Feeling strange after having baby

[Newmum2127]

I’m nearly 8 weeks post partum, I had a straight forward pregnancy and was 10 days over due. When I went into labour it all happened really quick, started contraction at 11am, waters broke at 3:00pm, was in active labour and 5cm dilated by 4:00pm, baby born by 6:30pm. Everything kind of went 0-100 in a short space of time. My labour went well, no complications and I adore my little girl. The week following birth I had the baby blues and feel much much better now, but I always get this sense of sadness when I think back to my pregnancy, it’s feels like I’m mourning how things once were ? Which I feel terrible for because I love my little girl and am so lucky and am very happy (some times a little down when majorly sleep deprived) I’m just wondering if any one else has ever experienced something similar ?

Aw I totally understand where you're coming from. Having a baby is a huge change in your life, and a fast labour can make it feel quite dizzying. I think it all takes a while to process, I bottled it all up then had a really big cry to my mum one night and then felt a lot better. Do you have someone you could talk it all through with? Might be worth a couple of sessions with a counsellor...

I think this is fairly normal. My first is 19 now and I still remember how hard it was. It is weird that something you so want feels different in reality. It's an identity change mixed up with hormones, earth shattering tiredness and responsibility that you can't entirely control. When you are pregnant, it's generally much simpler. You look after you and by extension the baby. You are also the person everyone else looks after (especially first time around).
It will get easier. You'll get used to the change, eventually hormones will find equilibrium and you'll get sleep. But what you are experiencing is normal and ok.

Yeah what you have said pretty much sums it all up, I do think I would feel in a better head space if my sleep improved

I ended up speaking with my partner, it was pretty difficult to actually explain how I feel but he was good. He listened, I suppose it’s a start. I might look at speaking to some one properly though

How you are feeling is quite normal. It takes a while for your hormones to get back to how they were and having a baby is a huge change. You are only eight weeks postpartum, a few more weeks will make a big difference, honestly.

Congratulations on your baby!

I'm also glad you think you had a quick, easy labour. It sounds long to me :-).

What you're describing might be dissociation. If so it can sometimes be a precursor to a depressive episode or post natal depression or anxiety so please mention to your midwife/health visitor/gp just so they can keep an eye on things for you

That you had a "normal" if quick Labour and birth is irrelevant these things can happen to anyone.

It may just be you adjusting to the reality of motherhood, sleep deprivation etc but I think it can't hurt to alert those looking after you just in case

Congratulations on the baby

Speaking to someone is a good idea. I wish I had.

It sounds quite normal to me - I remember spending the first few weeks thinking 'what the fuck just happened' and replaying my labour over and over in my head (even though it really was a smooth, positive experience!) Your whole world has just turned upside down and it will take time for the dust to settle and for you to adjust.

I do think it's a good idea to speak to someone though. Just because these feelings might be normal, doesn't mean it's not worth saying them out loud and ensuring those around you understand how you feel.

Congratulations on your new baby!