Anyone else developed anxiety after having a baby?

[allatsea1]

Right... so to cut a long story short I had a very medically intensive pregnancy, moved home whilst pregnant, put under stress at work etc etc. DS born after induction (not nice). On the dreaded Day Three after he was born (and next to no sleep for four days) I had a massive panic attack out of the blue. Looking back on my life, I now realise I have had them once or twice before but put them down to other things.

Thankfully I haven't had any more panic attacks but I've been suffering from what I think might be anxiety - or more specifically derealisation where everything feels very surreal. It's bloody scary and I basically thought I was cracking up. Five weeks after his birth and I'm starting (just) to feel slightly less strange, but I do still feel quite overwhelmed in new situations or in company. This is so out of sorts for me as prior to DS birth have always been so confident.

I was just wondering if anyone else has been through this kind of thing. Will it ease off as DS gets a bit older or am I now stuck with it?

Any advice much appreciated.

allatsea1 I was similar to you after I had DD (now 18months). Although I'd had some anxiety before this was on a completely different scale.I thought I would never feel normal again but I'm really happy now, and no more anxious than I was before I had her. I had a horrific birth and hospital stay with health worries about DD and it was the worst few weeks of my life. The sleep deprivation makes it all much worse (really increases anxiety, for me anyway). It is probably one of the most disorientating things that can happen to a person, especially if you are sensitive . Once things settle down you will get much better and relax enough to start to enjoy it. I improved a lot at about 10 weeks, again at 3 to 4 months, then continuously from then on.

Good luck!

I too was very similar. Had hyperemesis all the way through pregnancy, my brother in law died, then a very long labour and difficult birth. I actually had a panic attack about two hours after DD was born - it was obviously tiredness and the worry about her arriving safely looking back.
Having a baby can be overwhelming. There is so much pressure to be 'perfect' mam that people don't admit to all the hard panicky bits.
It will ease off but speak to your health visitor or GP if you can. Mine were brilliant and gave great advice.
Lots of us on here have been through the same and will support you.

I had this too, mine was severe as i have suffered with generalised anxiety disorder since i was about 8 anyway. After having DD i developed agoraphobia and it has taken me a year to recover. Like a previous poster said, as the months went by ater giving birth i got better and better as the hormones wore off and my body got back to normal.

My panic attacks started when i was 6 months pregnant and got worse and worse until i couldn't leave the house without having that awful feeling that everything is overwhelming and too much for me to cope with...ive had a rough time but with the help of CBT and a lot of hard work on my part, i am now panic free :)

You will get there, having a baby messes up your mind and body for a while!!

Thank you for your responses - just knowing that I'm not the only one helps if that makes sense? I certainly wasn't expecting to feel this way - definitely not mentioned at antenatal! Sending warm wishes to you all - I'm glad you all seem to be over the worst of it :)