Correlations between PMDD and PPD?

Faith7

I'm 38 and am 17 weeks pregnant with my first child.  I'm wondering whether any of you have any knowledge about PPD corresponding to PMDD.

I ask because for the past 5 or more years my regular moodiness of PMS has gradually become more serious PMDD.  I never took medication for it because I knew that it would get better if I could just make it through those awful 10 days or so.

Being pregnant has been a wonderful relief in that area.  The mood swings of pregnancy are trivial compared with the rage or deep grief I'd experience before my period.  Apparently the hormone cocktail of pregnancy agrees with me more than the PMS one.  I may get grumpy a bit here and there, but for the most part I'm calm, happy, and even-tempered.  It's so nice for a change! I'm concerned, though, about what might happen after this pregnancy. 

What is the likelihood that the after-birth hormones will mimic the effects of PMS hormones? 

My OB shrugged and said she didn't know, just have to wait and see. 

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge in this area? Or any links that may offer insight?  I'm just beginning to look into the subject and search for clues.

hopefulmom81

Yes. The book "Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts: Breaking the Cycle of Unwanted Thoughts in Motherhood", goes a bit into it how some women (me) are really sensitive to hormonal fluctuations and that definitely includes the PP period.

GL.