Postnatal Anxiety?

[PalomaViolets]

I’m going to the doctors about this but just wanted to ask if anyone has been through this?

My baby is 11 weeks old and in the past week or so I’ve noticed I’m getting more and more anxious, particularly taking her out on my own. When I do take her out it’s only locally to the local supermarket for example but recently I forgot to bring my bank card and the next day forgot to lock the front door behind me. I get myself in such a tizz 😔. I’m not sure if it’s tiredness, baby brain or it is anxiety/PND? I worry that she might have a meltdown when we’re out (she never has), people might judge me etc. It doesn’t help that I live in a small area and have a bright distinctive pram so people always want to comment. I’m quite shy and don’t really want to be approached by strangers.

I don’t drive so have only taken her on the bus once - on the way there and back I had to field questions about her from an old lady.

So I don’t get out much because it’s all a bit much and I don’t have lots of friends. The friends I do have I’m keeping a distance from - I hardly ever text them back and I’ve even developed an anxiety about replying to them (?!)

I have a somewhat supportive partner/family - although my partner comes out with nonsensical statements such as his job is harder than being a Mum (he’s a plumber) when I tell him I’m tired and my Mum is great practically but she’s emotionally unavailable.

I’m a first time Mum so not sure if this is common? I think I just wanted to offload somewhere where people would understand?

Hello...I can identify with everything you say. My children are now teenagers (16 & 13) but with my first born I was very anxious about going out and about with her. Eventually it settled but took several months. After my second I was the same but it got much worse very quickly and I was very low and anxious by 8 weeks after the birth. That time I saw the GP and took an antidepressant which really helped. With hindsight I think I did have PND after my first too but not severe enough for me to seek help. It was probably having a baby and a toddler second time round that made me crash much quicker. Hopefully a chat with your GP should help you decide if you need some extra help be it medication and/or counselling. Being a new mum is incredibly hard work and is certainly the hardest job I have ever done!