Baby Blues or PPD?

taylorjeanne84 · July 2014

Hi mamas,
DS2 was born July 2nd, and I am in love with him. He's such an easy baby and he's just beautiful. My 3 year old is adjusting wonderfully, and my husband is an awesome dad (which I already knew) and a great husband. I guess my point is that I have nothing to complain about, life is great and I couldn't ask for more. I have healthy babies, a great marriage and we don't have any outside problems such as financial troubles or anything like that.

But the last week or so I have felt very weepy and blue. I cry pretty easily and I just feel generally "down." It has nothing to do with my boys or my husband, but I have all of a sudden turned into a negative Nancy. I hate the way I feel. I want this to be the happiest times in our lives and I'm putting a damper on it! I find myself crying about being so far away from my mom, about living in a small town with nothing to do (I lived in a huge city for the first 25 years of my life and miss it like crazy) and sometimes I feel like the walls are caving in!! We are having 100 degree days so I can't take the kids to the park or anything like that. It's just too hot.

My question is how do you distinguish between just normal "baby blues" and postpartum depression? I just want to be happy and enjoy these precious moments with my boys. I am hoping it's just my hormones working themselves out. Does anyone have any thoughts or experiences on how PPD starts? I am scared to death of getting it. Thanks ladies. Sorry this is probably long and disorganized...

TricksyPixie · July 2014

Scared to death? Is it because you feel like that makes you a crazy person?

Sorry. Um. I have PPD. I was diagnosed a couple days ago, and the first course of action was therapy only, but the next day, things deteriorated quickly and I had to go to the er to be evaluated and get medication. IT DOESNT MEAN YOURE CRAZY. It means that you need a little more help than others. I am normally a very level headed, calm person. Like you, my life is great- husband is awesome and a great dad, things are fine, I have lots of support, my little girl is so sweet and easy- only cries when she is hungry! Everything is lovely, but I was crying almost every day. I was having panic attacks, which rarely happen to me. The only thing bad was we had breastfeeding issues, and due to the stress, my doctor and Anna's doctor thought it would be best to switch to formula, in an attempt to get me to sleep and feel better, and I really hate bottle feeding.. Still. Anyway. There is a way to tell if you MAY have PPD and you should talk to your doctor. Let me grab you something. Hold on.

TricksyPixie · July 2014

This is the same test my nurse administered to me before calling my doctor because I scored too high. Take this, be honest as you can, and if you score a little high, I'd speak with your doctor.

https://www.babycenter.com/5_could-you-have-postpartum-depression-ppd_10351692.bc

taylorjeanne84 · July 2014

Thank you so much. I definitely don't feel like being diagnosed would make me a crazy person! In fact, if meds would make me feel normal again I would welcome it. But I do worry about starting prescription meds and not being able to get off them. It's all just new and foreign to me.

McCormic1020 · July 2014

My baby was born on the first and I like both of you cry almost daily. Not usually for very long but I definately have the blues. The breastfeeding is totally stressing me out as well! My husband travels for work so we are away from home but I have all the conveniences. I'm supplementing with organic formula that I can't find up north do I'm trying to keep up the b.f. until I get home but then I'm done. I'm hoping the crying gets better, I talked to my sister this a.m. and that made me feel much better! But I will get medication if it doesn't. My sister had to take Zoloft for awhile after her second baby. I don't think I'm crazy and I know it's mostly hormones and lack of sleep. The bottles help my little guy sleep when I'm at my wits end.

ADC1979 · July 2014

I'm a FTM and still have an inside baby, but wanted you to know you will be in my T&P! Hang in there. I do want to thank those of you who have been posting about this issue--it's a really important one, and will give those of us who will be having babies soon something to be aware of and maybe have better ideas of the help available to us.

ksspiff · July 2014

'Baby blues' should last around two weeks, according to my OB. If feelings persist beyond that, it makes you a candidate for PPD/A. Definitely call your doctor to talk about it.

With my first, I started Zoloft at 6 weeks and stayed on it for maybe 6 months before weaning off.
With this baby, we started Paxil right away and will be on it for 6 mo minimum.

All these irrational feelings suck, I'm right there with you ~hugs~

taylorjeanne84 · July 2014

Thanks so much for the support ladies. @ksspiff can you tell me your experience with Zoloft? Did it work right away? Side effects? Was it hard to get off it? Do you think Zoloft or Paxil is more effective?

brittany&dain · July 2014

DS was also born on the 2nd and once we got home from the hospital my mom stayed the first night with us and came up everyday during the first week, she lives maybe 15-20 minutes away and once she would leave I would start crying immediately I just wanted my mom. Also where I live we are having the same heat issues at DS1 wants to go swimming but I can't get in the pool with him it made me feel like a horrible mom. It gets better with time but if you are concerned talk to your doctor because if it is ppd you don want to continue feeling this way

TricksyPixie · July 2014

Ah. Also, y'all are still pretty early on. My baby is a month old now. Most baby blues clear up in a couple weeks. As far as getting on a prescription and not being able to get off, I know I will be working with my ob while this persists, and when we feel like I'm doing better, we will get me off of them.

Skeemer · July 2014

taylorjeanne84 said:

Thank you so much. I definitely don't feel like being diagnosed would make me a crazy person! In fact, if meds would make me feel normal again I would welcome it. But I do worry about starting prescription meds and not being able to get off them. It's all just new and foreign to me.

If your doctor is a quality doctor, & s/he probably is, they will provide a lot of care to ensure this doesn't happen to you. I have taken Zoloft two different times in my life & both times I was able to gently taper off of it with no harsh results. You & your doctor will decide together when it's time for that to happen for you.

ksspiff · July 2014

With the Zoloft, I felt a little better the next day. Maybe placebo effect. I had to up the dose after two weeks. That's when it started to seem very effective. I think two weeks is the standard 'kick in' time for meds? I don't remember any side effects, but that was three years ago.

Diff doctor, which is why I'm on Paxil this time. I can't speak to which is better, since the timing is so different.

taylorjeanne84 · July 2014

You all are making me feel better. I have an appointment on August 6th, so I will mention it then. If it gets worse I will call my OB.

katnipeverclean · July 2014

FWIW I had severe PPD/A with DD1 and weaning off the meds was easy and pain free. I'm still not sure if I'm baby blues-ing right now or getting PPD/A again. Giving it a few more days.

TricksyPixie · July 2014

I just got my Zoloft. Good luck to you ladies, and good on you for looking out for yourselves!

BBColt78 · July 2014

I'm glad you girls all post you experiences and get them out there for others to read and become knowledgable .

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