Thin line between exhaustion and depression?

[sleepfinder]

I had a baby 3 wks ago. No blues, just elation for the last 3 wks, tempered somewhat by the increased lack of sleep.

Today I went out to a busier part of town than usual and felt overwhelmed by all the people rushing about (I live in London, this should be normal...) and felt extremely odd and almost unable to cope.

This really surprised me - is it normal in contrast to being exhausted and in the house with a new child or is it a sign of something worse?

I have experienced depression years ago, as a direct result of trauma - so I know what its like and I have had no indication that I'm going anywhere near that place.

Anyone had a similar experience?

Hi Sleepfinder

I think this is entirely normal ... at least it was for me. I remember feeling quite overwhelmed and fragile when I first went out after giving birth to my son. I would guess this is your first child and the experience is so unlike anything you have had before - wonderful, but difficult especially if you've had a pretty active life before then. I was brought up in London and have lived, worked and partied here for more than twenty years. I went to a friend's birthday dinner at a restaurant in town a few weeks after he was born ... was surrounded by friends yet still felt like an alien!

You also feel hugely protective of your little one soon after the birth and can imagine the bogeyman at every turn. I can remember going along in the car one day and crying at the thought that he might, one day, suffer from a broken heart!? It is a tender and emotional time.

I have also suffered from depression in the past and whilst I'm sure I didn't get pnd I did often feel upset and overwhelmed (as well as elation)in the early days, as did most of the new mums I knew.

My son is nearly two now and I feel pretty normal these days . If you are worried about pnd though your health visitor would normally do a kind of questionnaire which you could ask for if you haven't done it already.

Three weeks is ever so early, just be kind to yourself, get out for walks as much as you can and I'd pretty much guarantee these feelings (and the exhaustion) will pass.

Hi Sleepfinder
I too felt like this when my dd was born. I went to town shopping with my dh when she was 5 days old, she looked so tiny in her pram and I was so nervous in Tescos, I just thought someone was going to try and steal her from her pram (we waited quite a while to get pregnant!). I also felt very nervous going out walking with her in the pram on my own, initially.
The good news is, this is all much better now. DD is 4 months old, and I don't have these feelings anymore. I think it's normal, they're so tiny and fragile, and precious! I'm sure it will pass as you get used to things. London is very busy place, I live in Herts and I get overwhelmed going into London, so I think you are doing really well!!!

This is really normal. 1 week after my 1st son was born, I got lost in the (tiny!) town where I have lived all my life.

I also remember thinking that if anyone even gave my precious baby a look that hinted they were going to take him, I would be ready to stab them! And he wasn't planned, so it must have been pure hormones.

Accept that women who have just had babies are a bit peculiar, and that social group now includes yourself. You will come down off the ceiling soon, I promise.

Thanks all for your support and similar stories.