Look after yourselves and each other!

Doing a bit of reading and came across this article:

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/...ourcetype=HWCIT

Basically the research group looked at depression in mums of singletons vs multiples at 9months after the birth. Moderate to severe symptoms were found in 19% of multiple mums vs only 16% of mums with singletons (still a staggeringly high percentage don't you think!). So look after yourselves and your forum buddies, chances are 1 in 5 of us will have moderate to severe PPD. The extra stresses of more than one bub at once are not to be underestimated!

:hug:

 

Thanks for the post! Good information. I was actually surprised to have some pre-partum depression this time, as I didn't have either with my daughter two years ago. Perhaps it has to do with a lot of the extra hormones we have going around. Anyway,
Thanks for sharing.

Molly
33 weeks 1day

 

Thanks for the post! Good info..

My theory is that these moms aren't getting the support they need from husbands and family. I've seen several posts on here where moms are freaking out b/c they are towards the end and dh's are fiddle farting around or taking on new endeavors. So add two babies instead of one and then that might explain the higher rates.

I'm hiring a post partum doula ... just hope it will be enough when dh goes back to work! ha!

Those of you with mothers that come to stay are soooooo lucky!!!!

 

Thanks for sharing that article!! It is always good to be aware! :thanks:

 

QUOTE(carrieco @ Jun 17 2009, 03:38 AM) [snapback]1357663[/snapback]
My theory is that these moms aren't getting the support they need from husbands and family.


I completely disagree. We had help staying at our house, for the first 6 weeks of our babies lives and my DH got up with us for every night waking. I was an emotional wreck. Heck, I cried because the dogs didnt have food & water, and because my mom slaved in the kitchen making dinner one night and I hated it and didnt know how to tell her LOL -- we had tons of help, I was just emotional. Zoloft definitely helped get me back together

 

QUOTE(carrieco @ Jun 17 2009, 07:38 AM) [snapback]1357663[/snapback]
My theory is that these moms aren't getting the support they need from husbands and family.


I couldnt disagree more with your statement. I had a DH who was home with me the entire time the boys were in the NICU and for the first few weeks after bringing them home and I had PPD. It is a chemical imbalance in your brain, not a "how much help your arent getting issue."

 

Good looking out! Yes I agree with you..being informed can help out alot.(In my opinion) because when some of us understand what is going on we can take the nessasary precautions to either deal with or control the depression whether that be through post-pardum doula,medication..etc. As far as what triggers post-pardum depression...let me say again..(In my opinion/my theory/and based on articles & research that I have came across) you would be suprised at what can trigger PPD it can be what some may see as the simpliest to maybe something major. Although there are some "who may not have support from husbands & family" for some this may trigger PPD but not for all. Chemical imbalances can trigger this..and what I have actually recalled reading is that because of the extra hormones that a twin mom has and not just a twin mom but pregnant women period..well after she has her babies ..coming from such high activity of hormones & blood volumes to actually getting back down to and normalizing can be..(not for all) a cause of PPD. In comparision...19% (for moms of twins) compared to 16% (of that of single moms) is not so bad. One would think that it would be 32% v/s 16% (double for moms with 2 babies instead of 1). Also I remember reading something that said some mothers feel a sense of unpreparedness..(they was not prepared for 1 let alone 2 babies or it may have caused a major change in their life) and this can trigger PPD or the baby blues...let me continue to say (for some) not all. I think that I totally agree with PP it all depends on the individual and how much one can take or how they handle things..in a nut shell..(chemical imbalances or balancing). But thank goodness for information and knowledge such as OP acknowledged...because when one is informed they can use such valuable information to take the nessasary precautions to get a handle on the problem if need be.

 

Thanks for posting this! It's definitely important to realize if you are feeling this way and to get the help (whatever kind) you need right away!

I know the second day after I had my last singleton DH showed up early in the morning to come visit at the hospital and I was in tears, I can't even remember...something about them coming in and checking things and then my breakfast being cold because of it. LOL! Thankfully by the time I was out of the hospital my moods were more normal but that may not always be the case.

 

QUOTE(carrieco @ Jun 17 2009, 07:38 AM) [snapback]1357663[/snapback]
My theory is that these moms aren't getting the support they need from husbands and family.


I completely disagree.

PPD is caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain. It has nothing to do with the amount of help you are getting or your ability as a mother. What you stated is part of the reason that a lot of women do not get help. They feel as if they should be able fix it themselves, and that is just not possible.


To the OP, THANK YOU for posting that! I am all for spreading the word on depression! It's a very treatable condition and there is no reason to suffer!