Any Fellow Mommies with ADHD?

Updated on May 13, 2010
K.D. asks from Greenville, TX
6 answers

What a struggle! I do just fine (usually) getting everything done around the house, paying bills, taking care of my almost 3 year old, basically keeping my head above water with the day to day grind. But now that I am pregnant, the pregnancy hormones and my ADD do NOT mix. I am in over my head and feel like I am constantly playing catch up with chores! Anybody in my boat?

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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

Dr. William Sears says that most cases of ADHD and ADD are actually symptoms of NDD...Nutritional Deficit Disorder. Try paying closer attention to your diet, especially your intake of fresh, raw fruits and veggies and wild Pacific salmon. See if things don't improve for you.

I will soon be teaching some of his classes for pregnant moms called "LEAN Expectations" and for moms of kids ages 3-12 called "LEAN Essentials" (2 hour intro class) or LEAN Start (6 week class). They are all very hands-on, interactive and FUN!

Email me if you'd like some info on the class content and schedules.

Congratulations on the new baby!

M.

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L.I.

answers from Dallas on

I'm not pregnant, but I have ADD very bad. I also have Bipolar Disorder along with it. It is such a struggle. Anybody who hasn't had it can't begin to imagine. I'm on meds for it, but it doesn't seem to help too much. The worst is trying to keep my home organized and cleaned up. Its so hard. My husband thinks I'm just being lazy. He doesn't understand the disease. I feel for you! When I was pregnant I hadn't been diagnosed yet, though I know I've had it my whole life. Why do we get so easily sidetracked?!!! For example, this is NOT what I'm supposed to be doing right now!!! :) Good luck and I feel for you - you are not alone!

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L.V.

answers from Dallas on

I can sympathize! I'm in the same boat! The house is a wreck, and I seem to frequently leave my brain somewhere else. If only I could find it again! At least it will get better. It is temporary. It's a long temporary, but it's temporary. I'm totally impressed that you manage to get most things done. I don't know what would happen around here if it wasn't for my husband. Hang in there! It'll get better!

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R.M.

answers from Portland on

Hi K.,

I am a parent coach, and I focus on the mediation free treatments for ADD/ADHD. Have you talked to your Doc about adding fish oil, (omega 3) to your diet? It helps the brain process info. Also when you eat, (if you can due to morning sickness), make sure it's protein rich, like turkey, cheese, or peanut butter.

I find notes, list, to do's help a lot. Also schedules help too. While it's not fun to have to work by a calendar, it can help when you're a busy Mama.

I wish you the best.

R. Magby

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R.J.

answers from San Diego on

ROFL... oh yeah. I wish insurance companies would pay for maids as part of a treatment plan ;)

Pregnancy was m.i.s.e.r.a.b.l.e. for me. In my (very adhd) family, most of the women also get a pregnancy side effect known as "The Suicide Hour". Wheee... so much fun. Literally sitting on a chair, gripping the seat, bawling wanting to die. Fortunately, the name turned out to be fairly accurate. Mine started around 5pm and ended around 6pm. Each and every single day. It didn't get better with practice. Then, of course, the whole adhd hyperfocus and emotional volatility lended itself soooo well to hormone mood swings. My family's favorite episode of the two mixed together was the night where my DH was on his knees, with his arms wrapped around my legs (for over an hour) SWEARING he didn't love our neighbor's dog more than me. Yup. Brilliant moment in my career. I also left him 3 or 4 times while pregnant. Sigh.

Fortunately as soon as kiddo was born I started feeling like myself again. My god... what a relief. But the house has never looked the same again. There's no way I can keep up. It's like everything is springloaded. Don't even talk to me about the office. Anything that goes in there gets eaten by monsters.

Here's part of a poem, though that my mum shared with me (passed down 4 generations in my family, I remember my great grandmother singing it to my mum at the birth of my sister, but I don't remember all the words) , that I still occasionally hum to myself... wish I remembered the whole thing:

Cobwebs, dustbunnies now please go to sleep
I'm rocking my baby and my baby won't keep

HAHA!!! JOYS of the internet.. I found 2 more versions:

1)

I hope my child looks back on today
and remembers a Mum who had time to play
There will be years for cleaning and cooking
But children grow up when we are not looking
Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
Cos babies grow fast, we learn to our sorrow
So settle down cobwebs, dust go to sleep
I'm cuddling my baby, and babies don't keep

2)
"Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth, Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep."

<3 this 2nd version is the one sung in my family

K.C.

answers from Dallas on

omg yes!!! I thought that if I had ever became pregnant (before I did lol) that I wouldn't be able to cope. My adhd is really bad....I was taking 60 mg adderall xr and it kind of touched it but not really. now i'm 30 weeks, and still so scatter brain. my dr lowered my dose of adderall, but told me for me that the benefits outweighed the risks greatly because i'm so scatter minded that i get in 'accidents' alot. it sucks. hope you can find a good way to overcome it during pregnancy (but it's hard i know...)

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