naomi
Senior Member
Made it through the long recovery from PP!
Posts: 216
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Post by naomi on Jun 27, 2009 8:51:10 GMT
Hi Vicky & Andrea
Sorry to have been so inactive on the forum for nearly a year - can you believe my lovely girl is now 3 1/2! Thanks both of you for sharing your thoughts on having another child and your stories of recovery from PP.
We too have decided that for the time being we are happy as a family of 3 but haven't ruled another baby out completely. It's just knowing if/when you're ready to take such a risk again.
With love Naomi
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Post by Bookwormprincess on Jun 29, 2009 15:23:27 GMT
Hi Naomi, Thankyou for posting your story and tips for recovery. I can identify with a lot of what you have experienced. I was diagnosed with PP 5 days after my son's birth 18 months ago. I came off anti-psychotics 2 months ago and feel so much better. I am still on anti-depressants and will be for a long time but I don't mind.
As for the question about having another baby, that is very much on my mind lately. As scared as I am, I think it is worth the risk. My husband and I have always dreamed about having a large family, and I would be devasted if the PP robbed us of that and denied my son having siblings. I have been told by my care team that the chances of getting PP again are 20%, but on here others have been told higher risks so I don't know what to believe. I have posted a thread on another part of this forum about my plan to prevent it happening next time, if that's possible.
As for when to try again, I am undecided. I would like to just enjoy feeling better for a while longer without subjecting myself to the stress of trying to conceive and being pregnant (my first pregnancy was not easy). But at the same time I am accutely aware of how hard it would be for my son if I got PP again the older he gets - it would just be so much worse a second time round. Babies are oblivious but toddlers and pre-schoolers wouldn't be. And also, I am nearly 31 so it's only 4 years before I reach the age of 35 beyond which conception can be harder and pose more risks to baby (or so I've read). So I don't want to wait till my son is at school. It's a very hard decision to make.
I really resent having got PP and am jealous of all the mums around me who sailed through childbirth and motherhood; I can't help wondering Why Me? which I know is futile. I'm just praying it doesn't happen again. I would love to hear from Mum's who've had PP and gone on to have subsequent babies.
When I found out I was pregnant with my son I was so excited and over the moon, but even though I want another baby, if/when I find out I'm pregnant again I can't imagine being anything other than anxious about what will happen to me after the birth. It's so sad how PNI has robbed me of joy about getting pregnant again. I saw a comic picture of a baby sitting in a cardboard box and it made me wish that to have a baby was as easy as ordering one from Amazon!
It's funny, but because of PP I have wondered about adoption, but there is a huge part of me that wants the baby to be fully mine and my husbands - is that selfish do you think? I love the fact that my son is the spitting image of me as a baby and I'm curious to know what his siblings would look like, me or my husband.
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Post by winegirl on Jun 29, 2009 15:43:18 GMT
Hi Bookwormprincess
I dont think it is selfish at all! I actually had the same thoughts at one stage too, and yes I would adopt, however there is in my mind nothing like having a baby that you made, and that is what I would like to recreate again.
I hope you do decide to try for another, i read so many success stories of pregnancies and births after PNI and it really does give much hope xx
WG x
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Post by Bookwormprincess on Jul 1, 2009 21:48:22 GMT
Thanks WG. I really do want to have another one. I had a disturbing dream the other night though where I dreamt that I'd given birth by c-section but couldn't remember it at all, and in the days afterwards I was so so worried about becoming pyschotic again and really wasn't enjoying my newborn. It was a scary dream and played on all my fears about having another one. I still want to though. My son keeps playing with a baby doll his nanny bought him and he's so sweet with it - kissing it and rocking it, I think he'd make a great big brother one day.
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naomi
Senior Member
Made it through the long recovery from PP!
Posts: 216
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Post by naomi on Jul 5, 2009 13:47:18 GMT
Hi bookworm princess
Can so identify with your thoughts about whether or not to have another child. For the moment we are happy as a family of 3 but I haven't ruled out another baby - probably with a big age gap! For me, being able to explain to Anya what might happen and for her to be old enough not to blame a new baby would be my hopes...
Hope you find the best decision for you and yours xxx
Naomi
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Post by louloubexs on Jul 5, 2009 19:03:38 GMT
Hi, Naomi, Natasha, Vicky and Andrea
Having another child?? I have been told my pyscharist that it is also 50% chance of getting PP again. So 1 in 2. I have been told it wont be worse or easier, its just they will know what meds suit you, we all know the warning signs so it will be picked up much sooner. I also got diagnosed within the first 6 days.....!!!!! It was the scarest time and the deep depression was hell. I honestly thought I couldnt go on at times. For me I am still on Meds, and in my final stage of recovery.
I always wanted a massive family but am so scared of being pregnant again, I dont think I could have another at this point, but have not ruled it out completly!!!
I do know of one lady who had a second and she was fine no PP, but I also know someone who did have it a second time!!!
The only thing is you'll have amazing support, and be monitored all the way through....!!!!
Much Love xx
P.s Naomi can I ask how long you were on meds for and anyone else who had PP was on meds for?
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Post by Bookwormprincess on Jul 6, 2009 16:39:14 GMT
Hi ladies, My care team told me the chances of getting PP again are only 20% and that's what I read on the internet also, so perhaps it's not as bad as 1 in 2. Seems to depend on who you talk to.
I like your idea Naomi of Anya (lovely name by the way) being older so she can understand, but I don't think I want to wait that long before we have another one. I've now decided that in my mind I am going to wait another 6 months before we try for another baby, in the hopes that Ellis will be around 3 years old when baby no. 2 comes. But you can't plan these things so we'll see.
Hi Lou, I was on anti-psychotics for 16 months and felt so much better when I came off them. I am still on anti-depressants and probably will be for a long time but I don't mind as I have no side-effects. Next time round though my GP wants me to remain on anti-ds if I get pregnant again to be on the safe side and I think that it is probably wise. I hate the idea of taking drugs whil pregnant but I know the benefits outweight the risks, which are actually minimal. It seems a lot of pregnant women take anti-ds these days and the babies are fine.
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naomi
Senior Member
Made it through the long recovery from PP!
Posts: 216
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Post by naomi on Jul 7, 2009 20:28:03 GMT
Hi louloubexs
I know what you mean about it being too scary to really think about another baby! In all honesty I think we probably won't but I kinda feel I need to leave the future options open... although I am 34 this year so age might decide for me! I'm also influenced by having a 9 year gap between me and my brother which worked well for our family.
I was on olanzapine (antipsychotic) for 12 months and still on a maintenance dose of paroxetine (anti-d) which is a little trickly to get off - I get completely PMT ish and rage moods if I forget a dose, so leaving that be for a while yet!
Hey bookwormprincess - I'm so glad for you that you made a decision. Lots of my friends have number 2 and a 3 year old and the siblings have adjusted really well and love their new babies. Keeping my fingers crossed for you - and as Lou said, it's forwarned, forearmed and you will be looked after lots by your midwifery/GP team given the risks.
I think the repeat incidence risks are a big unknown, as it's more common to re-occur in women who had a manic type of PP, but also in women who have a history of manic depression (bipolar disorder)
Best of luck to all on here who've been through PP - we're a testament to the strength of a mum's tenacity!
Hugs, Naomi x
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Post by winegirl on Jul 8, 2009 19:31:46 GMT
Just wanted to wish you the best of look with it bookwormprincess.. I think you are making the right decision - best of luck in `baby making' lol x
WG xx
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Post by Bookwormprincess on Jul 11, 2009 12:45:12 GMT
Thanks WG. Funnily enough after finally starting up our sex life again I thought I might be pregnant this month and when I wasn't I was both relieved and disappointed the same time. The disappointment sort of won over as we've decided to start trying for baby no. 2, but not in an obsessive way. Instead we're just not going to use contraception and see what happens. I don't know if it's too soon as I am still extremely anxious about getting PP again, although my GP said she'd be worried if I wasn't worried!
So we'll see. Thanks for your encouragement.
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