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Postpartum
As wonderful as being a parent is, the postpartum period can be full of ups and downs for new moms as well as seasoned pros. From sleepless nights to a house full of guests; from postpartum depression to those precious quiet moments with your baby, tell us what those first weeks after giving birth were like for you. |
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depression confessionI gave birth to my oldest son in July of 2000. For the first three days I was exhausted and overwhelmed, but not truly depressed. On the third day the depression hit me like a freight train! I was sad, irritable, overwhelmed and anxious- all of these, all the time!! Sometimes when Nathan was sleeping I'd put the carseat in another room and try to pretend that my life was back to the way it used to be. I thought of giving him up for adoption or running away- I wanted out so badly. I was breastfeeding and he wouldn't take a bottle, so no one else could even get up with him to give me a break. I don't know why I never told anyone. I think it was because I'd had a miscarriage before and felt guilty about these feelings. It lasted about a year until he started sleeping through the night. It came again when my daughter was born in 2004. This time I absolutely could not handle it with a now 3 1/2 yo and a newborn. I went to the doc and got on antidepressants. Within two weeks I was my old self again!! With baby #3 (born7/05) I was put on antidepressants a month before delivery and had NO PPD. What a difference it made in enjoying my newborn!! Doctors and antidepressants aren't for everyone, but there are many forms of help. My advice: If you experience this, tell someone and don't downplay it. Don't quit telling people until you find someone to help. You don't have to live like that. Find the help that's right for you! Tammy Charles Page: 1, 2, 3 | ||||||||||||||||
