Post Partum Depression Support Group
Postpartum depression (also postnatal depression) is a form of major depression which can affect women, and less frequently men, after childbirth. It is widely considered to be treatable. Studies report prevalence rates from 5% to 25%, but methodological differences among the studies make the actual prevalence rate unclear.
My sister gave birth to her first daughter a year ago. She concieved her baby with artificial insemination from a donor she met online and with whome she now has a respectful friendship with. She chose to be a single parent because of an overwhelming desire to fulfill her dreams of motherhood having had little success in being able to find and maintain a relationship with boyfriends /potential husbands in the past.
The birth of her baby was traumatic. The baby's position was posterior and my sister entered into the birth with rigid ideas as to what she wanted and as a result was refusing treatment and pain killers, which resulted in the birth becoming an emergency situation.
Ever since the baby was born, she has had alot of difficulty feeding and sleeping. She took the baby to a sleep school which endorsed a controlled crying method and this too became a traumatic experience for both mother and child and my sister left there having had disagreements with the staff. The nurse told my sister she had seperation anxiety from the baby.
My sister has been obsessive about parenting to the point of being preoccupied with researching attachment theories, parenting styles etc and is now seeing a psychologist because she believes we as children were emotionally neglected by our parents and all her problems now, are a result of this.
Despite the fact that our parents have been completely supportive of her decision to have a baby, mum was her birth partner and they are and have done everything they know how to help my sister, she is angry at them for not meeting her needs emotionally when we were growing up.
Finally, my sister had emotional issues (anxiety, trauma from dealing with a mentally ill sister etc) before she even became pregnant and we tried to get her to seek help then but she refused to see that she had a problem.
We consider ourselves to be a very close family, we are always there for each other and I willl be there for my sister no matter what, how can I help her? Does it sound like PND when she doesnt display typical signs of depression, but instead is angry and anxious?
I would love to hear your opinion on this:)
Nat
The birth of her baby was traumatic. The baby's position was posterior and my sister entered into the birth with rigid ideas as to what she wanted and as a result was refusing treatment and pain killers, which resulted in the birth becoming an emergency situation.
Ever since the baby was born, she has had alot of difficulty feeding and sleeping. She took the baby to a sleep school which endorsed a controlled crying method and this too became a traumatic experience for both mother and child and my sister left there having had disagreements with the staff. The nurse told my sister she had seperation anxiety from the baby.
My sister has been obsessive about parenting to the point of being preoccupied with researching attachment theories, parenting styles etc and is now seeing a psychologist because she believes we as children were emotionally neglected by our parents and all her problems now, are a result of this.
Despite the fact that our parents have been completely supportive of her decision to have a baby, mum was her birth partner and they are and have done everything they know how to help my sister, she is angry at them for not meeting her needs emotionally when we were growing up.
Finally, my sister had emotional issues (anxiety, trauma from dealing with a mentally ill sister etc) before she even became pregnant and we tried to get her to seek help then but she refused to see that she had a problem.
We consider ourselves to be a very close family, we are always there for each other and I willl be there for my sister no matter what, how can I help her? Does it sound like PND when she doesnt display typical signs of depression, but instead is angry and anxious?
I would love to hear your opinion on this:)
Nat
deleted_user
I am sooo sorry to hear your sister is suffering so terribly. I am not a medical professional but it sounds like she did (or does) have postpartum depression. Many times, anxiety is the key symptom with PPD (or PND as it is sometimes called). I had it with my second baby, and it was a very difficult experience, because I had no idea at first why I was feeling like I was. Hormonal imbalances affect women very drastically in their thinking and moods. It can occur even within the first two years of the baby's birth. Many women are prescribed antidepressants during this time and it can help them tremendously. Please keep us posted as to how she is doing, and arm yourself with as much information as you can so you can be a strong support system for her. Hugs to you.
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