Could I be having Postpartum depression 10 months after my baby is born?

Question

I have been on an emotional roller coaster for the last 6 months my daughter is now 10 months old and I have a 4 year old as well. I quit my job to stay at home with my kids. I am sad most of the time and wake up just about every night for some unapparent reason and have a hard time falling back asleep. I have no sex drive what so ever and most of the time I just want to stay in bed although no matter how much rest I get I am still exhuasted. I am going to the doctor next week for my yearly gyn appointment and I am going to discuss what has been going on just thought I would see if anyone had some info. on if this is Postpartum (which my husband seems to think it is) and I think that I am just trying to adjust to being at home. My husband thinks I need to be on medication and I have a hard time with that - I hate taking meds and i am scared i will never be able to get off and feel happy naturally.

Answer 1

yes this is possible. pnd can occur anything up to a year after giving birth. if you look on www.babycentre.com you will find some information about pnd on there. hope you find a way to get through this and you are taking the right steps by getting help. good luck

Answer 2

It could be, but in my expert opinion (okay, so I'm not really an expert, but it sounded good, alright?) it's unlikely. You could be adjusting to the changes, like you believe or you could be dealing with something else.



Firstly, I'd ask your doctor if he thinks you could possibly be anemic. A lot of what you've said reminds me of myself a few months before I got pregnant, and that's what was wrong with me....iron deficiency anemia. I got on some iron supplements and started paying attention to what I was eating and started feeling much better. (Paying attention to what you're eating can help in more ways than just extra iron too, fruits & veggies have vitamins & nutrients in them that can help perk up a mood way better than a "happy pill" that the doctor could put you on!)



There is also the possibility that you are suffering from depression. If you are, then it's important to know the difference between postpartum depression (PPD) and clinical depression (because one will pass and won't leave you on meds forever, whereas one potentially could).



PPD is depression caused by a hormone imbalance. Hormones...you remember those right? The nasty cravings, the mood swings, the swollen..well...everything? That was hormones. And believe it or not, 10 months after everything, you're still not 100% back to normal! Especially if you're breastfeeding. Eventually though, these hormones will return to their normal levels, and will stop causing you problems. If your problems persist though, then you likely have clinical or "regular" depression.



Clinical depression is caused by a Chemical imbalance in the brain. Generally, this is what medications help with...they rebalance your brain so you can feel normal again. They don't make you happy, they make you feel reality, happy or sad. If they make you happy all the time (or make you stop caring about everything) then either you have a really happy & awesome life and nothing ever goes wrong, or they aren't the right medication for you. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get the right med & the proper dosage worked out. Of course, rather than jump straight into meds, most people prefer to try some form of therapy or counseling first. This can help in a number of ways that meds can't, AND it's not something that will make you sick if you skip a "dose."



Good luck, and no matter what your diagnosis, don't be afraid of the treatment. It's for your own good and your kids!

Answer 3

First of all you have gone through some tremendous changes not only are you a stay at home mom which is a tough job, but you are taking care of a very curious and active 4 year old as well as a ten month old. It's a tough job for me and I only have one child that's seventeen months old I stay at home with him all of the time. I would say that you are stressed out because you are so tied down. Caring for a child 24/7 is difficult and you have two. Your probably bored also, staying at home all of the time doing the same old thing over and over is difficult. As far as your sex drive I'm there also lately I have been so tired and it's difficult to tend to the husband that way. I'm not sure it is postpartum and any man is going blame it on hormonal issues. My husband when my son was two weeks old was begging my ob/gyn to put me on something because he thought I was crazy and the ob/gyn told him to give it some time. So I wouldn't rule out postpartum but I know where you come from. It seems like you never have time for you and I know this is difficult to think about but I have read some online articles on how I can bump up my energy and one specific one I can't remember where said you have to use energy to have energy and this is true. I use to wonder how working parents could tend to their children and husbands and have energy to work. That's just it though they use up energy and therefore they have more energy because they have no choice. So make sure you are eating well, especially breakfast this should give you energy in the morning when you are so tired. Play and spends lots of time balancing your housework and children, and yourself because you have to have time alone. Have your 4 year old help out with the baby too, and give you a hand around the home most love that and know that it will get better. It takes some time getting use to be home all the time but it does get better. Good luck!

Answer 4

Postnatal Depression 10 Months After Birth

Answer 5

It could be postpatum depression, but you didn't mention anything about your kids, so I don't think that's what's going on... I think it's just "regular" depression. There is nothing wrong with taking medication. You and your entire family would benefit- depression is often just as hard, if not harder, on those around the depressesd person. Have you considered counseling? That might help reduce oe even eliminate the need for medication if you're really against it.

Answer 6

It could be - but you're not upset or having a hard time with your kids (usually) - and that' what PPD is. Sounds like you might just be plain old depressed. It does NOT hurt to go to the doctor and admit this. Make youself feel better and get on some drugs!!!

They will help you remember how to feel better on your own!!