Symptoms of PND?

[KittyJay]

I've name changed for this, probably because I'm not quite ready to admit I'm not coping very well.

Can anyone give me any links or provide a list of symptoms of PND? I'm not sure if I'm ill or just being a bit of a wuss or if it's general fed-upness of being a mum.

The NHS list seem so very general they could apply to any new parent, whereas the list I saw on another website suggested you'd have to be almost suicidal or ready to murder before having PND. I'm guessing the reality is somewhere in the middle.

Also, if I talk to the doctor and I am diagnosed with PND, what is the likely treatment?

Thanks.

[fishandlilacs]

Hi kittyjay,

Firstly, im sorry you are feeling like this-it may be worth reposting in chat where you'll get more help and responses. You are not alone in these feelings, it's quite normal to be a bit down and also common to feel a lot worse.

PND can be defined by all of the above feelings, if you are not coping, feeling desolate, anxious, sleeping problems, negative thoughts, feeling sad, tired all the time, overwhelmed and many other things.

For me the key to my diagnosis was that I wasn't getting any pleasure out of my daughter or anything else for that matter and I had chronic insomnia. I aslo had post traumatic stress from a horrid birth-flashbacks of the c section and feeling dreadful after.

How old is your baby? have you seen a health visitor? they should be able to give you the depression quiz as follows:

1. Do you feel unhappy most of the time?
   

1. Are you finding it hard to cope with things that used to be manageable?
   

1. Have you lost interest and enjoyment in activities that you used to enjoy?
   

1. Are you finding it harder to make decisions?
   

1. Are you having trouble sleeping?
   

1. Have you experienced a loss of appetite or have you lost weight?
   

1. Are you feeling worn out and tired?
   

1. Do you lack self-confidence in areas that you used to feel competent in?
   

1. Have you been avoiding other people or friends?
   

10. Do you ever contemplate suicide as a way out of your problems?

they will go through your responses with you and hopefully offer support. You can take anti depressants or you can try talk therapy. I did both.

it took time but I made a full recovery by the time my daughter was 1. In my darkest days I never thought i would feel normal again, but you do in time.

[scottishmummy]

sorry you feel bad. go see gp or if cant face it ask for a home visit.does hv still see you

pnd leaflet

pnd is a spectrum,everyone individually experiences differently.it is v treatable.discuss options with your gp

gp will ask about how you been feeing, what recent days are like, appetite,motivation, sleep how you been managing, any other stressors for you. family and social situation

let gp know if you are breast feeding


if too anxious to talk, print out your post or write stuff down before you go

and good luck

[Albrecht]

I agree with fishandlilacs, the 'symptons' are similar to those caused by sleep deprivation and/or shock at being a parent, so a real warning sign is not feeling good about your baby. If you are questioning whether you are coping its probably worth talking to someone.

Treatment depends where you live, could be ads or counselling or combination. Or they might just like to keep an eye on you with regular appointments so you have someone to chat to about how its going. Some areas have peer support groups of women feeling the same thing too, I think.

[KittyJay]

Thanks for the hints. I really appreciate it.

Sleep isn't a problem as I'm getting a good 8 or 9 hours but I'm very tearful and wake up almost dreading the day ahead.

I'm finding it an effort to interact with my baby and when I left her briefly in a crowded shop today (narrow aisles and I was just around the corner!) it did cross my mind that I might not be too upset if someone snatched her which is pretty awful.

I'll probably give the health visitor a call and see where we go from there.

Thanks again.

[littlemisslost]

its does sound like you are depressed and probably exhausted, For a diagnosis of PND you have to have several symptoms at the same time and to quite a severe extent. Anti depressants can be helpful from youtr GP but they are limited if you are breastfeeding. Talking to people on here and friends/family as much as possible so that people are aware is one of the most helpful things. Dont feel embrarrased or a failure for admitting your not coping because many people don't! The more you isolate yourself and your feelings te more risk you are putting both yourself and your baby at. I hope you get some support soon {{{hugs}}}

[Albrecht]

Finding it hard to interact, neutral feelings about the worst happening, dreading the day even when you have had a full nights sleep - I would talk to hv if it was me. If they are rubbish try your gp.

Be as honest as you can. Getting help is for your dd's sake as well as your own.

Being a parent is hard, especially if its your first, but there are people who can help you to feel better about it.

[scottishmummy]

see gp 1st, talk about blunted mood and lack of enjoyment
if you breast feed ,mention this so if AD prescribed you get an appropriate one

hope resolves well

[fishandlilacs]

How are you feeling today Kittyjay? Have you called the HV yet-probably difficult with the bank holiday and all but do so as soon as you can. You can simply talk about how you are feeling and then decide from there-often the conversation is enough to set your mind at rest.

Do keep posting. Many have been where you are and you will get useful helpful advice.

[KittyJay]

Hi.

Not spoken to HV yet - going to leave until Tuesday as I'm guessing they won't be working over the bank holiday. Also means it's a bit longer to note how I'm feeling so it's definitely not just a passing thing IYSWIM.

I partly broached how I was feeling with my partner and he helped with the baby a lot more yesterday which eased the anxiety a bit. We managed to get a bit of "us" time too once the baby had gone to sleep so although it meant a late night after slobbing on the sofa in front of tv, I feel a bit more relaxed today.

I don't BF by the way but thank you for thinking of it.

I suspect just talking to someone will help so I'm just concerned now that the HV or doctor don't dismiss my concerns as trivial. When I've dealt with the GP over baby and a couple of health concerns, I've come away with the impression that they think I'm over-reacting.

[Daisybell1]

kitty I don't have experience of pnd but am currently in the throws of pre-natal depression. If your GP isn't taking you seriously, then talk to your hv to see if they'd recommend a particular one - my mw insisted I see a certain GP because she is amazingly sympathetic and is taking treatment very seriously. Good luck!

[scottishmummy]

kitty.dont preempt what may happen or assume your experience will be minimised.in all likliehood you will feeel better talking,and gp will be empathic

good luck.and do see gp and talk to hv

[MrsDrOwenHunt]

sorry to hijack r u still about littlemissl?

[HayleighPND]

Though i'd share a service i'm finding useful: (only available in Scotland though)

PND Support Network

Do you think you might have post natal depression and have some questions? Why not access our new Live Chat service and have a chat with one of our PND Support Workers for relevant information and support - see
//www.signpostingpndsupport.org.uk/livesupport.html
for further information.Chat live with a PND Support Worker - Staff are available Mon - Sat 9am - 6pm (GMT) to provide free information and support via Live Chat, Email, Telephone or IM.

its Funded by LTCAS
and Supported by Aberdeenshire Signposting Project and available to anyone in scotland. They are also on facebook under "pnd support network".
cant recommend the support highly enough xx

[lovesellie]

hi my name s katie nd i think im suffering from the same thing im 20 pregnant with my second child and i havent felt my self since i was pegnant with the first feel like im getting worse feel tired constantley cryin when my partners in bed dont no wat to do i thoght maybe i just needed 2 get bk 2 work but i now have my own busseness and still feel crap noone understands they just think im moody really dont no what 2 do eel really hopeless:(