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Post by Bookwormprincess on Jul 14, 2009 13:47:18 GMT
I mentioned in another post that I am about to write an Advanced Directive with my care team about how I would want to be treated if I get PP again since I am now trying for baby no. 2 as of this month.
I just wondered if any of you other ladies who had PP could give me your thoughts on the best way to treat PP at it's onset given the hindsight you now have from your own treatments.
I went to a psychiatric hospital for 3 weeks and it was just a nightmare, and I really don't want to have to go there again. Once the pyschosis was over I stayed with my parents for a month with my husband and baby in a sort of "do-it-yourself" MBU which worked really well. I am wondering if my parents would be prepared to do that again but this time from the start rather than me going to hospital first.
However, my family might like me to consider a MBU. The nearest one to us is 1 1/2 hours away, so I would be far away from family if I were to go there, which I don't think would help. Can anyone tell me what it is like in a MBU? Do you look after the baby even when you are pyschotic? I was so out of it for 2 weeks initially I wouldn't have been able to do any baby care, so if that were the case again would the nurses look after the baby? What would it be like if my toddler were to visit me in an MBU?
All these questions may be mute if I don't get PP again, but I think it is a good idea fo my care team to make me think about the possibility and it's great to know I have a say in how I am to be treated, since it was so traumatic how I ended up in hospital the first time round. At least I can minimize any trauma for me and my family if we recognise the signs early and get treatment fast.
Any thoughts would be appreciated, especially if you have gone onto have another baby and can share what happened the second time round, if you got PP again or not.
Thanks.
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Post by HintOfSunshine on Jul 15, 2009 7:48:28 GMT
Hi BWP,
I don't have experience of MBUs but do think they sound great. I was treated in a private room in the labour ward at hospital for 2 weeks then treated at home. I was visited daily by the crisis team for quite a while & well looked after (they bought me my meds daily etc). This way of treating it was ideal for me but I guess it depends on how long the psychosis lasts for (mine was also 2 weeks).
In hindsight I definitely would have an epidural or csection, without a doubt. Also, I wouldn't breastfeed at all. I was pressured into this as they thought it would increase the bond but this was rubbish, it just added greatly to the pain/stress and did the opposite.
The first night after the birth I would request that baby was looked after totally by nurses so I could get a good nights sleep to recover properly (for me sleep deprevation was a major contributer!). After that I would have my mum stay over for a couple of days so I could get further sleep.
Also, I'd seek support from other suffers (ie. this forum, FB, groups) right from the start. When I was ill I just couldn't speak to anyone (online or in person) as I was so out of it, when in fact I was desperate to speak to someone else who had PP and felt so alone.
I think 2nd time around my expectations would be more realistic and I wouldn't be so hard on myself - I'd forget about being Supermum, would stay well away from all the baby books and relax more!
It's such a good idea to be well prepared in advance. You're very brave, good luck with it all!
Axx
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Post by Bookwormprincess on Jul 15, 2009 13:05:40 GMT
Thanks Andrea. I want to be as prepared as possible.
It sounds like you were treated really well with your PP. I wish mine had been like that. Rushing to A&E and then going to a pyschiatric wards was so traumatic.
It's interesting that you would have the nurses look after baby for the first night. I might consider that, although I was planning to breastfeed the collostrum as I did this for my son before we bottle fed and was pleased he got all the anti-bodies etc. I only breastfed for 2 days but I did find the way the midwives forced breastfeeding quite difficult though and I felt like such a failure when it didn't come easily and I had to give it up. But I'm under no illusion that I'd be able to do any more that a day or two next time because of sleep deprivation being a major trigger for PP.
My husband and I are going to talk to my parents tonight and ask them if they would care for me in their home if I got PP again, with my husband and children visiting daily. If they are not sure, especially while I am psyhotic, I will ask to vist the MBU while I am pregnant so I know what to expect, but I would really rather not be anywhere but with family.
You're right about getting support from other PP sufferers. If it happened again I would come on here. But last time I was so scared of horror stories about PP that my family had come across that I didn't dare come online. Although like you I was so out of it at first I don't know at what stage I'd be ready to converse with others. It took me 16 months to start reading up about PP and reaching out to others! I'm so glad I did though. It had really helped me 'normalise' the illness and not feel so alone with this crazy thing that happened to me.
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vicky
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Post by vicky on Jul 18, 2009 19:37:33 GMT
Hi, i suffered PP three years ago with my daughter and am also unsure about having another baby and how to pan for everythign etc. my psychiatrist has offered me the opportunity to visit my local mother and baby unit in Birmingham and meet the team etc and have my questions answered by them to help me make an informed decision. Its a minefield isn't it but we will take them up on the offer so mgiht be worth seeing if you could do something similar.
I went into a "normal" psyche unit myself so am really interested to see a mother and baby unit and the care there.
Good luck Vickyx
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Post by Bookwormprincess on Jul 20, 2009 13:51:59 GMT
Hi Vicky,
Sorry to hear you had PP too, but glad you are better now.
My care worker has offered to take me to the nearest MBU too to have a look around so I would know what to expect. Although it is only a last resort, because we have agreed that if I get PP again I will be able to be treated at home and the care team are very supportive of that. The MBU will only be necessary if I am so ill that I can't stay at home or with my parents. But thankfully she said I won't have to go to a general pysche ward again or be separated from my baby. Although of-course my eldest won't be with me and will have to stay with my parents and only visit when I am well enough, which will be hard.
Of-course, these are only the "just in case" plans. I might not get ill again. That's what I'm praying for anyway.
Are you thinking of trying for another baby soon then?
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vicky
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Post by vicky on Jul 20, 2009 18:44:50 GMT
Hi,
Not really sure at present I have been on so much medication and have only finished them all in May this year so have been on Lithium for nearly three years. You cannot get pregnant on lithium as the foetus doesn't develop properly.
Am at the minute just enjoying feeeling so well again but I would like another baby but will probably wait another year or so to get myself in the strongest place possible. I also have to convince my husband who is a bit more reluctant to risk it all again...but I can work on him!
I honestly don't think I would get ill again as there were so many other factors going on with Lottie's birth I had glandular fever and hepatistus while pregnant so was depressed and was so sick all the time. We moved house and moved to a new area I gave up my job and started renovatin our house so I think it was all too much for me. I have had psycotherapy for the last 18 months and that has really helped me to see that my expectations of motherhood were massive and very unrealsitic so I would be much better prepared second time round and if I was ill at least we would all be prepared and liek you would have all the plans in place before hand.
Take care
V x
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Post by Bookwormprincess on Jul 20, 2009 22:00:46 GMT
Hi Vicky, What was being on Lithium like? I hated anti-pyschotics as they made me feel so numb. I couldn't get pregnant on them either as they stopped my periods and are not good for baby.
I know what you mean about enjoying feeling well again. I told myself we would wait longer, but for some reason I have become impatient! I think it's because I'd really like 3 kids and I want to have them before I am 35 which is only 4 years away.
Yes, there were many factors involved around the birth of my son too. The main one for me being physically incapacitated by birth for about a week or 2 after and also feeling traumatised by the actual process of giving birth. If I think about it, I too probably had high expectations of the birth and the days after and being a Mum, but then I think a lot of new mothers do to be honest, especially if you read baby books before hand that make everything seem easy and go to NCT classes like we did. I also had a lot of friends give birth in the months before me and I saw how wonderfully they were coping and handling their new baby, so I was devasted when I immediately felt like something was wrong and I was in so much pain physically (I have a condition called Fibromylagia that reacted really badly to chidlbirth that no one saw coming). So I am not so optimistic about not getting ill again as I do not have control over how my Fibromylagia will react (although I will discuss and consider very carefully how I should give birth next time with the midwife) but in every other way I will try to be prepared but have flexible plans so as not to be too disappointed when things don't turn out how I imagined.
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vicky
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Post by vicky on Jul 22, 2009 18:22:50 GMT
Hi Natasha, sounds like you had a really rough time too. The lithium i think did really save my life it really did have a magic affect on me and picked my mood up really quickly. Although had the mssive three stone weight gain side effect! I have felt so much better coming off it though and have defiently noticed a difference am much more like my old self. You are so right about feelign numb you don't feel the dreadful depression so mcuh perhaps but you also miss out on the other feelings like excitement, sense of humour and happiness so am really enjoying it all again. Find myself singing and dancing round the house again probably look ridiculous but its been a long time since I did that! Have found it quite hard t re learn how to sleep without the medication but am gettign used to it now. Lithium is a very controversial drug and I had some very conflicting advice on how to come off it but am so pleased that it has gone well,
I am very impatient too so we will see about more babies!
X
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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 22, 2009 21:17:02 GMT
Hi bookwormprincess
It sounds like you are doing an amazing job with your care team planning for possible relapse. Similarly to you, I was treated in my local psychiatric hospital but I think I was lucky as they were really good and encouraged me to be with baby & husband as much as possible so it was a better option for us than MBU almost 2 hours away...
If you can have a visit like Vicky suggested that sounds a brilliant idea, as you'll be able to meet the staff and really put across your preferences for treatment - I know what you mean about being so 'out of it' you wouldn't have maybe been able to care for your first...however I'd imagine your treatment would start quicker this time so you would be more in the 'real world' if you know what I mean!
Wishing you so much luck in the brave step of baby #2. Good thoughts coming your way from here in Devon!
Naomi x
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Post by Bookwormprincess on Jul 23, 2009 22:31:55 GMT
Hi Vicky, glad the lithium worked so well for you. It's horrid that you had the same numbing side-effects and the weight gain. When I came off the meds, I too found myself singing and dancing again, which I had stopped altogether while on them. I didn't even listen to music while I was ill. I know what you mean about sleep - I have to take sleeping tablets now for a few nights a week to get me to sleep. I have had a lot of imsomnia since coming off meds and it's awful. My anti-depressants, which I am still on partly for my chronic pain condition too, are supposed to be slightly sedative but don't seem to have that effect on me. Hopefully my sleep will get sorted soon, although I've never been a good sleeper if I think about it - although come morning I could sleep for hours!
Hi Naomi, thanks, yes I am trying to be as prepared as possible. I am glad you were treated well in hospital. My time there was horrible. By the time I "came to" as it were, I was so scared of the other patients that I wouldn't let my baby near the place. The staff never really spoke to me so no-one counteracted my fear and encouraged me to spend time with the baby. They should have suggested I spend a few hours at home with my son every day to help bonding perhaps, I don't know. I hated being there and was just so glad to escape. At least I was only in there 3 weeks. If I do get ill again, I really hope I can be treated at home.
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tears
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Post by tears on Aug 18, 2009 20:01:03 GMT
Hi bookworm princess,
I was a mother and baby unit for 4 months on and off(more on than off!).
I hadnt become psychotic but my depressive symptoms were very severe. The staff and set up were excellent. It was staffed by psychiatric nurses and nursery nurses. The nursery nurses were all trained nursery nurses or had worked in baby units. They pretty much play how much help youre given with your baby depending on how much you need. If youre completely unable to function they would encourage you to be involved but at the same time would be happy to do all the care. Obviously there main concernis to keep baby and us safe. I was often aware if people had just had a baby and had a history of severe illness or psychosis that they were given option of staying in the unit for the first 5 days to see how things went. Every bedroom had a cot but there was also a big nursery if the mums were too unwell to have the baby in the room at night. I really rate the care i was given in the MBU especially the care, attention and warmth that was shown towards my son. The only criticism myself and the other mums i keep in touch with have(in hindsight) is that there was very little activity for us mums during the day. There was meant to be an o.t but they never did a thing. An advance directive is a really good thing to have Tears
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tears
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Post by tears on Aug 18, 2009 20:03:39 GMT
p.s i was on lithium for 7 years and it was very effective. I didnt put that much weight on and i didnt feel numbed. Unfortunatley it hasnt helped me post-natally tears xx
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tears
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Post by tears on Aug 18, 2009 20:05:25 GMT
p.p.s it would be absolutely fine if your toddler visited you on a mbu. Theyre generally small and you have your own room to entertain them in and the staff (if anything like the one i was in) would be very welcoming.
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Post by Bookwormprincess on Aug 19, 2009 12:35:31 GMT
Thanks Tears, for your insight into a MBU. It has helped put my mind at rest a bit, especially knowing the nursery nurses are happy to take over the care of the baby when you are unable to. I saw a prominent psychiatrist in the field recently (Dr Ian Jones) and he highlighted that the nature of psychosis is that it is so changelable from one hour to the next so that if I do become ill again it may not be wise to be treated at home while I am psychotic. Which means I need to get used to the idea of going to a MBU. I'm glad that my son would be welcome there too.
If you don't mind me asking, how come you have been on lithium for 7 years, which is a long time? Are you taking it for your PNI or existing bi-polar disorder/depression? I'm glad you don't have any nasty side-effects from it, but I'm sorry it was no help post natally. Did they give you anything else for your PNI?
Thanks again for sharing your experience. Which MBU were you in? I know there are not many in the country. The nearest one to me is 1 1/2's drive away.
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tears
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Post by tears on Aug 19, 2009 20:32:47 GMT
Dear Princess, I was in the mbu at St.johns, West Lothian. I was on lithium as i had suffered a previous depressive episode that had not responded well to an antidepressant on its own. Im still on it and start mirtazapine tonight as current antidepressant not effective(this is third one im trying) I really hope you dont get pp again but honestly if my experience is anything to go by then the mbu is a good stop gap to go with baby until well. they really sensitively balanced my needs against my sons. Tears
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