Post Partum

I also suffered from post partum....

In my opinion...I would not let that stop me from having another one. Although it would be very difficult. After you have second baby I would request anti-depressant and anxiety medication right away!! At least for a few months and then slowly taper off of it and see how you do. If you are starting to feel not so great, get back on regular dose. I would suggest talking to your doctor. Tell him/her your concerns and they will help you.

I have suffered from depression ALL of my life...and sad to say I am only 21. My mom and dad are both bipolar and all sorts of crazy so I believe it is genetic along with effects from my childhood. Aftedr I had my son who is now 9 months (first baby :):)), it was bad!! I could barely drag myself out of bed..but I also waited about 2 months before starting an anti depressant becasue I wanted SO VERY BADLY to breast feed!! Ans I did for about two months. I don't regret breastfeeding bc I know it was so great for him, but I regret that I was so depressed with not taking medication. Currently I have my depression under control THANK GOD!! AND with NO medication!!! WHOOOO_HOOOO!!!! :) It is a great feeling.

Seriously do not let this stop you from living your life the way YOU want!! Talk to your doctor and they will know what to do!

Good luck to you!!! !:)

My OB and I were very open about the situation. I think that's key. When the symptoms showed themselves, less than two weeks after my second baby's birth, I had a much easier time emotionally getting on anti-depressants than I did the first time. I was more open about the situation all around.

Also, my hubby and I talked A LOT about what situations were especially hard with the first baby. For me, I can't stand the kitchen being dirty all the time, and, while I love cooking, I don't like cooking every meal. So we negotiated an affordable price with a maid service to come in every couple weeks and clean the kitchen and bathroom (and did a whole house clean a few days before the baby arrived) and STOCKED our freezer with food I could just grab and eat. I strongly recommend trying to address your "pet peeves" and how they will be, basically, not your problem during a post-partum period.

I refused to medicate before the baby's birth because I wasn't showing symptoms during the pregnancy, but once I did show them, the doctor was on the phone and the pills were in my hand that afternoon. Honestly, maybe her responsiveness was what helped so much. A good care provider is absolutely worth their weight in gold for mommas with PPD. Best wishes, if and when your next bundle comes along.

I have had PPD more than once, but not after every baby. The first time I had it was with my fourth baby, then again with my sixth and with my seventh, though that last time was more mild than the other two for sure.
I would NOT start pumping meds before I knew what was going to happen. If you deal with depression in normal life without the complications that post partum can add, then it might be something to look at, but otherwise I would play it by ear and see how it goes. It is very possible that you will not have PPD this time around, and for me, I'd hate to have meds pumping through my body if I didn't genuinely need them.
Since you have been through it before you know what to watch for, if I were you I would wait and see. I would assume your husband or someone who spends a lot of time around you would be willing to let you know if they feel you might be struggling just in case you are and you for some reason aren't realizing it. But for me, once it hit again it was very obvious. I remembered the downward spiral all too well and was able to get on top of it the second and third times I dealt with it.
And for what it's worth, I have a handful of friends who experienced PPD with their first and then never had it again. So just because you went through it once certainly doesn't guarantee you are going to go through it again!

I had postpartum SO bad after my second child, it lasted an entire year. I remember over and over again, the nurse and doc telling me to take this drug or take that drug. I never took anything. It was just not an option I was comfortable with. When I was pregnant again two years later, I was very worried about the same thing happening. I really researched and looked into medicating this time if needed. I again chose not to. Thankfully, I never got postpartum depression with her. Then I was pregnant for the fourth time, and again, no depression. Maybe I just lucked out but I would be immensely uncomfortable medicating a condition or symptom that isn't even there yet. It would be like taking Tylenol and not having a headache or any pain.

Look into different foods and exercise you can do to help keep you stay level. There are also LOTS of different extracts and vitamins you can take that help as well. Another option, as hard as it is to believe, is your husband. He can be a huge help in this area, so lean on him to step in when (and if) you start to have depression moments.

Good luck!

I had post partum after my first, my daughter. I knew I was depressed and had stuff going on but didn't think it was too serious. My hubby was pretty worried about me. There was also stress in other areas of my life at the time. (hubby worked long hours an hour away....)
I was worried about it after my second, my son. Before having him I talked to my hubby alot about it. I told him to be open and honest with me. If he thought I needed help to please let me know. I wanted to discuss it before the baby came because I knew I would be an emotional wreck after and if it was going on I wouldn't be too open to acknowledgeing it. I never got it with my son.
I don't know if the difference was girl boy or if it was just I knew better with my 2nd what to expect. My babies were also very different personalities. D - colicky and not good napper. S- happy and a great sleeper.
I'm expecting #3, so we will see what happens with it.
Good luck.

A couple of alternative teartment options for you:

1. placenta encapsulation www.placentabenefits.info

2. take 400 mg DHA from fish oil daily during pregnancy and take 1000 mg EPA (not more) after the baby comes. This has a far-reaching effect
in the body and brain, preventing/correcting depression and other mood
disorders. Per Kathleen Kendall-Tackett's research, this has been shown to
be as effective as antidepressants.

C. M., CBE, CLD
Westside Birth Connection

I did not experience this. Well, maybe with my fourth just a bit. Not really
post partum depression, just weepy. Could be because everyone thought
we were crazy for having four very close together. It was like, oh so there is another!!! I would think once you have experiened PPD, that the next
time around you would be very aware of it. If you started feeling sad, I would
think your doc would put you on meds immediately. Talk to your OB about it.