Concerned for After Pregnancy

Have you talked to your OB about this, and do you see someone to address your anxiety? Although some people are reluctant to take medications while pregnant or breastfeeding, there is also some excellent data that show that babies of moms who are treating their anxiety and/or depression do better, because the mom is better able to bond with the baby at birth and in the weeks immediately after birth. So please, do not leave this to chance. Talk to your doctor and if he/she isn't knowledgable on this topic, look for a psychiatrist who specializes in pregnancy and in the postpartum period. If you were in Pittsburgh, I'd know exactly where to refer you. But I don't know the doctors in your state.

Good luck, and good for you for being proactive about making sure that you are healthy and at your best when your baby is born!

Support Support Support.

Sign up friends in advance to come play with your toddler, or take them out to the park or for a walk. Get your Mom or MIL to come do your laundry for a week. Plan ahead to make your meal prep as easy as possible.

Contact a lactation consultant BEFORE you have your baby - I'm sure there is one at the hospital... set up an appointment to discuss the problems you had last time, and see if you can get her ready to help you the day the baby comes, and beyond.

Provide yourself with a secure network of support, before baby comes, that will relieve some of your anxiety coming up to baby and help you after baby comes.

Good luck!

There are always challenges to having a newborn. But nothing will ever change your life like that first baby. You've been a momma for awhile now; you understand the rewards that come with it.

1. Schedule an appointment with your ob and tell him/her your concerns. You are being very mature and responsible about this; admitting it was hard the first time and looking to take steps to help yourself the second time.
2. Have an appointment with a lactation consultant ready to go for when you get home from the hospital...since you don't know what day exactly that will be, just start calling around to the ones in your area, and talk to them to find one you're comfortable with. Your child's pediatrician can probably recommend one. Just tell them what happened the first time around, and that you will be calling them for a home appointment after the baby comes home.
3. Give yourself a break. If breastfeeding doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. A happy healthy mom is far more important for your children than one who is struggling mightily to nurse when it's not working. Give it a go. If it's just not the right thing for your family and bottle feeding is, then bottle feed. Don't listen to any fanatics who think their way is the only way.
4. You are having a baby in the spring. Get outside as often as you can and enjoy your babies. Treat yourself whenever possible and before you know it they are going to grow up fast.

Hi momma-

I would be sure to discuss ALL of this with your OB - even schedule an appointment for before your next appointment. Hopefully he/she will have some suggestions for you between now and delivery...and also some suggestions for things to watch for...and what measures to take post delivery.

I would also contact la leche now so that you already have some contacts.

I wish you all the best!!
michele/cat

Hello. I just have to say that each child is different. My first wouldn't latch, due to being tongue tied. I kept tying and trying but both of us were getting frustrated. With my second he latched on like a pro, we were good for the first month, then we found out he was lactose intolerant. What ever happens don't beat yourself up over it. Good luck to you and congrats!

I agree with Diane C.

First of all, the fact that you are catching yourself feeling anxious is a HUGE help. Contact your OB/GYN ASAP and see what she says. Also, ask for a referral to a therapist. It will help so much to start talking through your anxiety.

Feel great and congrats on the new baby!

Congrats on the new baby!!!

Bio-Indentical progesterone was literally a life saver for me. We put me on it proactively 2 days after DD was born and I never slipped into PPD even though my dr had said that I was a major candidate for it. The PPD usually happens because of the drop of progesterone for the birth. You have such a high level while prego and it's hard to deal with the change after birth and getting adjusted to the new level.

My Midwife talked with a compound pharmacist who suggested I take 200 mg BI progesterone compounded daily. I did this until my insurance ran out and then I started using the Emerita brand BI Pro that you can pick up at a health food store and you use just 1/4 tsp a day to get the 20 mg. The compounded form is 10x higher as the GI tract takes away so much of it, where as the cream gets fully absorbed.

Feel free to PM me with any questions or read Dr. John Lee's Premenopausal book about BI Pro. Great read!

H.

When I had my first I had an unexpected c-section, had problems with breastfeeding and had a colicky baby. I was miserable. So, when I was pregnant with my second I made the decision that things would not be so bad. I planned the timing of the baby to be spring rather than winter (and was fortunate that it worked out) so that we could get outside for some fresh air. I learned some better breastfeeding techniques. And generally just let myself be more relaxed. And I was considerably happier the second time around. I simply suggest that you visualize how you want things to be and make some preparations that will help you in achieving your desired results. If that means visiting a breastfeeding clinic in advance of the baby's arrival, or prepping and freezing meals ahead of delivery, or whatever it may be that will help you feel more relaxed. For me, going into it with a plan, armed with much more knowledge than I had the first time and with a positive, hopeful attitude really made a difference.

I was totally in the same boat as you. I had some pretty amazing PPD after the birth of my son, and he had feeding difficulties as well. My second pregnancy was with twins and I was just certain with double the hormones it was going to be twice as bad after. Also, I had no idea how I was going to breastfeed twins if I had such problems with my first, a singleton.

Well, lactation first, because it plays into the second. Get in touch with a lactation consultant now. Find out how to get in touch with her after your baby is born and have her visit you in the hospital to make sure the new baby's latch is fine. Go to Babies R Us and pick up a nipple shield, just in case. If your new baby has difficulty latching onto the nipple, the shield will help you both get started on the right path. The lactation consultant will help guide you through the use of it. (It looks sort of like a cross between a sombrero and a condom. It was a Godsend to me and I would not have been able to nurse 2 of my 3 children without it.)

It is somewhat of a Catch-22 that if you are able to breastfeed, it will release calming chemicals and help with the anxiety, but if you have difficulties it simply contributes to the emotional roller coaster.

Also, for combatting PPD, get outside for fresh air and sunshine as much as you can. A little exercise can release endorphins and the Vitamin D is essential for your health and your milk. A daily dose of medicinal chocolate was also helpful to me. Not so much as to be an issue, but enough to say "I'm treating myself for a good day of mothering" and the chemicals in chocolate are also a fairly natural way to boost a mood.

As ever, having someone on speed dial you can call to vent to is important as is getting time to do things like shower and brush your hair. Even if you feel guilty for leaving your newborn in a crib so you can take a shower, think of it this way, "If Mommy ain't happy, ain't no one happy." So really, it's in baby's best interest. :-)

Good luck to you.

You really need to discuss this with you OB.....if you had to take something after your first child, you will should probably take it again after you deliver. Breastfeeding will be easier the second time around. Good Luck and Congratulations.

I had baby blues and breastfeeding issues with my first - and I know how related they can be. With my second, I prepared myself with an amazing lactation consultant. Even though I also had bf issues, she helped me work through them in a matter of 10 days and I was able to successfully nurse my son for more than a year. Just take comfort in that no two pregnancies are alike and just because you had PPD the first time doesn't guarantee you to have it after each pregnancy. That said, just prepare yourself as best you can for all outcomes. Good luck!!!

Wow I take bioidentical progesterone but didn't know you could use it for PPD. I also had PPD, and due to being rear-ended on my way to my 6 week checkup, the doctor didn't have time to tell me about the depo provera shot. It is birth control, but it is also progesterone based and is safe to take if you are breastfeeding. (it lasts for 3 months in case you are thinking about conceiving again.) It would have made such a huge difference for me at the time. Luckily I did figure it out later...
As far as the breastfeeding goes, it took me fully a month before I was truly comfortable with it, which is a pretty long time. It takes a lot of patience as I'm sure you already know. but good for you, for trying!
Good luck to you!