Baby blues or PPD?

Re: Baby blues or PPD?

• karapalley member

  September 2015

  I am in the same boat. I try to tell myself "you were pregnant for 9 months, it will take more than 10 days for your hormones to go back to normal". Your hormones on top of being tired, plus new baby will do a number on you. I've been dealing with nerves since I've gotten home, but I can truly say that I get better every day. What works for me is just talking it out. Every day when I start feeling anxious again, I talk with my husband about fears, nerves, what's going well, things were excited about etc... The more I talk about it, the better I feel. I still have teary moments but every day is a step towards feeling more normal.
  
  Hang in there mommy! You'll feel better soon! And if you don't, ask for help, you don't have to figure it out all on your own!

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• verveine407 member

  September 2015

  I think the difference between the diagnosis is how many weeks past delivery you are. Your body is getting back to a normal amount of hormones, fluids, etc. Give yourself some time, but by all means if you feel you are losing it reach out to your support system!

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• chelseajeanene member

  September 2015

  When I brought him home 4 days post partum I held him and hysterically cried for 45 mins and was convinced he was just going to die and I couldn't get over it. I slept well that night and felt so much better by morning. Can your DH take care of the baby to an hour or two so you can get a good nap?

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• WDDCH member

  September 2015

  I dread the first week PP. There's no telling how you'll respond to the hormone changes. I've had babies without a bit of baby blues and I've had some emotional roller coasters. Looks like this time is the latter again. Horrid afterbirth pains, can't get comfortable, feel so lightheaded from lack of sleep, I'm up literally all night even if baby is asleep and feel so lonely, my feet are so swollen from retaining water, nipples feel like they've been through a meat grinder and I just feel emotionally BLAH.
  
  And at the same time she's already growing and changing SO fast so I don't want to speed through her newborn days. I know it gets better and I'll feel more myself soon. My days and nights are backward so that is helping to make me feel really "off".
  
  I've finally ventured downstairs (I've been "laying in" in my room for three days now so major cabin fever!) and I'm laying on the couch now. The change of scenery is refreshing for me and for baby. I showered after dinner too. Hoping some time with hubby helps me feel better.
  
  Sorry for the novel. Needed to get it off my chest. Baby blues is normal. Hormones at it again!

  

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• CEW225 member

  September 2015

  I've had some emotional breakdowns and anxiety since we have been home. I cry pretty much every day over something, but I was like that at the end of my pregnancy. I have had high emotions about tearing during my delivery and trying to breastfeed. I've been overly concerned about school because my long term sub had no math background, so I was having to still plan stuff. It was all I could do to get through the day without some kind of breakdown.
  
  I keep telling myself it will get better, but it doesn't help sometimes. It's just a part of the process, definitely not the most fun part though. Talking to hubby always helps get me calmed downand I have a couple of friends who had babies not long ago that I text with questions. Reach out to them if you need to!

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• nbuzard member

  September 2015

  Sounds like the blues, perfectly normal. Experiencing them myself right now . PPD is more serious, could impact your ability to care for yourself or your baby and could include thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. Be easy on yourself, you should feel better in a couple weeks. But definitely talk to your doctor if you don't.

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• jen83mn member

  September 2015

  You're not the only one! I broke down crying twice the day after I gave birth. Once was happy tears after seeing our newborn photos, then later was tears of frustration and tiredness when I realized I had no idea when I would have a chance to take a nap and was running on one hour of sleep. Baby is 2-1/2 weeks now and I have my good days and bad days (that usually correspond to how much sleep I was able to get the night before). The first week was definitely the worst! I was so sleep-deprived and baby had his nights and days mixed up so I was up most the night and just exhausted. The second week was so much better, but I did have one breakdown when I was just tired of having visitors every single day almost and wanted a break and some "me" time. Having DH home for four weeks from work has definitely helped ... I've gone on mini shopping trips to Target at least five times (since I can only be gone for an hour before he needs to feed again) and have DH take care of him so I can take a shower, do laundry, nap, etc. He also switches off watching him at night if he's wide awake so I can get some sleep. Taking a shower makes me feel human again, even if I don't get one every single day. And we've been taking a long walk with baby in the stroller every single day for the past 5 days which definitely helps to at least get out of the house! Hang in there! It's tough, but I just have to look at my little guy to remember that it's all worth it and soon we'll be missing this time!

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• Boobopgirl member

  September 2015

  PPD is also characterized by lingering awhile.  One ugly hormonal cry is normal, even if you're not normally a cryer.  I am normally someone that cries easily, so even daily crying wasn't unusual for me in the first few weeks.
  
   If it starts being like you can't take care of yourself or baby, or you're flying off the handle about every little thing.  Get help.

  

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• awells189 member

  September 2015

  So nice to see we're not alone in this. I was there crying everyday over silly things and not being able to stop. What I realized is for me, it was worse when I was extremely tired. I made it a priority to take a nap when baby does during the day and that's seemed to keep the crying at bay for the most part. Just remember, this can be perfectly normal. If it continues past a couple weeks don't be afraid to mention it to your doctor. X

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• shaunnar053 member

  September 2015

  Soo normal mama. I broke down a couple times the first week too. My little man is 4 weeks this Sunday and I can promise you, it gets soooo much easier.

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• sphillips18 member

  September 2015

  Thank you ladies! It makes me feel better to know I'm not alone in this feeling. I just want these hormones out of me already lol

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