programs, at the chicago park district. My son really seems to enjoy them. And it lets you meet moms with kids around the same age right in your own neighborhood.
Plus it helps to get out without the husband and baby, so you can feel like a real person again.
I would just suggest before getting on any medication, trying to take some St. John's Wort. It's a natural herbal medicine that you can pick up at any Target. It kind of helps to get th hormones back on track.

Hi K. - my PPD started when my son was 7 months old, and I too was surprised that it hit so late, since the first 6 months post partum were complete bliss (for the most part). Like you, I was anxious....so anxious that I could NOT sleep, even tho I was dog-tired. And I couldn't eat either. The depression that accompanied it was almost overbearing, and all I did was cry. I finally sucked it up and called my OB, who saw me immediately. I got on Zoloft, and after only 6 days on the stuff, I started to feel the anxiety and depression back off a bit. And it only got better from there.

I am so glad I made the call and got help. I ended up staying on Zoloft for 1 year. Honestly, that stuff saved my life. Also, I was a person who had never been depressed my entire life. I thought I was exempt from all of that. Boy was I wrong!

I hope you at least call your OB to explain your symptoms. You don't need to feel the way you currently do. Get help so that you can be the best mommy ever to your son.

(((hugs)))
D.

Did you recently stop nursing? The change in hormones can do this. Check with your doc about how you are feeling.

Hello. I was diagnosed with post pardum depression when my son was 9 months old, so yes it is very possible. Contact your doctor, let him know what's going on and be completly honest about how you are feeling. With the doctors help I was all better and back to myself within a few months. I hope this helps you and I hope you start feeling better.

Hi,
I know what u mean i kind of went though the same. However im not sure when it went away but i never got treated and should have. All i did was turn to a good friend and talk out what i was feeling at the moment & pray every night. Take care u might want to look into sum mommy groups there out there at the time i had no idea & was scared.
J.