To think I'll definitely get PND again?

[MaryAnnTheDasher]

Hi, i've just found out am pregnant with unplanned number 3. Two small dcs, will be 4.4 and 2.4 when new baby is born. I had PND with both which was horrific and much longer lasting 2nd time round (only came off tablets about 4 months ago).

Am I being unnecessarily pessimistic to assume I will get it again and that it will be even worse than 2nd time around? I've read that you can be prescribed anti depressants at the time of giving birth so as to 'prevent' it if you have a history. Has anyone done this? Did it help? I can't even contemplate going through it again and want to do everything I can to try and preempt it.

To put in context DH is very hands on and supportive and DM and Dsis are close by and all were my saviours during both previous PNDs with help with childcare etc so I do have RL support it just doesn't seem to stop the dark cloud looming as soon as I have a newborn!

Anyone been in my position ? What did you do ? Did it help?

Thanks for listening!

I was offered AD's 'from the point of delivery' if I ever became pregnant again. I have chosen to only have DS instead! So AFAIK it is possible.

I am glad that you have lots of RL support, I know that is invaluable when the clouds of PND roll over you. Wishing you a wonderful pregnancy, congratulations!

I was in a very similar position this time last year, pregnant with dc3 and with two other DDs very similar ages to your two. I opted to go down the preventative route and started using anti-depressant suppositories from the day dd3 was born. I'm pleased to say I was absolutely fine, but to be honest I felt completely different this time round. Dd3 does have a different father so of course this could have played a role in how I was feeling. I stopped taking the medication after a few weeks (with the doctor's agreement) and have been fine ever since.
So I guess my point ultimately is that this time you could feel completely different and not be affected, but for me i didn't want to risk it so went down the medication route.
Good luck.

Thank you both. I will definitely speak to the GP about preventative measures and hope for the best!

I have 3dc, similar to you I had pnd both times and much worse second time, I had a breakdown and only came off ads when my middle child was 2. I recently had my 3rd dc (nearly 9mo now) and I'm pleased to say I haven't had pnd this time. What I did do was look back at the things which I found triggered me (lack of support, feeling like being pulled in different directions) and reduced those as much as I could, and also tried to avoid situations which I knew would stress me out and make me feel unable to cope. It seems to have worked ok, but appreciate it might not work for everyone.

Just had another thought on this after reading it again. I had a section with dd3 so was basically forced to take it easy and just do nothing. With the other two I'd been dashing around all over the place as soon as they were born. I think this probably helped an awful lot.

It is possible to have anti depressants as soon as you have delivered. There used to be a course of injections available too, don't know what it was though, but it was for seven days post birth. I had them and it worked no pnd after second or third pregnancies.

There's no guarantee that you'll have PND again but mention it to your midwife/doctor who can advise on what's available now or after birth to help. Have been there with DC1 but thankfully didn't have PND on DC2. Hope it all goes well for you

After pnd with DS I was really worried about having number 2 so I had counselling (I paid but GP did offer six sessions at the surgery, I just knew someone I wanted) before I got pregnant with DD (was actually pregnant by the time of the last session). It was hugely helpful, I identified triggers (like Twatty) and was able to address possible issues with DH before DD was born, also I too had a cs with DD and the enforced slow down really helped. I had occasional moments of panic/anxiety but was able to manage them rather than fall down the rabbit hole.

Would counselling be a possibility?

Edible woman yes counselling is a possibility I had considered asking if it was available and think I definitely will.

Feel much better prepared for my trip to the go now (and fractionally less scared of having a 3rd baby!).

Thanks all!!

Trip to GP......

You should try placenta encapsulation. It really is amazing for PND. Milk production and boosting energy levels.

placentanetwork.com/

Oh and one last thing, I bf my second and third, the pnd didn't hit really badly with my second until after I stopped feeding her (which happened almost overnight as she suddenly went from refusing bottle to refusing breast within 48 hours at 5mo) the hormone crash was vicious. This time I stopped at 7.5mo and it was a very gradual change over about 3 weeks from fully bf to fully ff and she was also weaned at 5 months so I think the more gradual reduction in bf helped the hormones die down more slowly, and this time I was fully intending to stop, and in control of the pace
Not suggesting you bf if you don't want to /hadn't planned to but if you do its something to consider

Thanks Twatty. No success for me on breast feeding with first 2 so not holding out much hope for this one!

I had PND with both dc1 and dc2, went on ADs within a couple of weeks of having dc3- but still had PND (dcs were 4 and 3 when dc3 was born). Yet with dc4, 2 1/2 years after dc3, I was absolutely fine. Then dc5 (5 years after dc4)- also no PND. I also bf dc4 and 5, even though didn't make it past a week bfing the older 3- being unable to carry on breastfeeding was part of the PND with my 2nd baby- had to stop, was too much to cope with, if that makes sense, but with my 4th- I felt it kept the PND away, likewise with my 5th. If anything I was more stressed with my 4th and 5th pregnancies- 5th was a surprise, was very stressful and difficult and I really thought if I was going to get PND, I'd get it again then as I hated being pregnant. I had counselling before having dc3 but there was never a reason for the PND- although for me was linked I think to feeling out of control with very bad sickness and my 4th was HG managed with tablets and I felt I won over it. I was so, so scared of PND, when pregnant with my 4th, I know my dh was terrified of me having it again too, but it just didn't happen.
Hope everything goes ok for you