Normal emotional adjustment or something else?

PsyDr04

My LO was born almost 2 weeks ago. Since then, I've not been getting much sleep, don't really have too much of an appetite, and have had periods of light to heavy crying. I have a history of depression and anxiety and of course now that I'm a mom, my anxiety has increased. I don't know if what I'm experiencing emotionally is normal baby blues or something more. In general, I get much more upset and find it hard to deal with things when I'm tired (this was true before I got pregnant) and it's not like I'm crying all day long or even feeling depressed most of the day. I also feel very bonded to LO and have not had any thoughts of harming him or myself or anything like that. I am inclined to think that if I was just able to get some decent sleep, I could cope a lot better but I worry with my history of anxiety and depression that I could be more susceptible to PPD. Being a mom is definitely the hardest thing I have ever done!

swimiz500

I think much of what you described is very normal. I had talked to my doctor at my 6 week check up about some of the exact things you mentioned, and she classified them as "baby blues".  Like you, I had crying jags, no appetite, and of course, very little sleep! 

I was told that it becomes a problem when it doesn't go away.  Since you are only two weeks PP, you probably could give it a little time, especially since you are bonding well with LO.  For me, I also had a prior history of depression and anxiety, so I too was on high alert for signs of PPD.

 Eventually, after a few months, I felt like some of my anxiety was getting worse instead of better, and I could not stop crying about thoughts of something bad happening to DD, or thoughts of DD growing up and going away.  So, I called my doctor, and he increased my dosage of meds.   

Is there any way someone could help you out a bit so you could get some rest? Perhaps that would help you to determine if you are an exhausted new mom with some baby blues, or if there really is a problem.  Either way, it is worth mentioning to your doctor, especially with your history.   But baby blues can take up to two months or so to fully go away, so the key here is to look for improvement. 

Hang in there, you are doing great- it is just such an overwhelming time.  I'll be sending good thoughts your way, and  don't worry, the sleep thing gets better, I promise!

PsyDr04

Thanks, that makes me feel better. My mom is visiting and she actually took him last night after we fed and changed him and DH and I were able to get 4 straight hours of sleep, which I think has made a big difference. I do find that when I'm tired and frustrated, my mind starts racing with worries about everything - what will I do the first time he gets sick, worrying about having him in the car, etc. I'm inclined to think that this isn't PPD and hopefully it will subside as the weeks go on. Thanks for your support!