Can a mother only have post partum depression right after her baby is born?

Wendy - posted on 03/04/2012

It could e post partum, but it sounds more like your significant othet needs some help. They can be depressed too. I have two kids as well. I work at home...so i know how isolating it is. Get you sitter and go out with your friends or join a gym, or do anything so you can meet people to speak to. You need a life too with or with out him.

Katherine - posted on 02/26/2012

Meds will help tremendously. Especially at 2 months. It's an awful thing to go through. As I said I went through it too.

Lyssa - posted on 02/26/2012

you really should see your doctor and get on some meds and counseling. the chemical imbalance needs to be corrected or it will only get worse. trust me, i let that happen and eventually tried to overdose. you don't want to get to that point. do it for youself and your kids. they need you to be the best mommy you can be!

Nicole - posted on 02/26/2012

I started with ppd at 9 months post partum. My daughter was 2.5 and my son 9 months. It's hard staying home. Some days it down right sucks! My husband was working long long hours, 4am until 9pm some days. It's really hard bc he was always tired. I don't blame him. We had just moved cross country and I thought I was ok. But I missed my old life. I missed my house, my friends, my husband. Although he was there for me it's still hard. Please talk to your dr. Get some meds to help. I needed that.

Everything will be ok. I know it sounds like I'm sugar coating but everything happens for a reason.

Good luck and keep us posted on how you feel.

Katherine - posted on 01/29/2012

Brittany is dead on. And 2 months is nothing. I developed it at 6. So I had all the feelings you have. Did your doctor prescribe you something? Go to meetup.com and join some play groups. Get out of the house. Anything. All I did was stay in and I think that had a big part in it.

Lyssa - posted on 01/24/2012

@brittney-

great descriptions and advice that you found and posted! ppd and ppa are not taken seriously enough!

Lyssa - posted on 01/24/2012

you can be diagnosed with ppd and ppa up to 2 years after your baby is born. mine was diagnosed at 6 weeks and i'm still battling it. you need to go to counseling and possible get on some meds. i know a lot of women don't want to take meds, but the chemical inbalance needs to be corrected. and no, i'm not just talking out of my ass. not only have i been battling it for almost a year, i'm also a nurse. and there is a lot more to ppd then feelings or harming yourself or the baby. i would go to your pcp and ask for a referral to a psyciatrist. without the proper help it will only get worse. i wish you the best of luck!

Vanessa - posted on 01/22/2012

it sounds like he's the problem, if you are even getting dressed, keeping your house clean etc and have no negative feelings toward your baby, it seems that his actions are making you feel depressed or just plain sad and lonely, it's not easy being a SAHM and we need adult time and a break too and he needs to be a dad and future "husband" when he gets home and make his family his number one priority, not his friends, that era of partying has passed and he needs to GROW UP!!! good luck girl

Jamie - posted on 01/20/2012

Kayla it may not be PPD but it still could be depression. Go see your doctor and let them know how you are feeling. I am in a similar situation to you except my husband works full time and goes to law school part time so he's not home very much and we don't live near any family or any of our very close friends since we moved. My son is 2 1/2 and I had undiagnosed depression for almost the whole time after he was born. Never any thoughts of hurting him or myself though. I'm just very lonely as I'm often at home all day on most days because it's either too hot or too cold to go out and do anything outdoors and we don't have any real spending money to do anything too fancy. Like I said, talk to your doctor before it gets any worse. Also, find a moms group in your area online. It's a great way to meet other stay at home moms. Go to story time at your local library or bookstore. Barnes & noble has a small play area in their kids section usually. I've met a few moms there. We also were going to Gymboree for play classes which benefits all of you. The little one gets to learn to socialize with others his/her own age and you'll get to talk to lots of moms and dads as well.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 01/18/2012

Here's a great article about PPD myths:

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2012/5-damag...



It may be PPD or a relationship issue or both. The first thing I would do is talk with him. I think it's normal to feel lonely sometimes as a SAHM. I know I do and I have had to sit down with my husband and talk to him about it. I don't think men realize that our social needs can't be fulfilled by toddlers/babies.

Brittney - posted on 01/18/2012

According to BabyCenter...http://www.babycenter.com/0_postpartum-d...



Postpartum depression can begin any time during the first two months after you give birth. Symptoms may include:

Irritability or hypersensitivity

Difficulty concentrating

Anxiety and worry

Crying or tearfulness

Anger

Negative feelings such as sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, or guilt

Loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy

Difficulty sleeping (especially returning to sleep)

Fatigue or exhaustion

Changes in appetite or eating habits

Headaches, stomachaches, muscle or backaches

Some women with PPD believe they can't adequately care for their baby or may harm their baby.

What is postpartum anxiety?

If you're having recurrent feelings of intense worry or panic, you may have a postpartum anxiety disorder. Recent research has shown that about 10 percent of postpartum moms suffer from clinical anxiety.

Anxiety symptoms usually appear in the first two to three weeks after the birth of a baby, but may not reach a distressing level until several weeks later. There is some overlap between depression and anxiety, and some women have symptoms of both.

Symptoms of anxiety and panic may include:

Extreme anxiety or irritability

Restlessness and agitation

Shortness of breath

Chest pains or discomfort

Sensation of choking or smothering

Dizziness

Tingling in hands or feet

Trembling and shaking

Sweating

Faintness

Hot or cold flashes

Fear of dying, of going crazy, or of losing control

Some women with postpartum anxiety have recurrent fears about harm coming to their children, other loved ones, or themselves.

What is postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder?

If you're having recurrent disturbing or violent thoughts or images, you may have postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These thoughts arise spontaneously in the first couple of weeks after giving birth. Most commonly, they center on harming your baby somehow, such as stabbing the baby with knives or putting the baby in the oven.

OCD sufferers see danger everywhere, leading them to wash their hands until they are raw or check their door locks incessantly. Some also perform ritualistic behaviors to protect themselves from having bad thoughts. They may hide the knives or avoid the kitchen in an effort to ward off thoughts of harming the baby. Some women may avoid basic care, refusing to bathe their baby out of fear of thoughts about death by drowning. Unlike moms with postpartum psychosis (PPP) women with postpartum OCD are repulsed by these thoughts of harming their baby and know not to act on them.

Note: If you ever feel compelled to act on these thoughts, seek professional help immediately. You may have what's known as postpartum psychosis, a severe yet rare illness characterized by hallucinations, bizarre thinking, paranoia, mania, delusions, and suicidal impulses. PPP requires immediate medical intervention because of the increased risk of suicide for the mother and harm to the baby.

What causes depression after childbirth?

Experts agree there's no single cause but rather a combination of hormonal, biochemical, environmental, psychological, and genetic factors. Current research indicates that one of the strongest predictors of PPD is depression or anxiety during pregnancy.

Am I at risk for PPD?

Some women are more likely than others to get PPD. The strongest predictors of postpartum depression are:

bouts of intense anxiety or depression while you were pregnant, particularly in the third trimester

prior history of depression or anxiety

family history of depression or anxiety

marital difficulties

stressful life events such as financial problems or the loss of a job

childcare stress

inadequate social support

having to care for a child with a difficult temperament

low self-esteem

Other less predictive risk factors include:

unplanned or unwanted pregnancy

being single

lower socioeconomic status

postpartum blues

Remember that these risk factors don't actually cause PPD. Many women with a number of them never experience clinical depression, anxiety, or OCD. Others with just one risk factor, or even none, end up with a full-blown clinical condition.

What can I do to cope?

In addition to getting expert help, here are some ways to take care of yourself when you're dealing with postpartum depression, anxiety, or OCD:



Be good to yourself. Make sure your own basic needs are met: Try to sleep and eat well, and try not to feel guilty about the way you feel now. Just because you have PPD doesn't mean you are a bad mother or don't love your child. Once you feel better, these feelings will diminish.

Don't expect so much of yourself. If you have clinical depression, anxiety, or OCD, it is enough just to get out of bed and face the day. Focus on taking good care of yourself. If you can do this each day, you'll be doing well.



Ask for support. Part of being a good mother is knowing when to ask for help – so don't be afraid to ask for it during this difficult time. Help comes in many forms, ranging from friends who cook meals and fold your laundry to therapy. You need support from others so you can get better.



Share your feelings. Tell someone you trust about how you feel. Call a sympathetic friend. Join a mothers' group for support, or chat with moms about postpartum depression in the BabyCenter Community. You may be surprised at how many women are experiencing similar feelings. If you have a supportive partner, make sure he knows what's going on and how he can help.



Don't neglect your "outside." Taking care of your physical self can sometimes help you feel better inside. Have your partner or a friend watch your baby so you can take a relaxing shower. Put on makeup if you usually wear it. Go on a shopping trip just for yourself and buy something new for your post-birth wardrobe. Wear a favorite outfit on especially difficult days to give yourself a boost.



Get some rest. The rigors of caring for a newborn 24/7 can leave you exhausted. Unfortunately, moms with postpartum clinical conditions often can't sleep when they want to. But it's still important to give yourself rest breaks, even if you just read a magazine or watch TV. Ask a relative or friend to watch your baby for an hour or so each day. If no one's available, consider hiring a postpartum doula or a sitter experienced with newborns.



Venture outdoors. Put your baby in a stroller and take a walk around the block, or meet a friend at a nearby café. The fresh air, sunshine, and conversation will do you and your baby a world of good. If even a brief excursion is too much for you right now, then just go outside, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and sit in the sunshine for a few minutes. It will help.



Slow down. Your baby's arrival is a good reason to take it easy. Resist the temptation to do the laundry while your baby sleeps, and let the rest of your chores wait. Have food delivered, or ask your partner to get takeout on the way home. Turn off the ringer on the phone when you're trying to get the baby to sleep or when you're finally sitting down for a much-needed break. If you're on maternity leave, banish all thoughts of the work awaiting you at the office. Don't worry – you'll get back on track soon enough.