Help with Possibly Pospartum Depression

Even though you feel uncomfortable talking about this, please know that you are experiencing something that so many women have been through as well. Being a mother for the first time is really hard. More is expected of you than has ever been and there is a Hallmark sentiment attached to motherhood in our society that cannot be acheived every moment of every day. Please talk about this with your doctor. There are medications that can be prescribed that will NOT transfer to breast milk and are safe for your baby while you are breastfeeding. Although this is a very challenging time, you should do all you can to savor and enjoy it. There is a light at the end of this tunnel, and you will see in time, that your life isn't over...but only begining. I was there once too...many, many years ago. No one tells you about this side of motherhood. You're not alone and feeling this way is (unfortunately) pretty normal. Talk to your doctor, watch your diet, get out in the sunlight (even though you're beyond tired ~ it will help). Good luck to you and congratulations on your new little baby.

there are nateral pills you can take...
your baby is not doing it on pourpise, he/she dosent know better..
my son does does it when i dont give him attention,when hes sleepy,hungery,when he dosent get his way and if he cant sleep with mommy and daddy....
the best thing no matter what is not to hurt your baby...
they depend on you now all you need to do really is talk to someone you trust,take a breather ask someone to watch the baby and take a nap or something ......good luck

N.
;)
i love cj

Your baby may be reacting to the foods you are eating, so try M.D.'s suggestion. Your son could be reacting to the milk and dairy foods you eat. Also, you need to find a doctor or midwife who takes you seriously and get help. I hope you feel better soon!

Hi T.,

What a pretty name!

Been there, done that. Ugh! This is what helped me: http://thepaleodiet.com/, and walking. I became unwell after I stopped walking. I thought I was eating a healthy diet. Turns out I had problems with lots of foods, everything the above website said to avoid. I'm a believer now. Improve your diet and take your son for walks. Your son will receive improved milk and may be less colicky and fussy, and hopefully sleep better, and you too. I used to have hard time sleeping and my children would wake me frequently. As my eldest aged, he would have nightmares, night terrors, and gastrointestinal issues. Those stopped after I changed our diet.

Walking is in the news lately. It helps the brain enormously with emotions and memory.

Good luck and hugs! Hope you're feelilng better soon,
: ) M.D.

Hi there
I am so sorry to hear you are feeling this way. I sympathise - you love your baby and you feel like you should be enjoying every minute, but in fact it is very hard, especially if you are tired and the baby is fussy. Talk to your doctor. You might be depressed, and if so there is a lot that can be done to help you. I had to take antidepressants after the birth of each of my kids, and they helped me enormously. Also I had counselling with a good therapist which was also very useful. You will feel better, and this does not make you a bad mother.
Also, try to get out of the house every day, even if just to take a walk. Try joining some moms and baby groups, or go to the playground even though your baby is too small to play there yet. It is a good time to make new friends - lots of women are "in the market" for meeting other moms when they first have a baby. I made a lot of friends at mom and baby groups with my first baby, ten years ago, who are still great friends now, and who supported me hugely when I felt depressed.
Get whatever help you can - ask your husband for some help if you can, to have a little time to yourself, or pay a sitter if you can. Would some help around the house be useful? Trying to do it all can be stressful.
Do not feel guilty about anything, and remember that being a parent is a long process. Looking back, I found having a baby a hard time in my life, but now the kids are older (10 and 5) I feel I have found my feet as a mother and I enjoy them so much. the way you feel now will pass.
All the best to you

Dear T.-

God bless you for reaching out to the Mamas here! I think most moms have been to the point you describe at one time or another. The best advice I can offer is to start talking and to seek help from professionals - a doctor, a nurse, a therapist, anyone - and keep looking until you find someone you are comfortable with.

After my little man was born (our second child), I struggled needlessly. I hurt and didn't understand why. I would cry and things seemed so dark to me. It worsened when I returned to work and was home alone with the kiddies on the weekends (Daddy is home during the week so we avoid childcare costs). I couldn't handle them (or at least that's what I thought) and everything seemed to go wrong and I was miserable. I had two wonderful kids and I felt like I should have been happy and couldn't understand why. I have never been so scared/confused/upset. I love my kids but couldn't get from underneath the pain I was experiencing.

Finally Hubby recognized what I was saying and I am now seeing a therapist once a week. Things have gotten better and I learned there are/were some issues I needed to personnally address too. Once I started doing this, things got better, both with me and with my relationship with the kids. I have not had to take any pills either (which was a big concern for me too as I was still breastfeeding too).

I hope things get better for you. This is a great first step.

~C.