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Post by kittykatt on Mar 6, 2010 19:19:39 GMT
I would be interested in opinions on this. My troubles with depression began in early 2002 and have haunted me on and off since. Has anyone else found that they have gotten post natal depression because of a similar history or because of the birth/afterwards.
My labour was pretty straightforward as well as the birth. However, afterwards I had to have a lot of stitches and a few hours after this haemorrhaged and lost a lot of blood. After this I had to stay in hospital for three days and had a really bad stomach from the drugs for the haemorrhage as well as trying to care alone for my baby.
Once home I pretty much took on all of the care for my baby with some help through the day and alone through the night. I felt exhausted and did not sleep much but at that point was on too much of a high to worry about it. I also found that, because I was doing so much for my baby, I worried about him and the world we live in so much as I felt I was the one mainly responsible for him.
Do you think this could all start of a depression?
KittyKatt
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Post by nicola1712 on Mar 6, 2010 19:39:29 GMT
Hi kittykat
Sounds very familiar - well the depression part anyways - I had depression whilst at uni in 1999 and again in 2005 and was too scared to leave the house for six weeks each time. The first I nearly got thrown off my course and the second I lost my job through it.
When I came to having my first baby they said I was susceptable (sp?) to PND because of my past health. I kinda knew the feelings though when they arose when my DD was 11 months old and went straight to docs where they put me on meds. With my second I was monitored closely throughout the pregnancy and still am now.
Is how you are feeling anything like you felt before? Some of my symptoms were the same but others were more baby related, like you say worrying about her surviving in the world, not wanting to leave her with other people etc....
I differ a bit from you in that my births were all pretty straight forward so I don't think they contributed to my PND.
xxx
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Post by kittykatt on Mar 6, 2010 21:44:49 GMT
Hi Nicola
Thanks for your reply. It started when my baby was about eight weeks old but was very different to past depressions, very baby related, intrusive thoughts, worry about baby's safety. Then, over time, past issues that I had had in previous depressions arose and are still haunting me.
I was exactly the same as you. I was told I could be susceptible to the PNI but never quite believed I'd get it. I was under a specialist consultant but only on a maintance dose of Citalopram. I think when this illness finally goes away (I hope it does!) and if I ever have another child it will be much more closely monitored. Being more closely monitored/having experience with your first child do you think your PNI has not been as bad this time/you have been able to manage it better?
Thanks
KittyKatt
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Post by nicola1712 on Mar 7, 2010 19:28:01 GMT
It started when my baby was about eight weeks old but was very different to past depressions, very baby related, intrusive thoughts, worry about baby's safety. Then, over time, past issues that I had had in previous depressions arose and are still haunting me.
I had exactly that too! Well she was 11 months before I realised something was not right so at least you saw it earlier and got help sooner.
If you have another baby then yes they will monitor you more closely and it will be well documented on your records and stuff. I was on meds while pregnant with number 2 and monitored every month about how I was feeling etc. Once he was born I had a lot of close care in the hospital for 72 hours in case he got withdrawal symptoms and they were constantly checking how I was doing. To start with I thought they were just being overly nice but then I remembered!!
The PNI has come back again but in a different way - I don't get the thoughts or the worries about him as much cos number 1 has survived so I must be doing something right! But I am so tired and stressing about giving them both the same attention and stuff like that instead. But yes I did recognise it a lot sooner and got help - they have upped my meds for now and changed me onto a stronger one now I am not preggers - and that has made a difference.
How old is your LO now? You say you are on Citalopram, low dosage - I am on 30mg Citalopram at the mo but am going through a rough patch and think it needs upping even more some days!
xxx
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Post by kittykatt on Mar 7, 2010 19:50:21 GMT
Hi Nicola
We do sound very similar. I can imagine, if I had another baby, that that would be the new thing I worried about - giving them the same attention. I'm even like that now with my cat (who was treated like my baby before baby came along)!!!!
I was on a maintenance dose of 10 mg Citalopram while pregnant. I immediately realised within a week the familiar signs of depression (although in a different way). My consultant upped it to 20 mg and, over 4 months, I went up to 50 mg (slowly because I was breastfeeding and didn't want to give up). I'm now converted to Venlafaxine as they did not want to go any further with the Citalopram so I'm hoping this will help soon!
My baby's 7.5 months now and doing really well it's just his mammy who's a nightmare!
Hope you're okay Nicola. I know how tiring it is with one so sympathise that you must be shattered with two. Do you get much help from others?
KittyKatt. x
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Post by nicola1712 on Mar 12, 2010 21:25:07 GMT
Ah bless ya, my baby boy is 5 months now. And no you're not a nightmare, just a worrier like me it seems!
Yes I have my mum and my in laws close to me so they help out loads and each have my eldest one day a week which gives me time to do stuff, plus she goes to pre school two afternoons now which she loves (once she is there that is!).
How you been past few days?
xxx
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