To keep constantly welling up at everything 5 months post baby

[momtoj]

Before I begin, I will avoid a dripfeed by saying I do struggle with (mainly health) anxiety and have been having CBT after my baby was born. So I’m aware of postnatal mental health issues. Each time I go I have to fill in the questionnaire and usually score low for depression and I don’t consider myself depressed.

However, since my baby was born, I keep welling up at everything! From tv shows (I just teared up at a documentary about prisoners for some reason) to random people’s pregnancy announcements on twitter. I can just feel my eyes filling with tears over the stupidest of things and, whilst I won’t usually actually cry, a few minutes later I’ll be like: why on earth was I teary over that? I know people talk a lot about baby blues a few weeks post baby, but is this my life now? Or do I need to consider that my post natal issues run deeper than I realise?

Speak to your GP if you have health anxiety anyway nothing we will say will stop you over thinking this.

I’m already happy with the care I’m receiving for my anxiety and will mention it to me CBT counsellor, I’m just genuinely curious if this is a normal postpartum thing that’s all? (the random welling up, not the anxiety) I’m not sure this post has much to do with health anxiety, I just mentioned it to show I was aware of postnatal depression etc.

*my cbt counsellor even!

It could be a normal hormonal wobble with your periods due to return, or it could be something a bit more. Unless you're having worrying thoughts of harming yourself or others then give it a few days. You can ask to be referred to your local perinatal mental health team which should have a lot more resources than talking therapies. PND can present itself in funny ways though- if you're feeling numb or empty or shut off, even if you don't feel sad, get some help. Good luck.

I cried a lot, but only for 6 weeks. How is the baby sleeping? I get weepy if DS goes through a few nights of waking every 90 minutes and he is almost 1.

Oh dear momtoj it's completely normal , I became a mother 41 years ago and my baby, my 41 year old 6ft 2 baby is a father to 2 fabulous little boys, I get tearful about them. When your babies are small the world seems to become a really scary place.
A strange truth of life is that you may not consider yourself to be depressed, but you're on the inside, in your head and you're looking out, and your window to the outside may be smaller than it was, your window may just be an arrow slit and maybe it's not giving you enough light.
Post natal depression is a very real condition, it's a chemical imbalance and can be treated.
There's no shame in asking for help. Please try and see your GP and/or health professional as soon as you can
I'll be wishing you well