Perinatal OCD

[Correlation]

Hi all,

I’ve had OCD in the past in bursts, like episodes where I have gone so far down a rabbit hole I’ve almost lost touch with reality.

But currently I’m struggling and I seem to be obsessing over whether this is OCD or not! Googling constantly, trawling through old Mumsnet threads to see how my symptoms compare to others’.

I had my son 6 months ago and I have a 2 year old daughter. I’ve started to become “obsessive” again about hygiene, how to make up formula bottles (been FF since birth), contamination of formula, contamination on work surfaces, on towels, only using kitchen roll to dry my hands or wipe any surfaces in the kitchen. Won’t let my DH do things like change dirty nappies so I’m breaking my back changing two lots of nappies constantly. Only I can make the formula up as I’m paranoid about it.

I am on sertraline and have been since I had my daughter when I experienced postnatal depression. I don’t feel depressed this time except I don’t know where I will get the strength to carry on like this with feeling afraid all the time or like I am failing, doing things wrong, not perfect.

I think I need to contact the GP but my DH will probably say my thoughts are normal and not to worry, so that fuels my obsession with whether or not I even have OCD and then I just tell myself I need to learn to cope better. Not sure what to do. Sorry for the long post.

[Oowoo]

I think you need to contact your GP too, these thoughts aren’t normal if they’re becoming overwhelming and it sounds like they are. Youre doing well staying on top of it all, take care of yourself

[boymama82]

Please speak to the GP! I didn't recognise I had PND and I was so obsessed with hygiene I was dragging everything outside to go to the tip! Our entire home stunk of bleach and was just a miserable place to be. I ended up being sectioned and it was the worst experience of my life. Get a grip of it now and you can beat it, good luck xx

[Correlation]

I am also constantly paranoid that my DH is thinking I am a failure or not doing enough. He has never said this. Even If he says he is happy holding our baby while I take a shower I still assume he is angry with me and thinks I should be able to manage without any help from him. I am running myself into the ground to prove I am a good mother but why??