I have two DS: one who's almost three and still very demanding, and a five-month-old. I also have Hashimoto's, which is the autoimmune version of thyroiditis, and right now my thyroid is a mess (and is expected to be for about 12 months after the birth) and two of my key symptoms are crushing fatigue and insomnia. I am extremely lucky in that I have a mother's helper two afternoons a week, but I have no family close by (live overseas) and my husband is only with the kids for thirty minutes in the morning, as he has a long commute and long hours.
So.
Both kids are fed, watered, clean, driven to various activities, sometimes to a friend's house, and played with on a good day, mostly in the garden or with books. But I can't help wondering about my feelings toward DS2. I feel quite ambivalent, to be honest. I wore DS1 in a sling, fed on demand, played with him lots, whereas I try and get away with as much Fisher Price swing time as I can for DS2, and just don't feel a pressing need to cuddle him and stare into his eyes (I do to an extent, but honestly, I'm too shattered to go overboard on this). I breastfeed, but am happy to stare at my phone while doing so, and if he fusses, I'd rather bung him in the swing, than pace up and down with him in a baby carrier.
Does this ambivalence sound like the beginnings of PND, or simply someone with an autoimmune disease who's completely rundown?