Anyone suffered from postpartum depression?

[Whitney]

My sister is a new mom and she is struggling with PPD. She is on depression meds but is only a week and half in. She is having some serious problems with guilt because she feels like she is not bonding with the baby. She thinks that she is a horrible mom because she has lost the overwhelming love that she had for baby in the first few days.

I can't really help her. I feel so bad. She asked me to please post on here for her. She feels like she is the only mom who has ever felt like this. She says it feels like she is just babysitting and that he is not her baby. I know that she loves him, she has no anger toward him and takes good care of him. She feels like she's all alone. Has anyone ever felt this way? She gets upset that she has missed so much of his life and that she can't go back and do it again.

She just needs to hear that there are other moms that have been through this and that it gets better and she is not alone. TIA. ETA: Baby is 2.5 weeks old.

[cream_city]

I had PPD and it responded very well to medication. Also -- she hasn't missed much time with him given that he's only a couple of weeks old! Tons of mothers struggle in those first few weeks, even if they don't have PPD. As her hormone levels even out, and the medication kicks in, and she adjusts to being a mother I think she'll feel much better.

She definitely shouldn't feel she's the only one or guilty. What she's feeling doesn't sound that out of the ordinary.

Can she get anyone to help her out? Can her partner or a family member or friend come over and watch the baby while she rests or even keep her company while she takes care of the baby so she doesn't feel isolated?

Or can she afford a couple of weeks of paid postpartum doula care, or a babysitter?

She should also get all the sleep she can. Sleep deprivation can really make things worse.

[billysmom]

She's definitely not the only one! I had it and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I don't know what the weather is like where she lives, but getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine would really help. I had DS around Thanksgiving and I think the holidays overshadowed what I was feeling. After that, I think I emotionally crashed. My breaking point was the day DH came home from work and I was holding the baby and crying on the couch. I had no clue why I was crying and I hated the way I was feeling.

I responded to medicine. Realizing that something wasn't right was a big step for me. After I started to feel better on the meds and got emotional support from friends and family, I found myself bonding with ds more.

I found that although I didn't need help with taking care of ds, the social connection with others really helped me. Having friends over to play cards, or just have a face-to-face conversation with helped me.

I hope she gets the help she needs. I'm sure that having your support will help her, too!

[RKeith]

I currently suffer from PPD and there are days that are just down right horrid. Your sister is definitely not alone. I've got twins and have had the same emotions/thoughts as her.

What the other people have said is very good advice. One thing your sister could do while she is out or whatever, is find a baby group. It's a good way to get advice and a whole lot of help in general.

[Joyto5]

I suffered from PPD for a very long time. It's good that she can talk about it. I didn't till after my first miscarriage (4th pregnancy). It's a very good sign that she's able to voice how she feels to someone!

Her hormones are balancing out and will get better over time. I would look into treatment if things don't start getting better soon. It sounds like she has lots of support so I wouldn't suggest jumping on the antidepressant route just yet. Give her some hugs from us! I get it with every baby and sometimes during pregnancy (Like now). I've learned what works for me and can minimize it through diet and supplementation.

[coexist]

Not to get too personal, but were you on any anti-depression meds anytime before you had a child in your life?

I can't speak for my wife but I can tell you what she tells me. She felt like she was going crazy and has crazy thoughts running through her head. Since she was BF, she felt that all she did all day was BF. There was no time for her to relax. The doc told us that is it due to all the harmones going up and down through her body. Seems like over time, she is getting better but it has been tough. For her, talking about it and having strong family and friend support has helped her. My MIL is in town and has really helped her along with her friends who had a baby at the same time.

So tell her to get out when she can, talk about it, surround herself in love and happiness. It will get better. Nature at work.

I tell you what....my respect seems to get more and more for women everywhere as I see what my wife has gone through from a tough pregnancy, labor and now caring for a baby. Thank you women everywhere!!! You all definitely do not get the respect that you deserve.

[nycmama]

I suffered from PPD for 5 months after my second born son. ALthough no one in my immediate family recognized the symptoms so I never got any help. I later realized down the line that is what I had. If it hadn't been for my sister my baby wouldn't have had any attention as I only used to interact with him to feed him and diaper him. I really wished that I would have noticed, but thanks God somehow I "snapped" out of it. Not sure if it was a hormonal thing or what. Also I was on depo after I had him and bled for 5 months straight.