i kicked PPD's ass - a success story

*speedracer* · July 2010

When I was in treatment for PPD with my first son, I liked to hear stories of women who had made it through and gone on to have another baby despite their prior experiences. So here is mine:

With him, I had PPA/OCD tendencies, couldn't sleep, resented my son, had thoughts of giving him away; we just didn't bond and i didn't really like him. I was on meds for 1 year, saw a therapist, a psychiatrist and went to a support group. I thought I would never be able to have another baby because I couldn't fathom going through it all again.

When my son was about 1.5 years old, i started to feel like I could handle another baby, and I got pregnant a little after that, due when my 1st was about 2 and a half. I did hit a rough patch when we found out that baby had a birth defect - he is missing the lower 1/3 part of his left arm.

I expected the worst and prepared for it accordingly: talked to my husband and my OB about concerns for repeat PPD, found a new mental health practitioner that I liked and saw her before the baby came, made note of all the local support group meeting times and places, etc.

I got a script for meds (nortriptylene sp?) to help me sleep better, and it has been just what i needed. My second son is 1 month old today and i haven't had ANYTHING like i had the first time around. I know i'm not out of the woods yet and PPD can still come back, but I'm optimistic that if anything does start to go bad, I can deal with it.

In case any of you are wondering if things can get better or if we are all doomed to have repeat cases of PPD, i'm here to tell you that YES that things can get better and you can kick PPD's ass too.

((hugs)) to all the wonderful mothers on this board

jaime5121 · July 2010

Thank you thank you thank you thank you! I have been so scared for wanting another baby. Thank you for sharing your success story!

jenny1980 · July 2010

Thanks for sharing! And congrats on your darling new peanut!

tonjala · July 2010

That's wonderful and I'm so glad to hear it! I'm frightened to death to have another baby and had pretty much talked myself out of it. My first DD was born 6 weeks early after being on bedrest for 8 weeks and being in the hospital for 3 weeks and it killed me! Then I had to leave her there when I went home and she was in NICU for 3 weeks and I just don't think I could ever go through this again! But it's good to know you did it successfully!

Oh, and congrats on your new little man! He is too adorable!