New to this board COME HERE FIRST!

farrellashleigh · December 2009

I found a blog that I reference in tons of my posts, it is a lifesaver, it directed me to realize that I did have PPD, it answered my questions on symptoms, treatment options, all of the different PPD/ post birth related mood disorders (there are many, not just PPD!) Here's the first intro of this blog, and here's the website for further browsing, it is a great information post!!!
https://postpartumprogress.typepad.com/

Read on if you're unsure of what you're going through, read about all of the disorders like PPD, PPA, PPOCD, even PTSD related to traumatic childbirth....

1. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!

Welcome to the most widely-read blog in the United States on postpartum depression and other mental illnesses related to childbirth. If you've come to this page, you may be hurting, scared out of your wits, even devastated. You may be wondering what on earth has happened to you. You may be confused and miserable. You may be thinking you never should have gotten pregnant or had a baby in the first place. You may be feeling like you are defective or weak or damaged goods, that you aren't cut out to be a mother, and that you'll never get back to the person you used to be again.

I know exactly how you feel because I've been there myself. And I'm here to tell you that what you're experiencing is among a set of illnesses that quite a lot of women get, and that these illnesses are temporary and treatable. Just hang in there with me, and read on. You WILL make it through this, with help. (Oh, and if you are a family member or a clinician, there's help here for you too.)

What are Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders?

There are six main perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, one of which has likely brought you to Postpartum Progress and this page. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are temporary, treatable mental illnesses that occur to women who are pregnant or who have had a baby within the last 12 months. Women who have adopted a child, or suffered from a pregnancy loss can also suffer perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (for post-adoption depression, click here; for depression after miscarriage or stillbirth, click here). I'm going to tell you about each one, including symptoms and risk factors.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression (PPD) is actually the most common complication of childbirth, affecting up to 20% of childbearing women. Of all the scary things you may have read about in your pregnancy books or heard about in childbirth class, like pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, postpartum depression occurs more often. You are NOT alone.

The word postpartum means after birth, so PPD is depression that occurs in the period after giving birth. It can show up any time in the first 12 months after having a baby (or after having a miscarriage, a stillbirth, or an abortion, in fact). Also, it doesn't matter how many babies you've had or which baby this is in the lineup. You can get it with your first, second or more, or with all of your babies or just one.

If you think you may have postpartum depression, click here for a list of symptoms you can check.

PPD is not the baby blues. The baby blues are a normal adjustment period most moms go through after the huge physical and emotional event of giving birth. It usually goes away two weeks postpartum. Lots of new moms explain away their PPD symptoms by just assuming they've got the baby blues, but if your symptoms haven't gone away by week three, and are getting worse or at least not getting better you may have PPD.

Women at a higher risk for getting PPD include:

Single moms Teenage moms Military wives whose partners are deployed Women with unsupportive partners and unhealthy or even abusive relationships Low-income women Immigrant women Women who've recently gone through a major life event like a house move, divorce, job loss, death of close friend or family member, or went through major childhood trauma Women who had a traumatic childbirth, unexpected complications with the pregnancy or birth, trouble breastfeeding, delivered multiples and/or had babies with serious health problems or birth defects Women who've been through infertility treatments Women who are type "A" personalities or feel they have to be perfect moms Women with a history of depression or whose families have a history of depression Women with type 1, 2 or gestational diabetes Women who are more vulnerable to hormone fluctuations, for instance those with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) Postpartum Anxiety The primary symptom of postpartum anxiety is excessive worrying, usually about the baby. You may be constantly concerned with your baby's health and safety, as well as the health and safety of other loved ones. You are so worried and anxious that it is affecting your ability to eat or sleep or enjoy being a new mom. It might be harder for you to relax or accept that fairly common events like colic, breastfeeding problems or jaundice aren't a sign of something much more dangerous and deadly. You may also experience physical symptoms like diarrhea, headaches, shakiness, sleeplessness and/or nausea. And you may be having scary thoughts (see more about these under Postpartum OCD). If you think you may have postpartum anxiety, click here for a list of symptoms you can check. The risk factors for postpartum anxiety are similar to those of PPD. A personal history of any type of anxiety disorder would be a key indicator. For more on postpartum anxiety, click here and scroll down to see all of the stories. Postpartum Panic Disorder The key symptom of postpartum panic disorder is recurring panic attacks which can cause shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, chest pain, heart palpitations, muscle cramping and numbness or tingling in the hands and feet. Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder If you have PPOCD, you may be having: Obsessions, which are persistent upsetting and involuntary thoughts or mental images that are usually related to the baby. These are also called intrusive thoughts, and can be very disturbing. I call them little "what if" horror movies that play over and over in your head -- what if I did this horrible thing, what if that horrible thing happened ... Compulsions, which are activities you may be doing over and over in order to try and keep yourself occupied and reduce your fears. These can include things like constant cleaning, counting or checking (like checking if the door is locked or checking to see if the oven is turned off). Moms with PPOCD know that their intrusive thoughts or obsessions are wrong and wierd and are usually very upset by them. This is a good sign -- research shows this indicates that they are very unlikely to ever act on the thoughts. In fact, PPOCD moms will often go to great lengths to prevent bad things from happening to their babies, like having dangerous items removed from the house or avoiding being alone with them. To get more information on postpartum OCD, click here. For more on intrusive thoughts, click here. Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Yet another illness on the spectrum is Postpartum PTSD, which occurs in 1 to 6% of new moms. It is often caused by a traumatic childbirth. All you have to do to be at risk for getting postpartum PTSD is to have the perception of a traumatic childbirth -- in other words, even if your doctors and nurses feel that everything went fairly normally, if it was upsetting and scary and unexpected to you it may lead to PTSD. For some, this might come in the form of unplanned C-sections, babies born in respiratory stress who are whisked off to NICUs, surprisingly long and painful labors or the use of interventions like forceps. Another risk factor for postpartum PTSD is past sexual trauma, such as rape or sexual abuse. If you have postpartum PTSD, you may be feeling like you need to permanently fire your OB, never return to the hospital again and avoid postpartum checkups. You also may be having nightmares about your experience and have trouble connecting to your baby. For more on postpartum PTSD, click here. Postpartum Psychosis The most serious illness, affecting less than 1% of new mothers, is Postpartum Psychosis. This illness usually comes on suddenly, most often in the first 2 to 4 weeks after birth, but sometimes even before mom and baby have left the hospital. There are several key symptoms to look for, and one or all may be present: Hallucinations, where you see or hear things other can't Delusions, which often involve feeling as through you are being controlled by an outside power (sometimes involving angels or demons) Periods of confusion, memory loss and/or difficulty communicating Feeling paranoid, as though others are out to get you Feeling manic or hyperactive Difficulty sleeping or feeling like you don't need to sleep Extreme agitation The problem with postpartum psychosis is that the women who experience it usually think their thoughts make perfect sense and do not believe they are ill, which is one of the reasons this illness is so dangerous. Women with postpartum psychosis may feel that they need and want to act on their thoughts and are not upset by them. This is caused by the illness and is not their fault. That is why there is a danger that they may harm themselves or others. If you have these symptoms, or you have a loved one who is experiencing them, it is important to seek medical help immediately. Research shows that one key risk factor for postpartum psychosis is a history of type 1 or type 2 bipolar disorder. New moms with diagnosed or undiagnosed bipolar disorder, or whose family members have bipolar disorder, have the highest risk of getting postpartum psychosis. Also, if you have had a previous psychotic episode you are at greater risk. For more on postpartum psychosis, click here. Antepartum Depression & Anxiety (During Pregnancy) Women can also fall ill with PMADs during pregnancy. The symptoms of antepartum depression and anxiety are just like those of their postpartum counterparts, as are the risk factors. It's important to point out that many women who end up with antepartum depression were people who were already being treated for depression and have relapsed because either they chose or their OB/GYNs directed them to go off their antidepressant medication during the pregnancy. For more on depression and anxiety during pregnancy, click here. Treatment & Recovery As I mentioned earlier, all of these illnesses are completely treatable. You can get back to your old self, and enjoy being a mother, with help. It is important to reach out to a healthcare professional to discuss your situation and your symptoms and get an official diagnosis. Then you can work together with these people to identify the best treatment plan for you. Treatment might include therapy and/or medication, as well as things like attending support groups and getting the right nutrition and exercise. It is best not to delay reaching out for help, because research shows that both you and your baby's health (both physical and emotional) can be negatively affected over the long-term by these illnesses. If you would like to learn about organizations in your area that are dedicated to helping women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including the US, Australia, Canada and the UK, click here. If you would like to find out whether there is a postpartum depression support group in your area, including the US and Canada, click here. If you are interested in specialized treatment programs for postpartum depression and other women's mental health issues, including the US, Australia, Canada and the UK, click here. If you want to learn more about how to use Postpartum Progress to find specific information you are looking for, click here. We have all the latest research, news, training and education information for clinicians, survivor stories and much, much more. If you would like to read stories written by other women who are going through or have gone through postpartum depression and related illnesses, click here. If you would like to see pictures of women who have survived, check out the Surviving & Thriving Mothers Photo Album. If you are an obstetrician, psychiatrist, pediatrician, psychotherapist or social work, check out the Postpartum Progress Tools for Professionals page. You deserve to have your joy restored, and your baby deserves a healthy mom. Please keep reading Postpartum Progress for more information daily on what is happening in the world of PMADs. You are a Warrior Mom now.