PPD 9 months after babies

Felicity86

I was wondering if anyone has experienced depressive symptoms 9 or more months after your multiples were born. I had no PPD despite a history of depression. My twins are now 9 months and I feel awful all the time. I'm exhausted, crying, and feel like an awful mother and wife. I knew the newborn stage would be rough, but thought that by now day to day life would be easier. They're still not STTN, and I'm really not enjoying the new new finger food and crawling milestones (which makes me feel even more terrible about myself as a mom). Anyone go through something similar? I think the change in weather isn't helping. We used to go for a lot if walks, but lately it's been too cold. I'm sorry to whine, and I'm certainly NOT considering injuring my babies or myself, but I just want to crawl under the covers and hide. Can anyone commiserate?

Missa_g

I think that indicates you should schedule yourself an appointment with your doctor and maybe a counselor. I was never officially diagnosed with PPD or PPA but I experienced a lot of the symptoms about a year ago when my boys were 6-8 months old. It was like you described, I was so caught up in sadness/anxiety I couldn't just focus and enjoy the moment. Counseling helped me tremendously! Please call your doctor, you don't have to suffer and feel this way. Sending you hugs.

Felicity86

Thanks, I am scheduling an appointment this week and definitely recognize it as some sort of depression...it just seems odd timing since I never got PPD during the early months. Thanks again.

jennybean80

PPD can show up anytime in the first year after babies arrive. Sometimes it does show up later because during the first few months we're in total survival mode and don't have the resources to break down (if that makes any sense). Glad to hear you've made an appointment for yourself. GL!

pizzo84

Yep, this definitely happened for me too.... got the worst around 7 months. I think part is due to survival mode in the first few months keeps you from noticing. Also around 7 months was when all my extra help REALLY tapered off. I think there might be a hormonal aspect as well, especially  if you are changing anything with nursing or starting birth control.

Either way, best of luck to you, and definitely seek medical advice. Good for you that you have identified that something is wrong. You might have feelings that you are an "awful mother and wife," but the fact that you see that something needs to change tells me that you are an awesome mother and wife.

xoexpat

Me too…looking back on it especially, months 8-10 were really hard for me. I think it was just an accumulation of everything.  Now that they are nearly 14 months I really feel like things are starting to "kick in" and I'm feeling so much better.  It also really helped that we went on a real vacation to stay with DH's family.  I didn't cook or clean for 2 weeks and I took naps during the day.  I feel so refreshed, I wish we had done it 6 months ago!

Rynleigh

Something else to consider is that if you have a history of depression, this might not so much be PPD as a return of your personal "normal" for hormone balances, which could result in rebound depression not related to your babies, at all. 

Try to get in and talk to someone everything is going to be OK and you are not a terrible mother just because you aren't excited about milestones  

LottaLattes

Yeah, I was feeling pretty hopeless around then. I joined a stroller strides group and started exercising which has helped a ton!

Felicity86

Thank you for all the support. I'm feeling better today, but still plan to see a doctor. Multiples are HARD!!

raraavis28

Multiples ARE hard, especially if they aren't sttn. Looking back, I felt sooo unstable at times, just because I was so freaking tired. It really wears away one's reserves and abilities to cope. I'm glad you made an appointment and hope you feel better soon! Hugs!:)

LucyRicardo3

It IS rough! That was about the point where all of the exhaustion really caught up with me. We'd been through a major move in the middle of all of that, too and I also seem to have a tad bit of Seasonal affective disorder.
 You get to the point where it's not just "there's no more gas in the tank" but your tank is actually rusted...
Hope you get the help and support you need to feel like "you" again. Don't feel like you're supposed to be Supermom!