Postpartum Depression - Katy,TX

T.,
A friend gave me the book "Buddism for Mothers" by Sarah Napthali and it saved my life. I still go back to it from time to time now, it is so wise and makes me feel less isolated in my mothering experience.

Vitamin B-6 helps me. Also, being around other people helps: perfect time for playdates! Even if the babies are small, they might like seeing another baby next to them. Dress up, look pretty, wear jewelry. Flowers around the house brighten things up. Good luck.

Hi T. -- St. John's Wort helped me. So did a group for mothers with post partum depression, run, i think, at Women's Hospital, but maybe at one of the other Houston-area hospitals. I didn't get to many group meetings, but the ones I did helped. Looking back, being FAR less obsessed with a breast-feeding situation that just wasn't working out (I was never able to produce more than half of the milk she took in per day, and the distress this caused me was harder on her than not getting the milk) would have helped a lot. In a way I'm proud I kept at it, giving her what I could for nearly a year, but I think if I'd just given up after the first three months we might have had a happier mother/baby bond that first year.

All best wishes!
M.

All of these are wonderful responses. Sunshine and exercise are wonderful for the heart, soul, mind, and body. However, sometimes you just need some extra help because your body is not balanced after the pregnancy ie hormones/emotions, etc. This should be a wonderfully happy time and the baby can sense when you are not happy. Talk to your doctor if you can continue to feel sad. Remember it is not just your health it is also for the baby. There is a med called Lexapro that is wonderful. It just helps you get through the day without the huge ups and downs. You can see things more clearly when you are not full of emotions.
Hope this helps. Sometimes we just need a little extra help and it is nothing to feel ashamed about. You want what is best for you and the baby. GOOD LUCK

You should definitely check with your doctor, but I can tell you my experience. My mom is a PhD phychologist and she recommended that I try the amino acid 5-HTP for depression when I feel down. She said her physciatrist friend had started recommending it to his patients and often found it to work better than Zoloft or other drugs. I found that it worked very well and quickly, feeling a little better within a day. People who take anti-depressants might take up to 300 mg a day. I get it in 50 and 100 mg capsules at the grocery store. It will increase your serotonin levels and make you feel better, stopping the cycle so you cna then stop taking the supplement, too.

When I felt really bad, I would take 100 mg 2x a day or maybe 150 mg total. You may want to start with 50 mg once or 2x a day, depending on how you feel. After a few weeks, I was able to stop taking it and I noticed that when I didn't need it I would get a slight headache when I took over 50 mg. You can also take theanine (another amino acid) to calm anxiety (instead of xanax). I find it works really well and I don't have to take either one once I feel better for a few weeks.

Hope this helps!
K..

T.,

I think everyone so far has nailed it on the head. I know it's hard to accept sometimes, but you don't have to be super mom. It's okay if the house isn't always spotless and it's okay if dinner isn't a three course meal. People have survived with worse. What your family can't afford is to not have you. One of the biggest traps I feel into after my boys were born was thinking I had to give them my all, be everything for them. This is NOT the case. Please don't forget to take time for yourself each day, even if it's something as simple as a shower or walking the block once dad or someone else can relieve you. Get time to be you without the kids.

Ask for help, dad is a parent too. If you breast feed try and stock some up and let dad take a night time feeding. If you use formula there's no reason dad can't help and you get a bit more sleep.

Along with B vitamins...Vitamin D, like in milk helps your body with seratonin production or absorbtion (can't remember which right now). But you also need the sun, so don't be a hermit.

I think you're a strong mom for coming out so early looking for help. It took me too long to recognize what I was going through. Like someone else said....kudos for addressing it early!

Please feel free to shoot an email if you have questions or need an extra bit of something...

good luck and remember you're not alone in any of this!
S.

Vitamin D helped me because it was pretty low. Also, cod liver oil, liquid vit B complex helped too. Ultimately, I went & met a homeopathic doctor & he has truly helped.
Also, we found a little late that my thyroid was off...evidently happens pretty commonly after pregnancy....make sure you get that checked.
I also increased my intake of pure fats because low fat diets often lead to depression- so, I increased my intake of butter, eggs, raw milk, liver, fish & tried to cut out all junk.
....also, when i was deep in PPD, I could not get out of the house, life was a mess, to get my baby ready was very stressful, getting him out of the house was almost impossible.....those things will follow, first get the needed vits in because those get depleted during pregnancy, get a thorough blood work to check for thyroid, vitamin D, essential amino acids......then start getting out of the house, exercise, socialize etc.

Hi T.,

First of all, I'm sending you a hug. Having a new baby is hard no matter what, but the craziness of hormones is a whole different mess.

I just wanted to let you know that you'll make it through this one way or another and you will be filled with joy again. Don't forget that. It is true.

One thing that really helped me was to start jogging. I'd like to qualify that with the admission that I was the least athletic person you'd ever meet in your life. Always picked last for sports, you know, I mean I had not an athletic bone in my body. but I wanted to run away. So I did so for an hour a day. It allowed me to face the day and raised my endorphin level to joyful for a while. It also wore me out so much that I felt OK about taking a nap when baby napped.

Spectrum gyms have fantastic child care facilities. I take advantage of that.

Being outside in the sunshine is a big mood booster, too. Natural sunlight is important to mental and physical health.

I hope these feelings are something you can talk to your husband about. Don't feel like there is any reason you shouldn't. This isn't your fault. Hormones control us, we dont' control them.

Join a mother's group, too. It doesn't help the physiological part of depression, but it does us all good to be around people who understand how hard and wonderful our job as mothers is. It also gets you out of the house, dressed and made up. That's a temporary relief of some magnitude.

If you can, hire someone once a week or bi-weekly to help with house work. Anything you can do to feel less overwhelmed is a good idea (remember that a housekeeper periodically is much cheaper than marriage counceling).

I know you will make it out. I was terribly depressed for a couple of years due to a post-traumatic scenario. I actually made a list of all the wonderful things about the world and carried it in my pocket for two years. It was a long time ago, but I remember smooching being number one and the deep blue on the opposite side of the sky as the setting sun being number two. It helps to add to the list.

I'm rooting for you, T.. You will eventually be OK. If you need meds, please don't think that you have failed at being OK. The important thing is to get well, and do so any way you can. It isn't a challenge to see if you're tough or worthy of your happiness. You are. You're a mom. And your babies need you to make some tough decisions sometimes. You're always right to choose your health however you come by it. If you got high blood pressure, surely you'd take those pills, right?

I do understand not wanting to take them. I refused for a long time and when I finally decided I would take the pills I realized my insurance would not pay (this was in the early ninties) and so I was stuck without them. It might have made life a lot easier, though.

Either way, You'll make it. Good luck.

T.,

Sorry to hear that you are dealing with PPD. It's not easy. I have a 10 month old son, and I started feeling the symptoms while still in the hospital. I do take medication for mine and it has helped immensely, but some other things that have helped me:

PPD support group at Women's Hospital on Mondays from 12:30 - 2:00 pm. Many moms bring baby with them. Really helps to hear that other women are having the same feelings and experiences that you are. You don't feel so crazy and alone. Group is free and they validate parking.

I saw a therapist for several months. Was helpful to have someone that I could say ANYTHING to.

Exercise was a big help to me. I joined a group called Stroller Fit. Not only do I get to workout, I don't have to worry about finding someone to take care of my baby. It is also a great social outlet to connect with other moms of similar age children. We do playdates and a monthly Mom's Night Out. It gets me out of the house most days, and helps fill up some of the time.

Sleep was also helpful. Once my baby started sleeping through the night, I got more sleep and felt better. Part of the PPD for me was that I couldn't fall asleep. I took Rozarem for a couple of weeks (it helps you fall asleep quickly, but you can still wake up to do the middle of the night feedings)and started sleeping better. Think about ways that you might be able to get help with night feedings.

Try to make sure that you eat three meals a day. I didn't have any appetite for the first couple of months, but I forced myself to eat at least a small healthy meal 3 times a day.

Try to get a shower everyday. It seems like a small thing, but it really helped me feel "normal".

I wish you the best in dealing with this. It is a horrible feeling, but you are not alone. Many women deal with PPD, but so many never admit it or talk about it. There is a lot of expectation that a woman should be thrilled to be a new mom. It can be hard to say "actually, I am not very happy right now". And the guilt you might feel about your sadness can be tough. It does get better, but it takes some effort on your part. Just what you need -- one more thing to do! But just remember that whatever you do for yourself, you do for your children, because happy mom = happy baby.

L.

I applaud you for asking! THE BEST thing you can do is to ask for help--from a friend, relative, neighbor. Be honest that you just need someone to stay over for a few days while you get through this, or for 1 hour a day to give you a break (go for a walk in the fresh air, or shopping, etc). Have a teenager come in to do some of the housework (this one really helped me!). If money's not an issue, contact a local church and put the children in a Mother's Day Out which is usually 2 half-days a week. Many people around you would be willing to help, if you just ask.

I highly recommend Omega 3's(focuses brain and keeps seratonin levels up) and/or St. John's Wort(our Dr. says it's like a 'Prozac lite', but very safe and natural - just don't eat any grapefruit while on it; it'll cancel out the beneficial effects!) Both are available at People's Rx or Shaklee online. We started our daughter on a good high quality Omega 3 liquid (she couldn't swallow pills) at the recommendation of our children's psychiatrist as a viable alternative to the meds, and it worked just as well! (she had anxiety and panic attacks brought on by strep). Also, just get outside in the sunshine (on nice days) and do something nice for yourself, like take a hot bath and relax.. even a glass of wine every once in a while is nice, if it isn't a problem for you. And lots of prayer! :) Hope this helps!

I am an anti drug person. Mostly due to medications usually whipeing me out. Your body has actually chemicaly changed with the pregancy. For your sanity and your husbands I would recomend using anti depression meds. Espically if you have been depressed for more than a couple months. I only took the meds for a few months and seemed to get everything back together. Of course if you have a new born, lack of sleep isnt helping your situation at all. Best of luck hope you find your answer. Congrats on your new addition.

hey T. -- good for you for recognizing your depression and wanting to address it. not sure if you are in the austin area but jennifer crain is an acupuncturist/herbalist at the goji seed-- www.thegojiseed.com -- she focuses on mommies and their kiddos and she is a wonderful, positive, gentle spirit!!! she does acupuncture, acupressure, herbs and supplements and can find a solution for you. she's worked wonders for me and my kiddos! you are not alone -- best of luck to you!! - E.

I had a hard time after I had my son. He wasn't sleeping good and wanted to nurse all the time. Calling my sister or mom during the day helped. They would let me cry on the phone to them. My husband would come home at lunch to give me a short break and at night I would hand the baby off for an hour when my husband got home.

If you have any thought of hurting yourself or the baby GO TO THE DOCTOR!!

Good luck and just remember we are here for you. Post as much as you need to for support.

T.,
You have my deepest sympathy. My son is 26 months old and I struggle with
depression, loneliness and isolation every day. I had a bad experience with
anti-depressants, so I had to find alternatives, too. I found alot of support
with the PPD support group at Family Connections. I also see a therapist every
2-4 weeks as needed. I can refer her to you if you want. I swim once a week,
and I try to walk my dog with my son to the playground once or twice a week.
I try to garden. I do yoga once a week Weds. morning with other moms at
the East-West Family Health on Manor Rd. They have child-care. There is a counselor there that I have talked to about my difficulties. I try to see old friends on Sunday mornings for breakfast. I try to get as much rest as
possible, which means I do without extra personal time. My husband gives me
one day off(six hours). That's when I swim, go to movies or shop etc.
I still take a multi-vitamin, liquid vitamin B for stress, and vitex sometimes, even
though it can make me irritable. Accupuncture was recommended, but I
haven't tried it, mostly because of the extra cost.
Really, the main things that helped me are meditation(being able to clear my mind)
excercise, and therapy. I have never really had much support, so I had to find
ways to accept the conditions of my life and make peace with myself. I try to
be positive, and get out of the house when I can! I have to go. Write to me, if you
need to. I hope this helps. Sincerely, Theresa

I had PPD with my 2nd child and thought I would wait it out...it only got worse as time went on. When I finally took the plunge and got on the meds it was like night and day. I only had to take them for 3 months or so, just to get all the levels regulated again. It is not a bad thing to need meds sometimes...hormones are very powerful and can make life difficult...the meds are only temporary and will help you so much. Don't feel bad if you end up needing to take them...you are defenitely not alone!!! God speed to you and it gets better and easier and more enjoyable!

you can try herbal supplements. the best way I know is just to get outside every day, get exercise, eat healthy, and make it a point to get dressed, take a shower, fix your hair, etc.
However, if you still feel overwhelmed, hopeless, detached, etc. you need to tell your dr. If you are worried about taking meds while breastfeeding, Buspar is totally safe to take while pregnant/breastfeeding and can work wonders
Hang in there, it will get better, and if you have to ask for meds don't think of it as a cop-out, think of it as taking care of your baby's mom!

I have a three week old newborn. I looked up about a week ago and was totally exasperated. My mom came over and let me rest one day, my sister the next.

Accept your limitations and ask for some help to get some sleep. I was a new person in two days. Since then, I decided to accept I'd had a C-section and a newborn and I was tired and couldn't hit the ground running. The Holidays can just wait! It's not about all the hoopla anyway. I've gotten the kids taken care of, but that's about it.

Get some rest and don't forget to eat. A shower here and there helps too. I try to keep at least a feeding pumped so my husband can feed if I'm in dire need of rest. We're also getting on a nighttime schedule which has helped. Switching to single-sided breast feeding helped on that front. It gives her more of the hind milk that helps baby rest and gain weight.

E-mail me if you need more tips.

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Well first things first. It does not matter if your house is immaculate or if every stitch of laundry is done, when your baby is taking a nap, you should be too!!!! Sleep deprivtion is a biggie when it comes to post pardem. Second is the body image issues. Go out and get you a pair of what I like to call suck and tuck britches. Spanx is the name brand but you can get some of the cheaper ones at target or walmart. It makes you feel a little more put together and not like your body is all over the place. Make sure you eat, cause I could never remember. In general I would avoid clothing stores at the moment. They just frustrated me more than anything. As much as you might hate it let friends and family help you out. Dishes, laundry, housekeeping. Things that you would never in a million years dream of letting them see or do. And get out of the house either with or without the baby. I would go to walmart at midnight just so that I could go without the baby. And socialize. Call up some friends to come over for coffee in the morning or go for a walk in the afternoon. Shutting everyone out will only make things worse. Keep your head up you will get through this. We've all been there at some point. And keep in mind that you can take the meds or leave them. That way you don't feel like they're being forced on you.

These are some of the things that may help..
Surround yourself with people that makes you laugh (happy people), eat small pieces of dark chocolate, exercise outdoors, and expose to daylight sun. Other than that, just keep in mind that it's not much you can do since it is in your brain and it is due to hormones and a chemical imbalance, If it is indeed a postpartum depression than it will go away when you less expected. Think positively!

PS. Try taking a suplement of vitamin Bs.

I had very bad postpartum depression. I was beside myself and not myself. My husband put me on DHA pills. It is something that your body should be producing but runs low on which affects your mood. You can buy them at any health store or aisle (HEB, Sun Harvest, etc). It did wonders. So did having someone help out with the baby once a week. My MIL took my baby for a few hours one day a week. It did wonders. But, the DHA did amazing things for me. I can offer other alternative suggestions as well if you want more input. Let me know.

GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!!! NO matter what it takes, get out of the house and go do something, even if it's walking around walmart or target :) Find a friend to go walking with. Go over to someone else's house. You HAVE to get out. I struggled when I stopped BF, and I thought I'd go crazy...I would've taken the meds if it had lasted any longer. Good luck, it is hard!

Thanks for seeking treatment. This is something to pay attention to and to get effective care for. One option as a possibly effective alternative to medication might be acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatment. Look for yourself on the internet and call some local traditional acupuncture doctors.
Also, after speaking with the DBSA organization staff (Depression and Bi-Polar Support Alliance), they highly recommend therapy (private or group), regular exercise, and proper nutrition---though they would also recommend that you see someone to be evaluated for a medication intervention, if necessary.
Keep in regular communication with your family and friend networks for support while you sort through this and create yor plan of treatment.

Try St. John's Wort. It's a suppliment for your moods. Works pretty good. Good luck!

I'm pregnant and fighting depression. I'm trying to stay off the meds if possible also. Here are some of the things I'm doing. I've started seeing a counselor. My doctor also told me to try to get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day. I haven't been able to meet this goal yet. Exercise is said to boost serotonin levels, which is the same brain chemical that most of the antidepressants affect. I've been trying to put my 2 year old in a stroller and walk everyday. Some days it works some days it doesn't. I'll probably end up joining a gym or the Y. I'm also making sure that I'm eating enough protein. I've found that when I don't eat enough I feel worse.

I think it's very important to get out of the house everyday, even if it's just running to the grocery store.

I've battled with depression my whole life and there are times when you need more help than you can give yourself. If you try lifestyle changes and nothing seems to be helping, it's probably time to ask for help. Please don't beat yourself up. Depression is a nasty illness and sometimes it takes medication to get you out of the slump so you can start helping yourself. I'm not sure if this is a concern for you, but there are some antidepressants that are safe to take while breastfeeding.

Feel free to email me if you want to talk. Hang in there.

Wow! You got some awesome responses! I think all mother's feel like this at some point. Like the other post stated, not all talk about it. I recommend B vitamins, Calcium with Vit D, and a prenatal vitamin daily along with salmon or some type of fish once or twice a week. Along with exercise, socialize, and getting out of the house! Once your LO sleeps through the night you will notice a huge change in your mood/ability to concentrate and get stuff done.

Are you a member of a church? Surround yourself with positive people that will love, encourage, and support you. Church is full of people like this!

Spurge on yourself! Buy yourself a new pair of jeans, shoes, shirt or all three! =) Get your hair and nails done. Try to find a babysitter while you pamper yourself. Check out local churches for "Mommy's day out." They will keep your little one for free for a couple hours so you can have some "mommy" time.

Get on meetup.com and join a mom group or start your own. MOMS Club is also another great resource for finding a local group. Check local churches, too. And finally, pray! Pray whenever you need to talk and no one is there to listen.

God Bless and Take Care! It's only for a season!
Send me a note if you need to talk.

you are doing the best thing first- talking about it! so many of us have been there, and it can feel so isolating. reaching out is wonderful, so you don't sink into that pit. others have suggested sunshine....exercising outdoors is wonderful for depression. also know that your body cannot produce serotonin without suffient b vitamins, so eat well and take extra b's. one more thing.... if you have a tendancy towards anxiety (i know that one well!) go EASY on yourself. call someone who you love and trust if you go there mentally, and ask them to remind you that it all really is ok. best wishes-

Counseling is where to start if you don't want to take medication. Also, taking time for yourself, even if it's just 20 minutes..or 10 or 5 helps sometimes.

I took Wellbutrin for my post partum for two months and it helped dramatically. Good luck. Depression is always hard.

the easiest way to rid mild to moderate depression is exercise. try walking with a stroller or whatever you are able to do while recovering from child birth.

There are 2 natural things I can think of that might help:
Omega 3s- fish oils are a natural anti-depressant
Panic Button- a mix of essential oils you smell that help in stressful times

You can get both at the health food store. They may also have another one in a dark bottle with a yellow label, I can't recall the name right now but it's good for stress/anxiety, etc.

Best wishes!

Coffee from Starbucks or treat yourself to something like that, warm baths at night when kiddo is with Daddy. Talk to friends on the phone during the day as a pick me up for support. Basically find time for you when its hard, tiring and such. Sleep when your child is sleeping, to get your rest, Don't clean the house during all of the resting times, too exhausting. Tell your husband how he can pitch in or do a feeding. My hubby used to feed my twins at 5:30am before he went to work so I could get up with their next cry for food at 8:00am. I would sleep from 345-8am, a stretch of sleep makes a big difference.
Best Wishes. Remember things you enjoy and do them to reward yourself during this hard time.

I have a 4 1/2 yr old and a 6 wk old (both boys) and I know how you feel. I'm a ____@____.com mom and it gets hard. Just know that it will get easier, you are not alone and all you have to do is talk to someone when you're feeling down. It really does help. Concentrate on the big picture and know that your little one is going to grow into a fun and loving little person in no time at all. They count on you to lead the way and you'll do a great job---that's what mom's do! :)
**I try to talk to my friends everyday to keep my spirits up. Good luck!

Start your day off with prayer and end it that way too. When the depression starts to sneak up, pray some more. Out loud if you have to. It will be just like talking to someone physically in the room. Try other things as well, but don't give up on the power of prayer. God is always watching and listening. You are not alone. And whether you are Catholic or not, ask the blessed Mother, Mary for help through this as well. You will be in her constant prayers. She is the ultimate mother after all. She knows and understands.
I'll pray for you and your baby too.
L.