Need Something

PLEASE go to the doctor. I ignored my post-partum and ended up in the hospital extremely ill and off work for a month. I appreciate that you want to breast-feed because it is best for the baby, but isn't it more important that baby and 8 yr old have a healthy happy mom? Remember, there are formulas to replace breast milk but NOTHING replaces mom.

Hi S.,

I know exactly what you are going through. A girlfriend of mine experienced the same thing. She found an over-the-counter product that worked wonders for her, plus she was still able to breastfeed! Let me know if you want me to email you some info on it. I would be happy to help you in any way I can.

Love,
Nichole

Where are you living? I am starting a new group for moms with infants in Encino at Balboa Park on Thursdays at 1pm. We'll eat, chat, and walk around the lake so we can help one another stay sane. Email me if you are interested. I was real sad for a bit with Charlotte, also 3 months. I would love to talk to you about it. We girls need to stick together.

Greetings S.,

First, congratulations on your second child. I am no doctor, but it sounds like a small bout with post partum depression. Some women experience this, even if you did not experience it with your first child. I did. Your hormones are changing. Your lifesytle might be a little different from eight years ago.

I would first check with your doctor or pediatrician to see what they recommend. You may mention that you want to go all natural because of your breastfeeding. You don't always have to do what they tell you to, remember that. This is your body. Research your symptoms.

I would recommend evening primrose and drink oxygenated water. Mangosteen juice, gogi juice and noni juice will help with a little bit of everything. The most important thing to do with recovering from a pregnancy is to take care of you. Exercise, get plenty of rest(yea right with a new born) and drink a lot of pure water(liquid oxygen supplement drops). Increase your proteins, eat a lot of living foods(green leafy vegetables, green algae, if there are no alergic reactions) and get rid of eating sweets. Try to keep your intake of foods and liquids alkaline. Having an acidic body chemistry will cause all sorts of problem later on down the line as we get older. You may not feel it now, but time will tell. You are capable of reversing the damage of growing up acidic, if you start now.

I believe you are what you eat. You are doing the right thing by talking about it. Ask someone to give you a massage. When you feel it coming on, start meditating and breathing exercises. Think happy thoughts and grab a cup of soothing herb tea.

Peace to you and yours,
D.

You can check out the La Leche League. They have so many different resources for breastfeeding moms. And if your doctor knows that you're breastfeeding, they can put you on something that is safe for you, or atleast tell you for sure if you cant take anything. But the La Leche League is wonderful. When I breastfed my youngest, it was such a huge help with so many different things. Plus if you call the hospital where you delivered, they can give you a list of different support groups in town for breastfeeding and new moms.

Dear S.,

I know how important that breast feeding is, but it would save you a lot of mental anguish if you would just go to the doctor and tell him your concern. He or she might have a very good idea around taking pills. Take it easy on yourself, and give yourself a break from trying too hard. Also, call the La Leche League.

Come on now, just do it. You need help and so does your darling baby.

C. N.

I went through the same thing and the Dr.'s wanted me on medication which I refused to take while breastfeeding. I looked into natural remedies, and ended up taking St. John's wort. It really helped me. Check with your natural food provider in your area for how much and when to take it. Hope this help because I know how awful this situation can be. Good luck.

You poor thing, There are many things you can talk to your doctor about and you wouldn't be the first one to come to her/him with post pardum depression. I was on an anti depressant after my second child and I didn't have to stop breastfeeding. Breastfeeding was really important to me too. I wish you the best of luck and don't forget to take care of yourself, it is so important for both you and your family. The happier you are the happier your family will be.
-A.

Oh S., I am so sorry you are feeling this way. I just googled "PPD support groups" and there were a lot of sites for online groups and I'm sure there would be links to more local groups. Seeking help is GREAT! I'm so glad you reached out here....there is help. You could try the support groups first and then if that isn't working and you do have to go to meds, find out from your doctor if there is anything that won't effect the breastmilk. My friend had to go on something with her daughter and it did have an effect so you'll want to be careful with it. Good luck to you and please know that there is a LOT of help out there for this. Post-partem Depression is real and it sounds like that is what you are suffering from. Seek the support groups...other moms who have been there. That's the best thing you can do for you and your 2 children.

It's obvious you truly care about your baby's well being if you find breastfeeding to be so important. The most important thing you can do for your baby & your family is to take care of yourself. You are no good to anyone if you don't. That being said, there are medications that are safe to take while breastfeeding. Please see your Dr. immediately, do it for you & do it for your family.

You may need medication for depression and if you do that is Ok. it is better to take care of this then have your kids see their mom so upset. It is normal to be depressed after you have a baby and it can be delt with. the most important thing is to get help. So go see your dr. There may be medication that you can take and breast feed. Tell your dr you are breast feeding and he will work with you.

Please, please, please go talk to someone. Check with a therapist that deals with post-partum issues, or your local la leche league, or both. Look for a local Mother's Support Group. Even if you do need medication, there are medications that you can take even while continuing to breastfeed. Good luck and I wish you well.

heavy hormone changes are common at this time postpardom. you should talk to your dr. they may not put you on anything, but if you do need something, you wouldnt be on it for very long. i think it is worth mentioning to the dr.

I had HORRIBLE Postpardum. It was like all of a sudden I woke up and I was married with a baby, and I didn't know what to do, so I broke down. My doctor recommended Zoloft. It doesn't pass through the breastmilk. It worked really well. The only problem I had with it, was that it turned off my sex drive completely. I finally changed antidepressants when I stopped breast feeding. Good luck. Any other questions, and you can contact me.
Ali

Docs told me zoloft can be taken and still breastfeed.

Hi S.,
There are support groups out there for post partum depression that may help you with what you are feeling. Check with the hospital where you delivered, first. Then there is a website called meetup.com that has so many groups on there. I am a member of a terrific mommies group. You are welcome to join us on Monday for a playdate at the park at 11am. Here is the address:
Solana Highlands Park
3520 Longrun Drive
San Diego , CA 92130
Maybe some time with other mommies will help!
I think that you should call your doctor. It is important that they know what is going on. My ob/gyn stated that I should call him if I needed anything when I was going through that. Just make sure that they know how important breastfeeding is to you. They are there to help you, not hinder you.
I hope that I helped in some way. Feel free to email me directly if you need to chat somemore. Here is my email ____@____.com care,
~K.

When I stopped breastfeeding...I stopped crying. The same for several other moms I've talked to since then. It's the hormones I think. Doctor's need to be more aware that these kind of feelings can be associated with breast feeding.

I had to stop breastfeeding because I got a bad concussion and I was too dizzy to even hold my baby. I had to take medications when she was 6 weeks and I had to stop. I found out right away that my "baby blues" went away right after I stopped breastfeeding.

My daughter is now 22 months, super bright and way ahead of the curve from what I hear. Don't let guilt keep you doing something that will make the both of you miserable. It is important but so is your baby's mom's health. You're daughter needs her mom to be well. That's important to her. Just something to consider.

HI S., MY NAME IS P.. I THINK YOU NEED TO GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR. DON'T SELF DIAGNOS. BUT ITS A GOOD THINK YOU ARE NOTICING THE CHANGES. YOU PROBABLY HAVE POST PARTUM DEPRESSION. AND IT NEEDS TO BE TREATED. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT TO BREASTFEED. AND YOU CAN WITH SOME MEDICATIONS IT IS OK TO CONTINUE BREASTFEEDING.
I PERSONALLY WENT THROUGH A HORRIBLE TIME WITH POST PARTUM DEPRESSION, A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER HAVING MY SON. I TRIED TO IGNORE IT BUT THE DOCTORS SAW IT RIGHT AWAY. I WAS STILL IN THE HOSPITAL. THEY PUT MY ON ZOLOFT AND I BREASTFED UNTIL MY SON WAS ABOUT 18 MONTHS.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE, SO PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR. IT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPIER AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY.
I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND YOURS.
P.

post pardom depression is a real ailment. If you had diabetes you would go see your doctor and depression is no different and should be treated just as seriously. There are alternatives to medication, maybe a private thereapist will help. Remember that you are not alone.

If you go to the doctor be sure to them that you are breastfeeding. They can work around that. Try and relax, take some time out for yourself and regroup. Take things nice and easy being a new mom can be an emotional roll coaster.

Hang in there.

I think in order for you to take care of your children.. you need to take care of yourself! there are antidepressants that are safe to take while breastfeeding. I had to start taking them in my 8th month of pregnancy and i read about soooo many different drugs.. from what i have read zoloft seems to be the safest to take whil breastfeeding.. i would stay away from paxil and prozac i took 20 mg of that daily and my baby was really jittery when she was born i stopped takin it because you cant breastfeed while on that..butim not a dr and i think you should talk to someone about how you feel.. you dont have to take medication to feel better.. the birth of my daughter helped me and i dont take the medication anymore... you should look t this website it talks about food that promotes the production of serotonin and you need to eat so you might as well eat food that will make you feel good ..

http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Met-Obe/Mood-Food-Relations...

if you need to talk you can message or email me ____@____.com

niki =)

Hi S.!
Don't even worry S.. First of all you are doing the right thing by breastfeeding your baby. Sometimes though if feels like they are sucking the life out of you and that it totally normal! I have known many women including myself who were put on antidepressants while breastfeeding. I was a MUCH happpier Mommy and wife with my magic pill. Hormones are a strange thing and when they go out of whack...watch out! Please go to see your doctor, he or she may also recommend support groups too. Those work well for some people although I was never able to attend them. I found that a combination of medication and taking better care of myself helped a million times over.

S.,

I was there too. I suggest two things. One is to start Yoga. You can get tapes to do at home. This is a great stress reliever. Second, you need a baby break, even if it's for one hour one a week. You need to decompress. Watch your caffeine intake. Also go to my site and order Relax Now. It is an herb complex that will take the edge off you but it will not harm your milk.

Let me know if you have questions.

L. C.
Personal Nutritionist
www.Herbalmom.com

You have post partum depression.
I had the same thing happen with my youngest.
I didn't have this with my first two children.
You should go to the doctor, they have meds that will help with the depression and you can still breastfeed.
I still breastfed my son (until he got teeth..ouch).
I completely understand what you are going through, our children need us to not be sad all the time. I am sure your 8 yr old is asking you whats wrong.
As far as support groups, I don't know of any.

Good Luck!
G.

Why are you scared? there is nothing to worry about! Listen, i breastfed my oldest until she was 2 yrs. old . she practically weaned herself because of my second pregnancy. My son now 2, and still breastfeeding but not as much. It is recommended that you breastfeed the first year of life. I went to La Leche League meetings and they were a big help. Check out their website to see when their meetings are held. I believe it is
www.lalecheleague.org. You can also try going to your nearest WIC (Women, Infants and Children) office and they are a great help as well. Let me know how it goes! Good Luck!

It sounds like you have postpartum depression, and it is fairly common, don't worry! If you feel you can't control it, or if you are having suicidal thoughts or thinking of harming your baby, talk to your dr asap! I felt that way sometimes, but was able to get through it without medication, but don't feel bad or ashamed if you need a little help in the form or anti-depressants. You have a lot of raging hormones in your body right now, and possibly a chemical imbalance. I think they have drugs that are safe for breastfeeding, since it is such a common occurance among new mothers. Check with your dr, he can help you make the proper choice. Good luck, and best wishes, it will probably pass, maybe just give it a little more time.

S.,
I am sorry about what you are going through. I was very emotional as well for the first few months. I am not sure where you live, but if you live in SO Cal you can call 211 or 877-504-2229 to speak to a nurse through First 5 - they might be able to refer you somewhere. I just found some papers from them and one is on postpartum. YOu can call ###-###-#### for help or the website on this brochure is www.postpartumhealthalliance.org. Of if you just need someone to talk to you can call me. I may not be able to help you but I can certainly listen and try to give you some advice and pray with you. But don't feel like you are alone. I was very depressed. It went away, in fact I feel stronger and tougher now - which was totally the opposite of how I have always been throughout my life (not just pre and post baby).

Blessings,
B.
###-###-####

Hi S.,

Congratulations on your new baby and also for being a concerned mama. As many others have shared already, sounds like you're suffering a bout of postpartum depression/anxiety. I had that come up for me too and I was not expecting it, and like you I was breastfeeding my baby daughter at the time.

I did ask my ob/gyn about it at the 6 wk follow up visit (I got to feeling it pretty much right away in the first couple of weeks but you can have it come up anytime during the baby's first year). He was very compassionate and said that most women have it to some extent but not everyone will ask for help which is unfortunate. He put me on a low dose of Zoloft which is safe with breastfeeding, and after a couple of weeks I could tell a real difference.

He recommended that I let my regular physician know about it (which I did) and have them help me wean off of the medication when I felt ready to try that. I did successfully wean off the meds after 2 or 3 months, and I am so glad that I did seek the help at the time to get my system back into balance. Please do go to your doctor and ask about Zoloft - I am also a very "go natural" kind of mama, but I knew that my baby needed me to get back to a normal state of mind so I could be a good mom to her.

Oh, and she is still nursing at the age of 28 months as well as eating very healthily. :)

Best wishes to you and hope you feel better very soon,

S. M.

Dear S.,

Recently I read a book called "postpartum depression for dummies" it was fantastic and the author Dr. Shoshanna Bennett talked about all kinds of depression as well. She found a nutritional system that feeds the brain so you don't need any medication and you can continue to nurse. I just started the system and it works!!! Here is what she says in the book and you can call her as well, she is soooo nice to talk with. Best of luck,
C.
THE SYSTEM THAT I FOLLOW

I’ve always had a deep interest in nutrition and feeding the body what it naturally needs for optimum functioning (including brain functioning). A health nut since the 60”s, I’ve tried every way of healthful eating out there (a couple that were on the weird side, now that I lock back!). I believed in nutrition-not diets. My incessant search for a complete, simple system finally ended a little over two years ago-I found it. Since then, I’ve been using this nutritional system and introducing it to my clients (and all others I care about). It’s complete with high quality organic protein shakes, amino acids such as tryptophan (which raise serotonin), live enzymes, the essential fatty acids (Omega,6, and 9) in the correct ratios, vitamins, antioxidants, and ionic plant minerals. The system, which consists of foods that you eat in addition to whatever healthful food you’re already consuming, has a total body cleansing and detoxing component as well. The results have been quick and dramatic, and I’m thoroughly passionate about it. Some of the problems that I’ve seen either totally disappear or at least decrease significantly with this system are: depression, anxiety, decreased energy, difficulty losing weight, insomnia, sugar cravings, low sex drive, and difficulty concentrating. I’m not mentioning this system by name because I want to make sure you’ll be ordering only what you need and should have, depending on whether you’re pregnant, nursing, or finished with both. If you're interested, feel free to contact me for more information by calling ###-###-####.

Call your doctor and let them know because they have resources for you such as support groups and information on depression and how to overcome it. It's up to you if you want to be on medication the doctor can't force you to take medications.

Take Care

Run, don't walk...to your doctor! They can give you meds that you can take safely while breastfeeding. I know, I have been there. It will still take a few weeks for the meds to kick in but you will feel better. Do not feel hopeless. There are also support groups and that would be beneficial too. Please don't wait - every day you wait is a day your 8 year old sees their mommy become sicker and your baby suffers from a mommy who cannot fully engage her and this is a crucial time in your baby's development. Please get help today - you can call your doctor on the weekend and if you primary is not available go to the nearest urgent care or emergency room! My prayers are with you!

Hi Staci,
Sharp Hospital has a postpartum support group to talk to others feeling like yourself. Please look into it!

i agree w the other girls-call your doctor,they can help.even if u need to get on meds. it doesnt have to be forever either and it doesnt mean you are less of a person. i was like that after my first baby but it will be ok, just dont wait too long before it really starts to effect your thinking.

S.

your hormones are out of wack. that is it. PLEASE please please just call your doctor and ask for help. you don't have to get on medication if you don't want to but there are medications that you can get that you can take while nursing. your doctor may even offer suggestions of support groups that she knows of. what is most important is that you get out of the house and start having fun with your little ones. depression is hard to kick, but the best thing i have found for myself it to get up, get showered, and get out of the house. go to a park. breathe in the air. recognize that this too shall pass. and if need be, get on medication.

i've been there. you will be alright. but do tell your doctor.

C.

Hi S.! I am sorry that you are goint through this but is very common that you get this type of depression and more when you are breastfeeding, My aunt had this problem for a while...and she realize that there is a gland in the breast that is estimulated when the babies eat and it makes you cry not everyone knows about it or have this problem but the ones that do need to breastfeed in different ways probably not in the room or in the babies nursing but outside now that is already hot you can breasfeed your baby where is some day light so you dont feel as depress another thing you can do if you dont want to stop feeding your baby with breast milk is to buy a machine and take your milk out so you can still give him the milk but dont feel depress or sad...try always to fix yourself, put nice make up on, do your hair even if you are in comfortable cloth the hair and make up will do it ! well I hope you get over this quick! and if you need to talk contact me! bye

I know that there are certain antidepressants that are supposed to not be harmful when you're breastfeeding. I can't remember the name of one that I was on when I was pregnant. I think it was Zoloft. Maybe you should talk w/your Dr. about this because if you're depressed I'm sure that it isn't good for you or your family. You have to outweigh the benefits, etc. I guess. Maybe you just need more help? I was really down after having my little girl because I felt like I didn't have enough help around the house, etc. Hope my advice helps at least a little.

N.