Please Help

[Ranger 2]

Hi,

I am wondering if I am suffering from PND? Johanna is 19.5 months old. Can you get PND at any time? Some of the things I am feeling are sad and depressed although I am not crying but feel lonely. I am irritable towards DH eg have a go at him for no apparent reason. I bottle my feelings up and then explode which is not fair on him as he loves me so much and I treat him like **** (sorry). I am starting to feel really upset as I type this . I am overweight and I know that this is getting me down. I find it really hard to find and keep friends and thus I am lonely. I take Johanna to playgroup every Tuesday except for school hols.

I have not sought medical advice although I did mention it at my 6 week check up and my GP brushed over it not really going into it by asking me questions.Who else can I see ? I am just wondering if it is PND or just plain depression. I sleep OK at night I wake up when Johanna wants a feed which seems to be every 2 hours and she only has like 10-15 minutes. If it is PND I am worried about going on to medication while b/f is it OK ?

Please help
Jodi

[Oblena]

Hi Jodi, hope you are ok today. You can get PND up to 2 years after the birth of bub. If your GP was no help go to your MCHN as they have a questionairre that they can do or just ask you a whole lot of q's then refer you.

It could be PND, 'plain' depression (I think this gets diagnosed as PND up to 2 years after a baby) or just you feeling a bit lonely. Either way, if you feel bad and snappy ask for help. The health nurse could be a good start.

You also don't necessarily need medication, maybe just someone to chat to, but if you do need medication talk to the doctor about that and BF. Also I think I have seen some threads in the PND area about meds people took and kept BF.

Definitely see someone and if you are unsure you could even start with the maternal health line, but they will prob also refer you to see your own MCHN or GP anyway. Hope things get better for you.

Maybe in the meantime try getting out of the house with activites such as Library for Johanna (and you get to see other mums) or just go to the local park. I find that when I stay cooped up at home I feel much worse than when I am out. Anyway, I'll stop the essay now and

[V8]

I think it's great that you have written it out that's the hardest thing to do is to seek help. I would say to see your GP and tell them you are concerned you have PND, i have also had the same flippant treatment, but i truly believe i had and still probably do have PND and my DS is 21 months. I know i have depression and anxiety also so i am just trying to deal with it rather than go on medication at the moment. There are safe drugs to take while breastfeeding and if you think they would help you should ask, but i would also try the natural route first, even some St Johns wart may help but ask your pharmacist of gp to check if it's safe while BF. Goodluck it can be very hard dealing with depression as some days you think you are fine and coping, the next you can be a total wreck.

[punkbaby]

PND can effect everyone differently for me its anxiety and really bad panic attacks and generally just snapping for no reason or feeling like balling my eyes out.

Sounds like you probably are best to have a chat to your gp and tell them how your feeling it doesnt hurt, sometimes just talking about it can make a difference. It can strike at any time as well too or its more so a case of you realising that something isnt quiet right if that makes sense, i had it for 5 years and didnt realise took a breakdown to realise

You can safely breastfeed and take meds, chat to your gp about your options. Dont go rushing into thinking you automatically need meds either, i find i can cope alot of the time without them but then i have a bad day and i feel like i need them again....it all really comes down to how much support i have and if my counsellor is working her magic with me

Your not alone though i hope that you do find out whats going on big hugs for you too its horrible when you feel like this! I am sure others have heaps more support for you though too and you will find lots of it here as well!

[Ranger 2]

Hi,

I just thought that I would let you know that I went to the Dr on Monday of this week and have been diagnosed with mild PND. I am so relieved that I now know that I have PND. It was any great surprise as DH and I thought that it was PND. I am now on Anti-Depressants. Thanks for your support.

Jodi

[QTB]

Hi Jodi,

Good on you for going to see another dr...

I knew i had PND from the time bubs was about 6weeks old... at 12 weeks i saw a pychologist and told her i thought i had PND, she brushed me off and told me i was just tired... i struggled thru it for 18months before things getting so bad i nearly threw my son off a balcony. I started on anti depressants and started going to a PND support group... both helped sooooo much... now that im preg with #2 i am off anti-d's and doing great!

Im sooo glad i realised how bad i was and got help...! Good luck hun!