So yesterday I slept for a few hours in the evening before his 11 PM meal, and decided that wasn't the best idea because I then couldn't fall asleep until around 2, and of course he was up again at 3. I'm going to try and nap in the early afternoon today and see how that goes. I'm also having a pretty substantial uptick in anxiety, so I've called my psychiatrist and my therapist to see if there are medication options or anything else they can recommend to help. Did anyone else have anxiety/depression problem?

yeah. Eventually they put me on Paxil. Not sure how much it helped, 'cos by the time they gave it to me I was pretty much becoming aware of the world again. And I wasn't breastfeeding.

My problem was doctors. The doctors I had seen for months suddenly weren't my doctors anymore. And at that time I didn't have a regular doctor and I procrastinate even when I don't have a mini-me to take care of.

This was all a decade ago and so probably of little help to you now. All I've got is *hugs*

Well, I'm already on meds for anxiety & depression. The doctor did tell me that I could slightly up the dosage of the anxiety meds, so we'll see if that helps.

Thanks for the hugs

quote:

Originally posted by His Noodle Girl:
I can't even give you advice for the first two months because, I swear, my brain is blocking me from going there, it was that bad.

I feel that way about more or less the whole of the first year. I think the mental blocking thing is a biological survival thing, otherwise women would never want more than one baby!

quote:

Originally posted by TheatreGeek:
Did anyone else have anxiety/depression problem?

I think anxiety/depression problems are a very reasonable response for mothers of newborns, who come straight out of a physically-demanding hospital stay and then are continually forcibly sleep-deprived, while at the same time being faced with possibly the biggest responsibility of any adult's life. Anything that your doctor can help you with on that front is a good thing.

*big hugs*

I have post-partum depression/anxiety that wasn't actually diagnosed until Henry was about 4 months old because I just chalked it up to hormones/exhaustion and kept putting off finally seeking help. I kept obsessing over what went wrong with the induction to lead to my c-section and my inability to breastfeed. I would have intrusive thoughts of self-harm that came out of nowhere. I also experienced physical symptoms of anxiety, usually toward the end of the day when Henry was the fussiest--a tightening pressure that started in my gut and radiated out. This especially happened when I was particularly sleep-deprived. I finally decided to seek help after I realized that I had a pap smear clappointment scheduled with my OB/GYN and the thought of having to meet with him filled me with dread after he shrugged off my concerns about my birth experience at my 6 week postpartem exam. So I found a new women's health practice that is midwife centered and when I went for my exam, the CNM told me that everything I was telling her pointed to PPD. She referred me to a counselor and a support group. She said if after 6 weeks I still wasn't feeling better or if I was feeling worse to get back in touch and we'd discuss possible medications.

I never actually met with a counselor (too many issues with insurance coverage...insert gripe about US Health Care System here), but meeting with the support group has done wonders, and the one thing I would recommend to every mama, PPD or no, is to set aside at least one hour a day (as soon as you are able to detach your behbeh from the nipple) to leave the house and do something by yourself. Part of the depression and anxiety is due to the loss of identity one can experience as you adjust to having a human being entirely dependent on you. If I knew I had that magic Me hour waiting for me at the end of the tunnel, I could grit my teeth and fight through that sense of being overwhelmed and focus on what needed to be done.

Speaking of what needs to be done, I have an 8 month old who is currently in the screeching phase, so I had best end this post before I rupture an eardrum.

Wow. I supposed I tried not to think about having much of a life myself for a first few years. Just being able to watch a whole film in one go became a major milestone. But you do get it back. I suppose I just decided to go with the flow and be there for them all the time. And give up what I wanted to do. I don't know how I coped. I just did. Day by day. But yes, you forget. Good luck and hugs to you all starting out on your new lives. Huge hugs.

And now that I finally got my life back I want to stop time and not habe them grow any further. I now dread the time when htey will not crawl into my bed anymore in the middle of the night when cuddling mommy will become icky and stupid boys enter the scene.
I wish I could turn back time to the ages two to four. They are best!

Hey Amy, I'm having postpartum depression, too, and after being referred to the same person by my pediatrician, lactation consultant, and doctor (after bursting into tears at every single one of them for no reason... or, uh, "no reason" aside from boob pain and PPD) I finally met with her two days ago, and she really did help. She does consultations by phone, so if you want her number, just let me know and I'll text it to you. There were insurance issues like Alaura said, so I'm not sure how many sessions I'll end up having in the long run, but even just having the first one helped. One of the things she suggested was scheduling time for yourself - Alaura has a great point here:

quote:

Originally posted by Alaura:
(edit)
the one thing I would recommend to every mama, PPD or no, is to set aside at least one hour a day (as soon as you are able to detach your behbeh from the nipple) to leave the house and do something by yourself. Part of the depression and anxiety is due to the loss of identity one can experience as you adjust to having a human being entirely dependent on you. If I knew I had that magic Me hour waiting for me at the end of the tunnel, I could grit my teeth and fight through that sense of being overwhelmed and focus on what needed to be done.

She suggested scheduling you-time, and even if it's not every day (I'm looking for two hours a day, twice a week right now), it's something. She also suggested splitting the night into 5-hour shifts with my husband (so that we can each get a full REM cycle in during the night, which protects your serotonin levels). I've got a breast pump, and Chris is able to feed Millie with a supplemental feeding system to keep her from having (more/worse) problems with her latch. Until you get Sir Geoffrey onto the bottle or another milk delivery system, that might not be possible - but sleep is very important, so don't hesitate once it is possible.

She told me to eat some protein once every three hours, even if it's just a bite, to keep my blood sugar from spiking. I'm not doing as well with that as I'd like. (insert pause to get ham from the fridge). Also, to take fish oil. And also, to focus on things you're proud of - to try to avoid negative self-talk. I'm proud my daughter is thriving, and that I've asked for help - I hate asking for help, so it was difficult.

I only talked with her yesterday, so I can't tell you how well all of these things will work in the long run, but I feel a little better today than I did yesterday. So that's good!

Guys! Guys! The Moby Carrier is awesome! It doesn't put too much stress on the baby's lower back/butt when carrying them.

And, if you put it on without a shirt, you look just like Zed!

You have to change your name to Big Sack! now!

So, Ashley is just over 5 months now, and still being far too happy and chirpy

he is so utterly gorgeous. look t those EYES!

What a lovely lovely boy!

*huggles all moms who need it*

aw! What a cutie!

A-frickin-dorable.

quote:

Originally posted by Murphy:
So, Ashley is just over 5 months now, and still being far too happy and chirpy

:: promptly melts ::

quote:

Originally posted by Ophelia's Vengeance:

quote:

Originally posted by Murphy:
So, Ashley is just over 5 months now, and still being far too happy and chirpy

:: promptly melts ::

Joins the puddle! SO cuuuuuuuuute!!!
--------------
Perusing the Moby Carrier section soon.
edit:
Good Grief- I missed the arrival of Geoffrey!
- and after reading Aluara's post, I'm reminded of a flood of things to come.

My wife has cabbage on the list (when I was last home). The Honey-Do list is beyond EPIC, it's going to be a long/short month indeed.

Back to the salt mines for one more week.
Ciao for now!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Artguy C.,

Awww, I thought you might have an announcement, Mr. Artguy!

In other news, Miss Fussytimes says hello. Or actually: "Whaaaaa. Whahhhh. NaWHAAAAAHHHHH!"

Whooops- sorry Jocelyn. False alarm. We still have about 3 weeks. (Docs say 4- Mommy says 3.
Mommy is always right.)

((edit: My guess is 3.5 since I have a project due that day. ))

*Hugs to Miss Fussytimes!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Artguy C.,