can PPD strike this late?

perry7285

4 1/2 months PP, PPD hasn't really been on my radar anymore. but i don't know what's wrong with me the last few days. i feel so sad all the time. i'm really struggling with working mom angst, but i've been a working mom all along and it hasn't gotten to me this much. i have trouble sleeping, trouble concentrating, loss of appetite. hell, i've even lost interest in chocolate! i know that all of this sounds like depression. has anyone heard of PPD striking this late?

oct11bride03

Absolutely!! You can be diagnosed with PPD up to a year after giving birth.

Please talk to your OB about this. They can do a screening (you most likely had one in the hospital and again at your 6 week pp visit) and possibly recommend a psychiatrist. You might not need medication but just talking to someone can make a world of difference.

If you ever want to talk about this off the boards, PLEASE let me know! ((HUGS))

ladychicago

What oct11bride03 said.   I would 100% bring it up with your OB... give them a call and let them know.  Even if you aren't entirely sure it is PPD, it is still worth a call.  (((HUGS)))   I'm just so glad you have recognized things aren't quite right and know it is something worth asking about.   Take care of yourself, hon!

beebe929

Yes, unfortunatly.

Hit me like a ton of bricks at 6 months with both girls.

Hang in there lady!!

sliz

i know you are an academic - that likely means you are a type A super stress, perfectionist, go-go-go, work all the time person and have been for years....i think you might need to step back and breathe a little....you can't put in the same hours you did when you didn't have a lo....i know that they feed you this line in grad school about how you can have it all but realistically for most people, that is not true....i know one woman....ONE...who graduated, did a teaching post-doc and had two babies and ended up a professor all before she was 30 ---- BUT she had a husband who was older and had a real job and parents nearby who helped a lot with childcare...even she took a year off when having her first and went back to doing her phd.....and she didn't have IF to deal with....The vast majority of women I know ended up in industry, teaching or being research scientists/extended post-docs....

i was like that - a super high achiever until I was done with my post-doc and then some - dealing with IF and losing my twins put things in perspective for me about what was important in life....until a few months ago DH was crazed and finally he's settled down and realized that enjoying our family and daughter is a very important part of life....i realized for me it was okay to step back and do the family thing for a few years - I can go back to research/academia when I am ready but I will only have this one shot at having/raising my children - I might never be a "true" academic on the tenure track but knowing what we know about academia now it really is not for us and that is ok...but coming to terms with it took a while as did figuring out our priorities....but now we are at peace and I can't tell you how much better DH feels and how much happier our family life is....

talk to someone and get help - maybe even someone at school who can counsel you on balancing academic careers and family life - is there a group you can form (even just in your department) of women grad students/post-docs who are going through similar issues and form a support group?