Hi Moms!!! It is so wonderful that I have you all with all your wonderful and different experiences. It is wonderful to be a mom, isn't it? I am a mom of three little girls: 4, 2 and 11mo. After having my second daughter I just couldn't recognize myself: I was very irritable, cried without a cause, was very emotional, saw only negative sides of my husband, we were always fighting over something and I don't even remember over what... Then when she turned 6 months I started taking B-stress supplement with Omega 3-6-9 and everything went away. It was like a honeymoon again. Then I got pregnant with our third girl and although I was very busy and stressed with now three of them, but having my husband who helped me whenever he was home from work helped a lot and I was fine until recent time. I have exactly same thing I described after having my second daughter. It is just not me. My husband asks what's wrong with me and don't know. I cry without a cause. Can postpartum depression happen after 11 months? BTW, my periods returned recently, just had my 2nd period after giving birth, my cycle was 40 days. Also, if I eat just a little then usual (and I don't eat a lot), then seem to gain weight around my belly right away. I am planning to go back on B-Stress vitamin supplement to see if it is going to help again. What else can I do? Did this happened to you? What did you do? What can you advise me to do?
PS, I am still breastfeeding 3x a day and I'm a SAHM.
I am sorry for what you are going thru. Have you tried adding more protein? Protein helps relieve stress.
I noticed that when my period began (for me around six months) my mood worsened and became more unpredictable.
When I weaned after three years, another shift in mood came.
Have you talked to anyone about adding a little progesterone creme? That's (I think) what holds back menses during lactation.
My thoughts, not prescriptive. Hugs.
Have you thought about joing a gym and exploring a new hobby to meet other women? I think one of the biggest challenges for a SAHM is the lack of adult interaction and the oppourtunity to bend your mind.
I think excercise is a great way to release endorphins and make you feel better emotionally. I would try more natural remedies before popping a pill. Good luck.
Vitamin B6, Omega-3's AND calcium (1200 mg per day, take one pill 3 times a day), ALSO helps... with these hormonal type things.
It could definitely be, your hormones or even PMS.
I swear, my PMS is more pronounced, since I've had kids.
If you research online, for "PMS" symptoms and natural remedies, many articles will come up.
I did that.
I really suggest you do, too.
And... you did just recently get your periods back. Too.
... ie: PMS
PMS... causes the symptoms you describe... .it can cause great irritability/moodiness/bloatedness etc. And if you think about it, it takes up maybe 2 weeks of every month.
IF your moods/emotionality is CYCLICAL... meaning, there is a pattern to it... then most likely you are having PMS. The emotionality of it.
For me... I take "Vitex" (also called Chasteberry). I only started it a couple weeks ago, but it seems to help.
Or, there are natural based 'stress' pills which you can find at natural food stores... but these will not address the hormonal aspects, to PMS.
I can pretty much think, that your issues, are PMS.
Research it... and it may really be spot on.
The key thing being: IF your symptoms are "cyclical" and has a pattern to it.... then it is most probably, PMS related.
That is how it is for me.
I tracked.... my periods and PMS symptoms... per moodiness/my emotionality. And it was... cyclical... tied in with my period.
I personally REALLY do not believe your are Depressed or have that. I really believe... it is PMS related. For some women, PMS alone can cause such unfortunate mood/emotion related symptoms... that affects even their relationships. BUT, again, if it is cyclical... AND then disappears or subsides after your period... then it is, mostly likely PMS/hormones related.
all the best,
Susan
Most anti-depressants are breastfeeding safe!! SO don't worry about that. Also of course, the major vitamin supplements are safe during breastfeeding too.
This does not sound like PPD, but just a regular bout of depression that can be helped with continued nursing, drug therapy and exercise. I would also encourage you to find a local Moms group and round up all your kiddies and go have fun with other Moms and kids!! Maybe put the oldest in Pre-K like environment... then take the two youngest out on playdates - unless your 4 y/o is a really good helper!
I've been on anti-depressants since I was 21 y/o. I was on them for both pregnancies (I'm pregnant with #2 now) and breastfed for 4.5 years while on them.
After the birth of my second child (I'm pregnant with my 4th), I noticed that I became increasingly irritable, felt anger, frustration, moments of sadness for no apparent reasons, other times intense joy, horribly negative feelings towards my husband, then my period came and it all went away. Then my period ended and my symptoms returned. I continued to experience these symptoms as they increasingly became worse until I had my third child. The symptoms intensified until I was finely diagnosed with PMDD ~ Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Once I have this newest baby, I am bracing myself for the return of my PMDD. I take an herb called 5-HTP for my symptoms and it does work for me.
Talk to your doctor and research PMDD to see if the symptoms relate to any of the ones you may have. I tried the YAZ birth control pill for my PMDD. I would NOT recommend it for you or anyone. The side effects were so bad that I went off that pill after being on it for only 13 days.
Postpartum depression can occur up to 2 years after a birth.
My understanding of PPD is that the jury is still out on the exact cause. My provider prescribed me some Omega with the statement that one of the theories is that breastfeeding saps Omega away from the Mom and puts it in the breastmilk. I don't know where she saw that research but I thought I would mention here based on your experience.
If the B-stress doesn't help, I do suggest seeking outside resources. You can check with your OB or midwife (I did that), or seek psychological help (I did that, too). If you want to avoid meds and use natural/nutritional supplements (I used both), I suggest seeing a holistic or functional medicine doctor. The Institute for Functional Medicine website should have a list of practitioners in your area.
Good luck.
Low vitamin D can seem like depression. If you aren't outside 15+ a day you could use one. An over the counter vitamin can't hurt and might help with the winter blues.
Sorry to hear you are experiencing such a difficult time.The B-stress and Omegas are GREAT for you. Everyone needs them! I experienced something similar and it happened after my children were born also. I would suggest a COMPLETE blood workup INCLUDING a COMPLETE thyroid panel (not just TSH), B12, ferretin, vitamins and minerals, etc. I would also recommend you see a Functional Nutritionist. It is worth spending a little, believe me! The doctors could never helped me (just wanted to prescribe antidepressants that never worked) but a nutritionist finally did. She checked my cortisol (important for regular sleep and related to belly fat) by doing a better test than the doctors perform. I had all my vitamin and mineral levels REALLY looked at and I began taking supplements so my body would have what it needed to function properly and to heal--to get back in BALANCE! She also recommended I remove some foods from my diet that were causing autoimmune reactions. This is crucial as foods you are allergic to or intolerant of cause INFLAMMATION in your body which eventually causes disease. The doctors didn't believe this would work but I ended up controlling my autoimmune thyroid problem with NO MEDS and I felt SO much better. I had energy again and my mood was more stable. Let me know if you have any questions. I don't have a business or sell anything--I promise! :) I just hate to see women feeling to badly when there is a solution out there. You really have to push sometimes to get what you need. Doctors are great and they mean well but, when something doesn't seem to be life-threatening, they tend to treat symptoms, not CAUSES. Keep working with your doctor and a nutritionist together to find the CAUSES of you problems. You deserve to feel well. :)
Take care,
~L.
I have a feeling that breastfeeding really causes this hormonal imbalance. I'm so thankful to have found this post. I'm dealing with a lot of the same things you are. I was on Lexapro 10mg and it didn't do too much, so I'm weaning myself from it. (I want to get pregnant again soon)
Can you please share what mcg's you used on the B-stress and omegas? I'm going to give these a shot. I'm still breastfeeding and taking prenatal plus pills so I'm not sure how much more to take.
I hope you are feeling better - as I know this was posted in Jan.
