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Baby #2 with history of PPD

Michelle - posted on 01/30/2011 ( 2 moms have responded )

Hi all!
Have any of you gone through PPD and then got pregnant again? What kinds of things did you do to prepare for the possibility of PPD again? How was it the second time? What did you find most helpful?
I'm 22 weeks w/ baby #2 after having PPD for a year after my first daughter. I'm nervous but hopeful that knowing what I'm getting into will help me get through this second time.
Thanks, everyone! Hope you all are doing well : )

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Deirdre - posted on 05/03/2011

I have been in this boat. I had my second child 17 months ago and was so scared of having PPD again!

My second was born with some complications so I think that definitely added to my PPD the second time.

We went home from the hospital the day after he was born, then at my 3 day PP check at the women's center, is billi was very high indicating jaundice. He then was admitted back to the NICU for 3 days to be under the lights, so that was stresser #1. I couldn't sleep so that was another thing that piled on the stress. Then when we were about to be discharged from the NICU, we found out that his newborn screen came back abnormal, and a few weeks later he was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis!

After my rambling, I just want to say that I did experience PPD the second time around, but it felt different somehow. Maybe because I knew what it was and knew that medication would help me, or maybe because I knew even though it felt awful in the moment, it would pass eventually and I would feel normal again. With my first child I felt like I would never feel better and that was the scariest part for me. Best of luck to you in the coming months and I hope you don't experience PPD this time around.

Tia - posted on 03/15/2011

Michelle,
First of all, congratulations! I can definitely understand your concern. PPD is a horrible disorder. I do think that knowing the signs and having certain things in place beforehand, such a familial support, peer support, therapy, meds, will help ease the burden if you have another bout with PPD. I know some women who had it with their first but not their second. Hopefully, you will get lucky.
G-D bless you and your family. Be sure to reach out for help if you need it!