Post Partum Depression Support Group

Hi Hun,

About the meds - You should check with your doctor as to whether it is okay or not. Better yet check with a lactation specialist. It probably will be though. I was told only chemo drugs go through to breast milk in sufficient quantities to cause health issues for bub. The other thing you need to remember is that your son needs a happy mom more than he needs breast milk. It's not a very PC view, but it happens to be true. I bf for 8 weeks and then quit because I had very little milk and I needed to be on meds and I wasn't happy to bf and take meds, regardless of what I was told. I'm not sorry I did so and my DD is 3 years old and fine. You need to take your meds, no matter what and it if means that you stop breast feeding, then so be it.

So your husband is actually leaving? Great timing dude! I really have no advice to give on that. My husband, much to my surprise was very supportive of me while I was ill. If you need support and he isn't prepared to give it you will need to lean on family and friends if at all possible until the meds begin to help.

I went to a mother and child unit with my daughter for 2 weeks starting when she was 4 weeks old. I found it didn't really help because their outlook on crying babies was very different to mine - They thought I should let my 4 weeks old baby cry it out, but I just couldn't do that. Then I found a day unit and they saved my life. They got Clare-bear into a routine in a way we could both live with and they got me into a PPD support group. When I say saved my life I believe that to be a literal description.

So if you can find a mother and child unit that agrees with your outlook and is prepared to help you parent in the way you want to parent then I think it is a very good idea. Either way it may give you some support and a bit more sleep, which will also help with the PPD.

The most important thing I can say is: "Take care of yourself, if not for your own sake then for your baby's sake."

Also, know that you're not alone. Many woman, including everyone on this support group have been in the same place as you are and we are all here for you if you need us.


C.

mrstobe,

This may have been suggested already but I'll give it my best shot.

See a real MD. Please tell them about your physical symptoms not just your depression.
I also think that its easy for therapists to diagnose for mental illness but therapists stink at diagnosing physical illness. Therapists think like therapists. General practioners like general practioners. Psychiatrists like psychiatrists. You may have some real physical problem like a vitamin deficiency or an infection. Therapists aren't equipped to diagnose real medical problems. You can probably find out your meds and breastfeeding from a General Practioner.

My husband had to attend therapist sessions with me. The therapist required his presence so that he could understand what I was going through and how he could help me. Your husband doesn't understand what's going on with you. He wouldn't be leaving if he did.
A little knowledge would help him a lot.


Do you have some family member who might be available to help you? An older niece or nephew? A cousin? Your mother, For that matter does your husband have some family who might be able to help with the baby and around the house? Do you get along with your mother-in-law, sister-in-law? Maybe one of them has had postnatal depression. Ask them.
They can also speak to your husband.

Do you attend a house of worship? Is there a women's group? You can ask to have some meals delivered occasionally to relieve you of some of your household responsibilities while you are recovering and allowing your medicine to work.

Friends may not be able to understand what's been going on with the postnatal depression but have you given them the chance to be friends? Bottling up your feelings is a surefire way to become even more overwhelmed and lonely. Share what's going on, you'll find out who your true friends are when you open up. True friends will stick with you. Y

The more withdrawn one becomes the more irritable, depressed one can become. The more you reach out, the more you share, the more you interact, the stronger you will be. There is nothing stronger than a cord with more than one strand. A three strand braid is stronger than one strand alone. One strand breaks.(Right now you know how strong one strand is by itself.) How strong can you make your braid? How many cords can you gather to make yours stronger? (They call it a support system/network in therapist lingo.)

thanks both of you.im happy to say that me and my husband have made up,he was just finding my depression difficult but is promising to stick by me and support me and im going to really try not to take it on him.

ive started my sertraline now so hoping i'll feel better in a few weeks.im going to try some baby groups too to get out of the house.thanks again