Pregnancy and Post Partum Depression/Anxiety

I haven't posted on this board since I was pregnant. My boys are now 5 months old. Now that I have everything straightened out with the new site I plan on being a regular because I love reading all the information on here.

On another note, I just want to advise that there is life beyond pregnancy and post partum depression. I had SEVERE depression and anxiety during my first trimester and it nearly killed me and my babies. I was put on medication and began therapy which made the final days of the first trimester okay. I was also very sick during my first trimester which did not help matters. I lost ten pounds and couldn't stand the site of food. My second and third trimester were emotionally stable but physically uncomfortable as we all know. Despite the "mental prison" I was in at first I gave birth via c-section to two beautiful, healthy boys on January 9, 2007. The first few months were blissful but exhausting. I was blessed with good sleepers so I am one of the fortunate ones. Around 4.5 months I started feeling "off" again. Not able to get out of bed, not able to cope with the kids, I didn't even want to be around them. When they cried I'd feel so guilty. Luckily, I recognized the symptoms and got the support and help I needed IMMEDIATELY! I thought I was in the clear from the H*LL I experienced during pregnancy but I was wrong. The good news is, my medication was quickly changed and increased, they added a mild anxiety medication which my doc preferred I didn't take during the first try and within two weeks I am now on the road back to normalcy. I have a new psychiatrist (my original one died, can you believe it?) and I start with a new cognitive therapist in the next week or so.

Depression and anxiety are very real illnesses and can be treated in many different ways. A way that works for one may not work for another but please know there is help from so many sources. I used the information located on here and did searches on the forums to find other women that have survived. I'm hoping this message is slightly helpful for any woman suffering from this illness and please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions or just need to talk. I'm still trying to figure out the new site but I'll muddle my way through the PMs if you'd rather do that instead.

Again, I hope this information is helpful to anyone suffering from mild, moderate or severe symptoms. I've been to H*LL and back and I survived.

I'm grateful to be back on the boards and looking forward to getting to know everyone. :wavey:

 

Congratulations on the birth of your boys!
Sorry to hear you had so much to deal with in your first trimester and the past few weeks... but I'm so glad to hear you're feeling better.
Depression is so dark and debilitating– it's great that you recognized the signs and addressed it so quickly, for your sake, and the sake of your babies. You're a terrific mom!
Welcome back to the boards!

 

Thanks for posting. You are definitely not alone in how you are feeling. I have been in constant communication with my psychiatrist, who has been following me closely since delivery my twins last July. I haven't been put back on my meds since I am nursing my girls, but once they are weaned, she and I will discuss my course of therapy.

 

QUOTE(twincubs06 @ Jun 5 2007, 02:47 PM) [snapback]280174[/snapback]
Thanks for posting. You are definitely not alone in how you are feeling. I have been in constant communication with my psychiatrist, who has been following me closely since delivery my twins last July. I haven't been put back on my meds since I am nursing my girls, but once they are weaned, she and I will discuss my course of therapy.


That's fine. I'd love to help anyone I can!

 

Congratulations on the birth of your boys! And I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better.

 

This is incredible information. Each person is different and handles their depression differntly. Against my familys and friends wishes, I went on an anti-depressent when I was pregnant with the boys. I truly beleive that it saved me from suicide. I had to figure out if it was healthier for by babies to take the medication and be mentally healthy, or to not take the medication and be miserable.

 

Welcome back! Congratulations on your boys and I am glad you are okay now. I also suffered from PPD, and thank goodness recognized it fairly quickly, got on meds, and am feeling really good. Thankfully PPD isn't a taboo subject anymore and more and more people know about it/recognize the symptoms of it.

 

Congratulations! And also thank you for your post and being so honest, you definitely are not alone. I've had depression/anxiety for 10+ years and thank God a simple pill a day takes care of it. It gets 10x worse post partum and my dose is increased for a few months. I'm sorry for what you went through, twin pregnancy is hard enough without add'l problems.