Can you get post natal depression over a year after a child is born?

[Stillmonday]

Not sure if I'm suffering from PND or if I'm just a bit down tbh.

I love my child with all of my heart but I'm exhausted. Completely exhausted. I nap when he naps but I'm still not catching up with my sleep as he doesn't sleep well at night so I'm constantly having broken sleep.
Some days it really gets me down, this morning I barely had the energy to smile it's that bad.
After our nap today I felt much better and we've been for a walk and played but now I feel exhausted again. Could I be lacking in something or a bug? I just don't know if I'm coming down with something or it's just exhaustion catching up with me?

I didn’t reach out for help til my dd turned one. Dh has asked me to smile for a picture on her birthday and I realised I couldn’t. I feel so much better only a few months on, started anti depressants and dd has turned a massive corner in terms of sleep and her general temperament. I stopped breastfeeding too which I thought I’d feel so guilty about but I don’t at all. Dd is a different child and I’m finally enjoying her. She’s sat here asleep on my lap whereas before she’d never settle for me. The lack of sleep can be brutal. If you feel that it might be more then please do speak to your doctor. I’m now having fortnightly phone CBT sessions so even with lockdown things are still available to help x

That sounds lovely that you are enjoying her now @AwkwardAsAllGetout
I've always enjoyed my baby and always thanked god that I have him as it took me years to get pregnant.
I honestly think it's sleep deprivation but some days I feel so low it's awful.

Are you managing to get out every day? We’ve developed a routine of sorts (gone out of the window a bit now the weather has changed) but having some predictability to the day has helped me massively. It’s also helped that dh started working from home to help me through the weaning, and is here in the day. Despite being upstairs working, just knowing I’m not on my own with her he’s helped. I don’t know what will happen when he goes back to work. It also helps that I have older dc to look after and haven’t let things slide to much in lockdown. I know people who have barely managed to get dressed throughout and that wouldn’t help me at all, I very much need structure and routine. Is dh able to help out a bit more so you can rest? I’m incredibly lucky that dh has always helped in the night and right now is letting me sleep whenever she does wake as I had a year of having to feed her about 5 times a night. I’m steeling myself to start helping with that so I can give him a break too, but I know from experience that lack of sleep sends me very quickly into a very low mood.

Oh love, sleep deprivation is the worst aspect of motherhood IMO, you just can't catch up with a few naps, it's so deeply ingrained.
It will get better, honestly, they sleep through the night eventually.
Do you get joy from your child and / or anything else on a daily basis?

Sending you sympathy. I’ve not felt down since having my little girl but the tiredness has made me wonder if it’s an unusual presentation of PND.

I have friends who use nap times to prepare meals, clean the house, bake etc. The most I can do is collapse on the sofa and sleep...and my daughter now sleeps through the night?! I’ve had iron levels checked and it’s all fine, so all I can think is it’s just my body recovering from the severe sleep deprivation from 0-14months.

Sorry I’m not much help, because I also don’t know what’s wrong, but you’re not alone in feeling like it.

I'm still Breastfeeding numerous times a night so never have a full nights sleep, I never knew sleep deprivation was such a killer.

I get huge amount of joy from my little boy who's now 16 months, I still pinch myself he's mine. We used to meet with friends or go to different groups or even shopping everyday which all
Came to an abrupt halt 3 months ago so we've only had each other!
We do walk the dog everyday and yesterday I met with a friend for a social distant walk which was lovely. I need routine too so this lockdown hasn't helped with my mental health. We did a daily routine but the weather change has stopped most of our walks.
My low mood is making me feel guilty which makes my mood even worse. I just sat crying this morning out of sheer exhaustion then my little one saw me then I felt guilty so cried some more.