Worried about getting PND again! Experience please.

[Supercalafradulistic]

So I had PND with my first born DS and ignored it for a long time and really only over the last 6 months felt like me again (he's 2 FYI) and really enjoying being a mum now and it's great to feel like me again .. me and my husband have recently decided we want to try for another baby which is great as I never thought me or my husband would want another baby after how bad I got the first time but I honestly feel really ready and excited about this whereas before even though he was very much planned I almost planned too much and became very anxious about it all very quickly also felt I maybe wasn't entirely ready at that point but hubby was so excited and I knew it's what we wanted eventually but this time I feel ready and broody but there is still this worry that I will get PND again I ignored it the first time for so long so feel on that front I'd deal with it quicker but I'm just loving being a mum at the moment and feeling how I feel I don't want to ruin it but at the same time always wanted a close age gap with the children and I feel so ready for another.

Just wondering has anyone else had similar experiences had it with one pregnancy and not the other ? As my counselor said if you've had it once you're more likely to get it again but feel I'm in a different space now am I being too optimistic that it's different and I won't get ?

TIA

I did! I had quite bad PND with DD (now 4), diagnosed about a month after her birth. Took me a really long time to feel ready for another go, and before I got pregnant with DS (now 5 months old) I saw my GP to discuss how best to handle it. She was brilliant. I'd come off my antidepressants in order to TTC but we decided it was best for me to go back onto them, low dose, and I've stayed on them throughout pregnancy and since DS was born. I also went back to my therapist, who I'd stopped seeing when DD was 1. Although I've had some rough periods and scary moments since DS was born, I would not say I've experienced PND. I think feeling prepared, as though you have lots of options and support if it does recur, is really important. So whatever you did to help you the first time, make sure you have that in place. Good luck!

Thank you for your reply I have only just seen it ! It's very reassuring to hear you have not had the same second time around I am pleased to hear ! I plan to be a lot more open with GP, Midwife and health visitor this time as I was in complete denial first time around and dealt with it myself but took 2 years to snap myself out of it and I think it's because I stayed in denial of it and told myself there's nothing they could do ! So never been on antidepressants but may need to discuss with GP and make a plan. Now I know I need to open and honest early on and hopefully be more prepared to deal with it and overcome it if it does happen again ! Fingers crossed it doesn't rear its head again !

I had PND with first DC, it kicked in very quickly after the birth, and my GP was brilliant. It made me think very hard about having a second child, but went for it. My GP and midwife kept a close eye on me and my GP even came to visit me at home when baby was a few days old. I had no problems at all.