Is it possible to get delayed post natal depression?

[Unhappygirl1]

I have been pregnant twice and last time and this time I seem to have been hit with a wave of depression at around 8 months post birth.

Each time, parenting has gotten harder around this time (weaning issues, prolonged sleep deprivation, tantrums, babies being much harder work) and it also corresponds to me feeling resentment towards my husband... his life continues and I’m up to my eyeballs in baby food I have no time to myself.

Also it’s the start of the dreaded “back to work” conversations where I try to negotiate better hours... work don’t really like part timers it seems and so I’m left feeling guilty that I’m not around as much as I would like. Plus the fear of “what can we actually afford”.

This time it’s complicated by the fact I have twins. So parenting has been tough. And the 9 months before that have been a hard pregnancy, preceded immediately before that by a traumatic miscarriage.

I feel like I could count on my hand the number of hours I’ve had to myself in 8 months.

I feel like I’m not being my best, I’m not being a good mum, I’m burnt out and I just feel trapped! I am feeling so incredibly down.

So is this postnatal depression or is it just regular depression? Can it come on this late after birth?

Anyone have it and what did you do?

I think it absolutely can - in the first 4 years I believe. I find this stage 6-12 months (well to 3 years really) hard - everyone thinks you have the hang of things but there is still a lot of daily grind and not much sleep and it's winter and you have twins. So it could be pnd or it could just be you need to try and get some support / carve some time. Not much help.

Thanks. I’ve had a lovely friend come round today and let me vent to her. I think I’m going to go to the doctors. I just cannot get out of this negative thinking

My HV was lovely and supportive. Glad your getting some support op X