OH NO! I think I'm getting PND again - HERBAL remedies??

[expatinscotland]

I've started feeling very anxious and a touch paranoid about things I KNOW are very silly - like baby Roisin, nearly 3 weeks, falling ill w/a cold, etc.

Breastfeeding is going well, however

Any ideas on herbal remedies for PND I can use?

It's definitely not as bad as last time - by this stage last time I was extremely ill - but I can't seem to control my feelings of anxiety about the future and the growing hoplessness.

NO HV - our local one left and there's no replacement as of yet.

Grrr.

expat, I'm so sorry . I just hoped this thread wasn't yours. Lots of good suggestions here, I would certainly try NCT- they used to have a drop-in place in the surgery in Stockbridge, it would be worth a try I think. Just call me if there's anything I can do. Really, truly.
xxx

Expat - I'm so sorry you are facing this again - but getting help sorted out quickly is the key as you've said!

I'd go to the GP useless or not, or get on to the post natal ward midwifery head at the hospital you gave birth in.

If that fails - then just turn up and A&E and refuse to leave until someone gets you some help!

Do you have any contacts with medical professionals anywhere from your DS1 bout of PND that you could call directly- almost like a self-referral?

I hope you get the help you need - I'm sure the anxiety is exacerbated by knowing how bad it got last time

Expat if you are in the right area my surgery is fab Long House Surgery, East Trinity Road. I know they take folks from near Ocean Terminal and up into trinity. Two hv one brill one a bit bossy for my tastes, All the docs are great and best of all they have a open surgery everyday, turn up at 10am and you will be seen normally before 11am. Honestly I can't recommend them enough.

Hi Expat! So sorry to hear you're feeling like this, but the really important thing is you are recognising it... and doing something about it!!

My homeopathic remedy the GP recommended was Sepia. It really worked for me.... don't care why!

Hi Expat,
So sorry you're feeling like this again, it's crap isn't it? I remember it well.

Have you got company pretty frequently? I remember feeling SO much worse when I was on my own with the kids in the house.

I got through it without AD's but didn't really consistently use any herbal remedies - did try St. John's Wort but can't remember it doing anything. Counselling and getting out of the house as much as possible helped me.

Hugs ((())) Hope you're feeling more positive soon.

Myrrth
I agree, I'm not as ill as w/DD1, b/c I DO know it will pass. The first time was devestating. I honestly wanted to die. I can't count the number of times I stood in front on the 'beach' at Silverknowes and it didn't seem cold or vast, but warm and inviting. So did the drop off Dean Bridge.

THANKS for all the tips from locals! We do live in Leith, but just off Bernard Street - round the corner from it and south.

I should look into switching surgeries, we only go to the one we do b/c DH grew up in Trinity.

Roisin fights sleep. She gets inconsolable and it makes me so anxious. I know it shouldn't and then it makes me angry w/myself b/c she's just a little baby and probably figuring out she's not in the mummy anymore and really upset about that. But then I just start to feel like the space is too small. My bad, I grew up having lots of space round me or being able to drive for miles in the middle of nowhere and that'll always be a hang up of mine.

She's not hungry. DH is fine handling it and has her out in the car just now. Whilst my anxiety spikes at fever pitch and I try to shove Tesco fruit bake biscuits into my mouth b/c my legs are getting SO thin. I'm just about thinner than when I even got pregnant ! Of course, the more I try to control my anxiety the worse it gets. Bitch!

At least I don't want cigarettes or alcohol this time round - too paranoid I'll get some disease or poison my milk.

At this point in time, the f*£$ing ADs are looking pretty good. Wouldn't mind a Diazepam chaser, either. Or some Xanax.

SackAche, I'm going to look into this Sepia.

AD's do work, but they can have some unpleasant side effects for some.

It's gonna be a long night, folks.

Expat - I don't know if you've read about my PND, but I was pretty baaaaaaaaad. Then I developed AND when pg with dd.... mostly coz I was so anxious about PND happening again. I felt so empowered (cheesy I know!!) by the fact I knew SO much about PND and had recovered before. You're doing the very best to make sure that if you get PND again its short-lived and less severe as last time. You know that though.

I, too, SackAche, had it really bad first time around. I can relate. Suicidal bad. Mother had to come look after baby for months bad. Can't remember much of her first year of life bad.

I felt so alone. And although I wouldn't wish it on anyone, knowing I'm not alone helps SO much.

I want to volunteer at Boswall House after my kids get older. Just to be that kind person who says, 'Let me hold your baby! You sit down and have a cuppa.' It's SUCH a relief to know your baby's safe and you can just chill for a bit.

My little girls are both such sweeties, too. I'm so blessed to have them and love them so much. I left everything behind just for the chance to have them - my whole life as I knew it, my career, my family and friends, an entire nation. I'd be so sad if I didn't have them.

Now that just makes it all feel worse to be like this.

I feel like I'm letting my whole family down and I'm such a disappointment to everyone.

Oh expat... you know that you're not letting anyone down! Doesn't matter what you've got to be thankful for!!! That doesn't really come into it with PND coz one of the awful things is you cannot put things into perspective!

Stop giving yourself a hard time. Isn't that one of the first things you could do? This isn't something you are deliberately doing to hurt people! You're doing the opposite, you are looking for ways to minimise the effect this will have on you and your family. The best thing ever!!!!

Try Sepia. I don't care if it was only psychological ( like cynics will say)..... I really couldn't give a feck why it made me feel human again..... but it DID! AND it felt like something I could lean on too. AND it helped my DH coz he felt like at least I was helping myself beat it.

Are you going to come to meet-up in Falkirk in mid-January?

Expat I have no experience but am sorry that you are feeling this way again. You have been do open in the past about your problems first time around and I really feel for you this time darling. Can you try the community midwives at the Eastern for an 'in' to some help?

Oh expat, it really is the most horrible thing. And the worst of it is the loneliness - I mean, I can post 'til my fingers drop off about how it will get better, and it's an illness, and your dd will be fine but in the wee small hours it's you, the baby, and it's so bloody hard.

I never had a problem with taking anti-d's and I honestly think they saved my life but you have to get through this in your own way. Keep posting - I wish I'd had MN when I was going through my PND (though at its worst I don't suppose I would have posted). I am thinking of you.

expat, sorry to read how youre feeling. i've just started my anti-d's, in 'advance' of any sign of PND returning. i nearly didnt start them, as i feel okay so far this time, but the thought of even slightly feeling as black as i did last time was just about enough to make me start. i am sensing that sense of 'detachment' and slight OTT feeling about looking after dd3 and safe. i am no great help, but i'm right there with you hun.

Expat - just incase you end up on prescription drugs here are a few links to research which ones are ok for breastfeeding. A surprising number are but must docs will give a blanket no you must stop for just about any prescription.

hale
WHO Guide
Motherisk

Might be worth a look

Message withdrawn

Thanks all! I had a good sleep last night - DH took Roisin out for a long ride. She slept for FOUR hours between feeds . She'd been fighting sleep all day. Before he left, she'd had this HUGE feed - she nursed a full hour. So I knew she wasn't hungry.

Today he took both girls out a long walk. She fought sleep again this morning, but the walk seems to have helped.

I'm still feeling down. BUT, as SackAche and so many others pointed out, this time is different b/c 1) both DH and I know what to look for and not delay getting help 2) I know this will pass.

I spent more time w/DD1 this morning and that helped, too. Reminded me of what's in store for the future, a lovely little girl.

I'm still phoning Boswall House after the new year, tho. At least useless GP is fast and loose w/the drugs. Who says men aren't good for anything? .

Glad to hear DH is being supportive EPIS - he sounds like a gem.

Sleep will help, but so will drugs You are strong and you will get through this - and if you want info re anti-depressants and breastfeeding, you can phone the Breastfeeding Network's Drugline - or there's some good advice and info on their website too

UPDATE: I've been prescriped Clomipramine so it won't interfere w/my bfing. So far, 75mg for now, but have been referred to consultant psychiatrist.

The anxiety is getting to me. Now DD1 has contracted a nasty respiratory infection w/fever, and I'm terrified DD2 will get it. It's not helping at all b/c the insomnia I get as a result is no good for the immune system. I doubt I'll get much sleep tonight and I already feel so worn down.

PUt in a call to NCT. DH has offered to cover ALL nights so long as I am able to keep up w/the days mostly. I'd like to express so he can do the nights - would even get up to express a few times a night. Need to see how this will work. As it is, I have to go back to work the first week in April so DD2 will need to be able to drink EBM from a bottle, anyhow.

Boswall House reopens so I'll be showing my face again there!

I could have just done the whole Edinburgh Post Natal Scale w/'Yes, most of the time.'

Pretty sad when you can relate to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Really glad to hear that the GP has prescribed something for you and that he's also referred you to the consultant psychiatrist. Will this be the same person as last time?

Will those tablets help with the insomnia once they kick in?

Hope you start to feel better soon

glad that the GP was helpful and has referred you. hope the tabs kick in soon. tricyclics are meant to kick in pretty quickly compared to SSRIs. fastasleep on here is pretty knowledgeable about expressing - expressed all her milk for her babies as babies wouldn't latch on.