What to expect - treatment

[plplz]

Just this really, I'm having a call with my GP today about PND, I think I'm suffering from it.

I feel like I'm just surviving motherhood. Sometimes, I don't even want to feed my baby. Of course I do, and I give this baby absolutely everything I have got and more but I'm not feeling a bond at all.

Anyway, not sure what to expect from treatment and if it will actually help.

Does anyone want to share what treatment they got and if it helped?

I’m sorry it’s been hard for you. How old is your little one? Do you feel like certain things that have happened could have contributed to how you’re feeling? Do you have much help at home? Are you getting much sleep?

I’m only asking because aside from maternal mental health support, knowing some of the answers above and acting on them will probably help you. I had postnatal depression with my son (he’s now three). It was brutal and shook me to my very core. I’d never really read about it until that point. Being a new mum is so scary, there are so many changes and you have this little mini human is completely dependent on you. It’s overwhelming and thought provoking. BUT, it does pass. With the right help you can speed up the healing process. Therapy was the main thing that helped me. I went every week with my baby and sat for an hour just venting to the therapist about everything that was going on in my head. It was amazing. Even though for the first few weeks all I did was cry and ask him if I was some sort of monster! So if you’re being offered therapy please do take it.

I did later go on to take medication which helped immensely too. Sertraline at a low dose. Stayed on it for a year until I felt strong enough to go it alone. It took the edge off when I felt there was no way out.

Whilst you’re waiting for treatment do some reading on pnd. Try some guided meditations at night before you sleep. If you have a partner try and get them to take the baby once a week for even an hour just so you can do something for YOU. A bath and a book, or a walk, or a little meet with a friend alone. It seems minor but it makes such a big difference.

Sending you so much love. If I can get through it, so can you x

@abitfunny - thank you, she's 14 weeks old now. I think exclusively breastfeeding has a lot to do with it; its so exhausting. I do love it most of the time but at night when she's ravenous and fussing its hours of cluster feeding. I'm trying to express milk to build my supply but she is very stubborn with the bottle, so I haven't had much of a break.

I'm also all alone here; new to the country and don't have family here, so no one I can ask to look after her. She is going into nursery two afternoons a week soon, hopefully that makes a difference. My partner works full time so most days its just me and DD.

Also booking in a Personal trainer to come to the house twice a week so I can do some focused exercise. I think doing something other than walking with DD in the buggy might help.

Still going to the doctor to see what if anything I need. I have so many bad days, an occasional good one but still think I need the help.

Also thank you for sharing and responding, it means a lot when I feel so alone.