UrbanBaby - DB is almost 1...I want to share somethi...

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DB is almost 1...I want to share something that I find most people don't want to talk about. I'm doing great now, and am in awe of all the joy my son has brought me, but I didn't feel that way for the first few months. I suffered from PPD and didn't realize it fully until ds was 8 wks old. I was in the "at risk" pool, having suffered from anxiety and depression at other times in my life, but felt it wouldn't happen to me bc I had such an amazing pregnancy. I was healty, felt great, traveled, and enjoyed shopping for maternity clothes. Not a hint of depression. I was hardly even nervous about delivery. But after ds was born, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm doing better now, thanks to family, medication, therapy, and hormones (finally) settling down.
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11.04.09, 04:46 PM [ Flag ]
- ^^ I felt awful about everything in the beginning, couldn't get ds to sleep more than 10 minutes out of my arms, struggled the entire time with breastfeeding. I felt like I could never raise a child and had made a terrible mistake. I felt alone. All the other new moms had huge smiles and said everything was GREAT. I couldn't understand what was wrong with me.
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  11.04.09, 04:48 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - ^^PPD is real. People don't talk about it, bc it is so hard for others to understand. It doesn't make sense. You are blessed with a child, yet you feel like garbage. Sorry this post is so long, I just want to encourage moms who are feeling like something is wrong to GET HELP. People kept telling me it would get better, and I didn't believe them, but it did. I got better, and I began enjoying my son. It's been an incredible journey so far, and I wish all of you new and expectant moms lots of luck and happiness :)
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    11.04.09, 04:50 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    - i'm happy for you that it's over and done with.
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      11.04.09, 04:54 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- People should also know that there is a condition called PPA - Post Pardum Anxiety that is just as ruthless.
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  11.04.09, 04:58 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- ok good for you. not always such a bounceback for everyone.
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  11.04.09, 05:22 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - It really wasn't such a 'bouncy' bounceback. It took time, and it was difficult. I really just want people to not feel so alone, and know that if you're not loving every minute of it, and if you don't feel like everything is always great, it doesn't make you a bad person, maybe just a person who needs some help.
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    11.04.09, 05:31 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- I'm so glad that you are feeling better and you are to be commended for putting your experience out there for someone else to benefit from. These are real feelings and it's not your fault; it's body chemistry and you did the right thing by getting help in the forms you describe. You are a bright woman to do so and your ds is fortunate to have such a caring and insightful mom.
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  11.04.09, 05:29 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - Thank you, that's nice of you to say. What I take away from this experience, is that I wish I could help other moms. Not saying everyone has PDD, but I can't believe that all these moms with the huge grins are being truthful. Instead of trying to one-up each other about how great everything is, I wish women could level with each other and discuss these very scary and difficult feelings honestly. I read Brooke Shields' book, and was so grateful to her for sharing her story. I wish more people would follow suit.
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    11.04.09, 05:39 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]